How Do I Quilt Cross Stitched Top?
 

The kit for this top was bought at a yard sale in 1987 for pretty much nothing. I know it had to be cheap because I think it is ugly and I was a pregnant teenager at the time with no money and no clue how to cross stitch, but I bought it anyway. When I say no clue how to cross stitch I really mean NO CLUE! It is done with all 6 strands of floss. I guess I didn't know you are supposed to split it. So, it got finished and shoved in a box. Fast forward 15 years or so and my mom (who does not do these things) decided to quilt it. Her first step was to wash it. The whole thing turned pink. A few rewashes later it was pretty much white again so she shoved it in a box and forgot it. After all of this, it seems like I should finish it even if it is ugly.

How do you quilt with cross stitching? Do I just quilt over it? The cross stitched areas are way too big to quilt around. And remember, Mom washed the top several times so the preprinted quilting lines are mostly gone. I assume the shadows that are still in a few places will always be there, but so be it.

Help!

I would not quilt over the cross stitching, but I have seen it done. You have some big open areas. .. just a thought use painters tape , mark open areas for cross hatching.
Thats all I 've got... other than send it out for a long arm pro.

This quilt reminds me of one my mom made back in the 60's.... so very pretty! If I remember correctly, she only quilted in the white spaces and left the cross stitch pattern alone...... why quilt over something that's already pretty and take the chance of ruining it?

I was kind of thinking along the cross hatching lines, too. Maybe with invisible thread over the cross stitching. I don't know. It's so ugly I really don't want to pay to have it finished.

I see feathers around the center motif or maybe vines. Just a thought.

My MIL outline stitches around the designs

My suggestion would be to find a LAQ in your area and take in your quilt top for a consult. The LAQ'er should be able to give you some ideas on how it could be quilted....and be aware of any budget you may have for the quilting. Personally, this screams out to me to be custom quilted, echoing around the cross stitched areas and custom quilting in the wide open spaces. My husband would just love to get ahold of this....he has another cross stitched quilt in his line up to do, and he's been having fun designing quilting motifs for it! While you may think it's "ugly" now, having it finished will turn it into a really gorgeous quilt, in my humble opinion. Just be sure to post pics of what it looks like in the end :)

I really think custom quilting also. By the way I do not think it is ugly at all you did a very nice job!!!!

I agree with cedarvalleyquilts. This quilt will be amazingly beautiful with good custom quilting. Using the extra strands of embroidery thread just served to make the colors more vivid.