Kim Diehl's Mocha Stars - How Should I Quilt This?
04-17-2021, 05:55 AM
#12
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Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 706
Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
Thank you all - I was so sick of this thing that I had to put it away a couple of times for a few days, and it's a relief to have it done!
I did as much of the applique on the brown borders as I could do before I sewed it to the center, and that cut back on the cussin'.
I think I will outline all the applique for sure, and I like the ideas for some kind of star rays and a small filler stitch in the cream and natural areas.
The rays won't cross over any applique, so that would be a lot of starts and stops, but it could be interesting, especially where rays are crossing over each other. Maybe that would end up being the filler in the middle?
I'll keep cooking on it.
I did as much of the applique on the brown borders as I could do before I sewed it to the center, and that cut back on the cussin'.
I think I will outline all the applique for sure, and I like the ideas for some kind of star rays and a small filler stitch in the cream and natural areas.
The rays won't cross over any applique, so that would be a lot of starts and stops, but it could be interesting, especially where rays are crossing over each other. Maybe that would end up being the filler in the middle?
I'll keep cooking on it.
If you are not afraid of a lot of stops and starts, I would divide the quilt in fourths and have parallel straight lines in the background coming at a diagonal from the center towards each of the 4 corners without crossing that initial grid. This will give the feeling of radiating from the center, without the thread build up from too many lines starting in the same place. The diagonal parallel lines as background for the appliqué will give this a very traditional look.
Then, within the diamonds that make up each star: start at the center(ish — avoiding the center circles) and do a basic curved leaf shape with the point near the diamond point, then echo that shape inside to fill (starting each echo in a diamond at the same point as the first one). If you have Angela Waters’ Shape by Shape, this is her “Diamond 3”.
This gives you straight lines where you have curved appliqué and rounded lines where you have geometric stars.
If you add a light border, I would do a continuous design around the border that suggests your appliqué shapes.
Your top is beautiful and whatever you do to quilt it will be amazing.
04-17-2021, 07:43 AM
#13
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 835
Originally Posted by Tartan
Very pretty! I think I would outline quilt the stars and vines. I would put a background fill in the white, perhaps a stipple. I would put a pointy swirl in each diamond that make up the stars.
And I think Tartans ideas for quilting are spot on.
04-17-2021, 09:21 AM
#14
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mars
Posts: 2,549
Originally Posted by SuzSLO
I’m not an expert, but I do have strong opinions on quilting.
I especially like the placement of the "rays." I don't have that Angela Walters book, but I could do a whimsical paisley shape in the star points or even a curly-top feather.Thank you all for the comments and suggestions! People on this board are just the best!
04-17-2021, 10:11 AM
#15
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Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 706
Here’s what I was thinking for the stars. Add more “echos” depending on the size of the diamond and your desired density of quilting. By moving between the diamonds along the center circle outline, you should be able to do each star with having to stop and start.
04-17-2021, 06:59 PM
#19
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Join Date: Nov 2010
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Thank you, SuzSLO, that was so nice of you to draw out the idea for me! I think I want something complicated in the star points and I'm pretty good at feathers and paisleys and curls.
I *definitely* don't want an all-over design - the background and brown border squares are pieced, but the rest is appliqued - even the stars are appliqued, so I would never want to sew over all that, willy-nilly.
I'm thinking of putting extra batting under the stars, flowers, leaves and "berries." I will outline all of the applique and probably a quarter-inch echo around each piece, too.
I liked Tartan's ideas as well, but I'm terrible at stippling, (no, really *terrible*!) which is why I liked the idea of rays in each quadrant - they would flatten the areas around the applique and have the impression of "radiating" - I might even do them in diagonal, parallel waves and put "strings of pearls" in between them, here and there. Lots of drawing, lots of stopping and starting, but when you've already spent this much time on a 60" square of fabric, the quilting might as well take the same amount of time.
I wish I could quilt by hand, but I would only be able to do a really big stitch. I will probably use my industrial straight-stitcher because it's roomy and it's got a knee lift.
Thank you all so much for the ideas! You've given me a lot of inspiration and got my brain engaged and I appreciate you!
I think I want something complicated in the star points and I'm pretty good at feathers and paisleys and curls.I *definitely* don't want an all-over design - the background and brown border squares are pieced, but the rest is appliqued - even the stars are appliqued, so I would never want to sew over all that, willy-nilly.
I'm thinking of putting extra batting under the stars, flowers, leaves and "berries." I will outline all of the applique and probably a quarter-inch echo around each piece, too.
I liked Tartan's ideas as well, but I'm terrible at stippling, (no, really *terrible*!) which is why I liked the idea of rays in each quadrant - they would flatten the areas around the applique and have the impression of "radiating" - I might even do them in diagonal, parallel waves and put "strings of pearls" in between them, here and there. Lots of drawing, lots of stopping and starting, but when you've already spent this much time on a 60" square of fabric, the quilting might as well take the same amount of time.
I wish I could quilt by hand, but I would only be able to do a really big stitch. I will probably use my industrial straight-stitcher because it's roomy and it's got a knee lift.
Thank you all so much for the ideas! You've given me a lot of inspiration and got my brain engaged and I appreciate you!
