First Quilt Top - Need advice
 

I just finished piecing my very first quilt top. I used pre-cut squares (don't know the term...fat quarters maybe?) and put 2 borders on it. I'm self taught via You Tube and a Quilting 101 book...I'm looking for advice on how I should quilt the top. Keep in mind...I've never done this before. I don't have a walking foot for my machine either. I've seen "tied" quilts...but not sure about it. Any suggestions or advice is welcome.

pretty fabrics

Check out stitch in the ditch and free motion on you tube and see if you feel comfortable with either.

I would suggest some thing with some curves....
practice on a scrap sandwhich
hope this helps


Nice

A medium meander might work very nicely. I quilted a lot of quilts on my domestic machine with just a hopping/free motion foot. Worked just fine for me.

I do a large meander and I love it, nothing fancy, like a large stipple.

OK, I'm the conservative one here. Meandering and any other free motion quilting was way beyond me when I made my first quilt. For my first quilt, I just did a giant cross hatch type of thing. Just an X in each block. For the borders, I just did a couple of lines in them and added a diamond on top of that every so often.

Tying is also a viable option. Tied quilts have lasted for years. Check out all the videos and see what you want to attempt. Practice whatever it is on some smaller pieces to see if you can do it. Remember it is always harder on a big quilt than on the practice pieces.

Most importantly be proud of your quilt however it ends up being finished. Learn what you can and start on the next one!

I have a tied quilt that is at least 35 years old, and I tied my first quilt and it is still going strong 20 years later with LOTS of abuse and washing lol I would tie it with black & Purple Ribbon :)

I agree with Lisa--and look at all of us Illinois girls! I would suggest you keep it simple until you get comfortable with the process. I've been machine piecing/quilting for a couple of years and just started venturing beyond stitch in the ditch, and so far, only have the nerve to try it on potholders. Good luck.

Very pretty ! Love your colors. I agree about quilting in the ditch but I am still learning also. and if you wanted to put a 2" square turned to look like a diamond in the borders.

Go from diagonal corner to the next diagonal block . You may wan to make the center then go back and it make an x design. Easy for your first quilt. Be sue wot pin every 4 inches. Good luck,love the colors and borders.

Stitch in the ditch or X (diagonal lines) the quilt would be the easiest for you..

How you are learning to quilt reminds me of myself about 15 years ago. I learned to quilt through a book called Teaching Yourself to Quilt and a great show called Simply Quilts.

my choice would be SITD with the walking foot or cross hatch, either way you need a walking foot or darning foot for FMQ. If not able to purchase you would have to tie, but if you enjoy quilting you might as well invest in a good walking foot and darning foot. I would not FMQ my first one either. I did SITD on my first one and it came out okay

Stitching in the ditch can be tricky too. When I started, I used a sort of zig-zag. . . . not the kind that was one stitch to the left and one to the right, but three to the left and three to the right. Most machines have this stitch. It is very forgiving. Then you can follow the seam lines with that, or go diagonally from corner to corner(s). Then if you don't stitch completely straight lines, it doesn't show.

Really very nice and great work, thanks for sharing with us. I like your quilt very much, your color choices are looking so nice.

I learned quilting the same way and didn't have the courage to do FMQ so I took a class. Before that I only did SID which was hard enough to stay on the line! Your machine might have built-in decorative stitches you can use.
I love your quilt and you did a great job!

Get a walking foot..its cheap. Then I would just do a straight line every two inches. Top to bottom. Easier than stitch in the ditch and looks nicer on the back of quilt.

instead of stitch in the ditch, you could stitch 1/4" from the seams

I would maybe do a diagonal grid I think you could still do it without a walking foot.

First of all, your quilt is very pretty! The fabrics work well together. It will be nice whether you tie it or stitch it. If you decide to quilt it on machine, by all means, get yourself a walking foot. It is one of the best tools you can own for quilting.

looks good, love the colors.

Wonderful for your first quilt!!! I would go with an X thru the blocks, which by the way look to me like charm squares.
Charm squares are about 5" square, and sold in a bundle. Fat quarters are 18" by about 20-22"

pretty fabrics

You did a great job on your first quilt!!! I like QuiltnNan's idea to stitch 1/4 inch away from the seams. Can't wait to see what you decide!

Tying would work for this quilt. I have used some of the pre-programmed stitches on my machine. I have one that does 4 stitches on the left, 4 on the right in a zigzag that would work for this quilt and do it along the seams.
You might look into getting a walking foot for your machine. They are available on Amazon for a lot less than at the sewing machine stores if your budget is tight. Just be sure it is the correct one for your machine make and model.
If your batting doesn't have a high loft you could get away without having a walking foot. Try it out on a sample 12" quilt sandwich first. If there is any gathering/bunching it won't work.

Wow! Thanks everyone for your kind words and suggestions. I guess we're always hardest on ourselves, as I see all my mistakes!! I think I'm going to try to SITD around the dark purple border and tie the rest. I was thinking of tying at the corners where the Charm Squares (Yes, that's what they were called!!) meet so that you will only see the tie on the back. We will see.

If you use a pair of those medical rubber gloves it will make moving the quilt around a world easier! They don't have to be those expensive quilters gloves. I prefer the medical type because they are so much thinner and you can get them in most stores.

I'd just do a diagonal stitch through the squares. Then stitch in the ditch for the borders. It's a lovely quilt and you did a great job. Love your colors.

great job!!!!its pretty!!!!

Your colors go well together. For a first time quilting I would try stitch in the ditch ( and don't worry if you stray off the lines, we all do) or do a diagonal. I roll the quilt on each side and start in the center and work my way out. Have fun and enjoy learning as you go.

Cute! Way to go!

Absolutely wonderful, great job and thank you for sharing.
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

I totally agree with Lisa. It's very sound advice. And exactally what I started with. (Just my opinion.)

I'd keep your first quilt easier to do -- for batting, use a layer or two of flannel or a lightweight fleece, so you don't have to quilt every couple of inches. The quilt will hold up better that way, even with lots of washing, etc. Doing ties is perfectly ok, especially if you used embroidery thread...tie square knots, which you can google to get directions for as its really easy. You could even choose some interesting buttons to put in each corner of the the blocks and use embroidery thread to thread through and tie your knots on top of each button. But if you're going to give this quilt to a child or baby, the ties must be VERY short (1/2" or less), and no buttons, for safety reasons. You could do stitch in the ditch or even echo quilting (1/4" away from each seam) or big "X"s in each block. Do a small 'test' quilt (with smaller blocks, maybe 10-12" big) first to see if you find you hate something right after starting it, rather than learning on your quilt. Have fun with it as its a fun quilt -- you did a great job!

However you finished it will be nice! I love your colors! Awesome! :)