I think you did an amazing job for self taught cross stitch and the 6 strands make the colors show much better! I am no
help with the quilting....just starting out. Good luck and please post when done!

I love the quilt. The cross stitching looks great. I can't help on quilting but it looks like you got lots of suggestions.

My first response would be a really good LAQ. But if you decide against that & don't want to quilt in the cross stitched areas, I wouldn't do batting, but maybe a white flannel for the batting instead, and then maybe do a little light hand quilting in those cross stitched areas to join the layers together. It's lovely!

Beautiful quilt.

I, too, would outline the cross stitches & then do a cross hatch in the background. By the way, it is not ugly. I think it is beautiful & I think you done a fantastic job on the cross stitch.

It looks great to me, I do not see any ugly.

I have quilted over embroidery. I would do lots of quilting in the white area. If you don't quilt over the embroidery it will pop up beautifully so I would do around the flowers and leaves It will be gorgeous when done. Quilting just does something to a quilt. Some people say it is not a quilt until it is quilted.

This one is a "sleeping beauty"...you just don't realise it yet:) Don't quilt over the cross-stitching (which you have done very nicely...and who says 6 strands is a bad idea). If you don't send it out....just outline the embroidered areas and as the others have suggested cross hatch the large blank spaces. Personally, I really like this....so come on....give it the kiss of life....and don't forget to show us when you are done...Happy quilting.

Oh my heavens..I think that is an absolutely beautiful quilt! Don't have any suggestions for quilting tho...so far I am only at the tied quilt level of experience.

This is very beautiful. I'm only a novice quilter but I agree that outline quilting is the way to go. Maybe just hand running stitches around your cross stitching or fairly long machine straight stitches. I don't understand why you hate it. It is stunning and you put in so much time and effort. Also, sign and date it on the back. It will one day be an heirloom. You should be proud.