quiltingshorttimer

I get many embroidery and appliqued quilts brought to me to quilt. I always try to stay "off" both--but do a close line of stitching around the applique, then will echo that about 1/4-1/2" out so that the applique stands out from the rest of the quilting. Wavy cross hatching does eliminate lots of marking. If you plan to do a fill (pebbles, small swirls, McTavishing, straight lines, cross hatching, stippeling, etc) around the applique, I'd suggest you either use two bats for the quilt (which might make it awkward under the needle) or just place some extra bat behind the applique ( just baste in place with edges extending into where the fill will be) and it will really pop! (faux trapunto). Very pretty quilt!

Mkotch

I think quilting adds texture to the applique. I would quilt some veins into the oak leaves and, perhaps, follow the curve on the curvy piece. I would do this if I were hand quilting as well as using a DSM. Lovely quilt!

copycat

You could echo quilt around the applique shape. If you have an extra block to try out in a mini quilt sandwich, that may be helpful.

juliasb

Ruler quilting would look great around these blocks.

ekuw

Actually I do! I have found this to be super helpful. :-)

ekuw

I don't have rulers, but have done similar with blue painters tape. Once I figure out the applique I have to decide on the alternating blocks too...

ekuw

I hadn't considered this, but maybe I will try it on my sample block. Thanks for the suggestion.

ekuw

Your're response is super helpful. I have been leaning more towards echoing around the leaves so thank you for the detail on how you do that. I don't think I want to do any heavy fill on my first try. . How do you tie in the applique blocks to the alternate blocks?

quiltingshorttimer

I always also do stitch-in-ditch around the applique/embroidery blocks (this also stitches down any bat you might be adding for that trapunto effect if not double batting). As far as tying in the applique to the alternating blocks, I travel in the ditch (part of the reason for SID around applique plus it makes them more defined) and then will do what ever design in the alternating blocks I've picked. Since I want to make the quilt density about equal across the quilt, if I were doing heavy fill around the applique, I would do lots of quilting on the alternate blocks. If only SID the block and then echoing 2-3 times around the applique or embroidery, I would do a more open quilting--i.e. continuous curves, orange peels, etc. Those are gentle enough curves you can also do with a walking foot (or without) on a DSM. since you are wanting that handwork to stand out (you probably spent more time on it!) you don't want your alternate blocks to steal the show. Post when you finish the quilting, please.

ekuw

Thanks again for sharing your expertise here. Really helpful to me. I have another quilt ahead of this one (a laundry basket mystery quilt from the initial shelter in place back in MAR/APR) then will tackle this one.