Labrinth Walk quilting suggestions for an "Old/New" Quilter
 

First time posting, please be gentle. I need help. I'm an "Old/New" quilter. I took a quilting class in 1988. I made a basic queen size sampler quilt. I ended up tieing it as I didn't have time to hand quilt it. I made another sampler in the early 1990's, queen sized, pieced in 3 months while sitting at traffic lights on the way to and from work. Again, I chose to tie it.

I made a baby quilts in 1997 and 2000 for each of my daughters. These, I hand quilted.
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Then life happened, full time work, home school, raising 2 children with hubby. About a 1 1/2 yrs ago I finally made a bear paw quilt top for oldest daughter. She saw it and remarked she loved the colors but didn't like the pattern. Fine, I would give it to the youngest- she loved the pattern but didn't like the color. OK, hubby was next- "It doesn't do anything for me." So... I have a quilt named "The Quilt No One Wanted" that I just love. I will be honest, I got discouraged, packed the top away and it never got quilted.
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Last month I decided I wanted to finally make the Labyrinth Walk quilt pattern I had purchased. I sat down and made it. It is SO far from perfect but it brought me such joy to make it. THIS one everybody loves and wants but it's for Christmas (imperfections and all) for my youngest daughter. I need advice on quilting it. I'm considering having someone machine quilt it since I don't have time to hand quilt it as I already have 2 other quilts in the tubes for Christmas.

My questions are, what patterns would you use to quilt it? An all over pattern? Stitch in the ditch? Also, can you give me a very rough ballpark idea of how much it should cost to have a queen size quilt quilted? I'm almost ashamed to have someone see it on one hand but honestly, I just love this one and want it to be completely finished unlike the other top.
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Thanks in advance for your help and insight.
Liz

I love your quilt! Excellent color choices with depth.
Since it is a linear constructed quilt, I'd SITD. I'd view the quilt collection on this board to see what others chose & go on line to view other ways to quilt it. Looking forward to see it finished!!!
hugs,
dj

Hello Liz and welcome to the board. FWIW I love all your quilts. The color selection on the Labyrinth Walk is excellent. Since you want to showcase the pattern and not the quilting, I'd do an all over design in a very fine thread in a light or light-medium grey. That will add a bit of texture to the quilt but not overpower it. If you want to go more challenging, pick a motif for each color and that will further enhance the piecing. For that I'd use a color that matches the fabric. You could do diagonal lines in the black, stipple the dark purple, vertical lines in the light purple. And pebble the white.

Here's an idea for the Bear's Paw. Since you love it, take a few blocks out of it and make it your personal cuddle quilt. Decide what size you would want for a nap or watching movies on the couch, and make it that size. Then quilt and bind it, and watch everyone want to grab "Mom's quilt" when they want some some comfort. Keep the extra blocks because you can always work them into another quilt. Maybe even use one in each of the quilts you'll be making for your husband and kids. Thanks for posting your pics.

I don’t have any advice on quilting as it is a step I struggle with but I wanted to say that your quilt tops are beautiful. I think the bear paw also deserves to be finished. It’s lovely. The labyrinth walk looks fabulous to me.

On mine i pebble stitched some areas, did diagonal lines in others, stitch in the ditch following some paths.

That's funny. Family is a funny thing. What they will like the most and what they don't.. My eyes are drawn more to the bears paw. Great job. Love the colors.

Personally, I prefer quilting to enhance the design of a quilt rather than simply sewing the layers together. Your labyrinth quilt is wonderful==purple and all!! As to the UFOs--it's interesting how quilting can change an otherwise unpopular or ho-hum flimsy. Give it a go and see how much better they like those!

Your quilts are beautiful. I really love all of them.

For someone who says she is a new quilter your work is fabulous! You have a great eye for depth in all of your quilts. Welcome to the board from SE Michigan! I am glad you are jumping right in.

Wow on the Labyrinth Walk quilt....I'd actually be afraid to lay down on it, it looks like I'd crush it and fall into the depths! Very impressive. I would have it quilted with something that didn't really show, I would hate for you to ruin it with too much quilting.

I love all your quilts! I think you should be proud of each and every one! I like the bears paw because it is a traditional pattern, the the labyrinth has beautiful colors and the other two have great patterns as well. Nice job!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]617444[/ATTACH]Welcome Liz, good job - and I love your color choices, I made a purple Labyrinth as well probably about 10 years ago. I used washable wool batting (it is my favorite batting!) I quilted it on my Bernina 440 and I did pebbles too. It was a fun quilt to make.

All your quilts are lovely. I made this pattern in almost the same colors and I did an all over pattern. I have a mid arm machine on a frame...non-computerized.

I love all of your quilts. Your bear paw quilt is gorgeous as I love that pattern-I just can't understand why your family did not like it!!LOL I have no idea of how to quilt your Labyrinth quilt because I send all of my quilts to my long arm quilter and she does her magic. Your Labyrinth is so beautiful and whatever quilt design you choose will be a stunning accent to the quilt. Good luck on your decision.

I love all your quilts, especially the "No One Wants" quilt...will you adopt me....LOL And your Labyrinth is gorgeous. Sorry, but I have no advice to give you for the quilting. I'm a sometimes confident FMQ beginner. But I do know that your daughter will be getting a real beautiful quilt.

Great job on all your quilts. If you send your LW out to be professionally quilted, hopefully you will find one that can have it ready for you by Christmas. Most I know are already taking Christmas quilts and many cut off in October.

An all over is the most economical way to go. Pricing varies by area and also by density of design but for the most part it averages .015 to .025 per S/I Some places a little higher, others lower. So if your quilt finished as the pattern states at 84 x 84 an E2E design can run anywhere from $106 to $177. You would have to supply the backing and batting or purchase it from the longarmer.

Custom quilting would probably start at around $250 to as high as a $1000 depending who does the quilting and how detailed and dense it is.

I have seen this quilt done both with E2E and custom and quite honestly the piecing makes such a dramatic statement the quilting didn't make a bit of difference one way or the other. It looked great both ways.

All your quilts are very pretty.

I'll send addy for quilt nobody wanted. you have a hidden talent and looking forward to watching it develop. welcome to board.

All of your quilts are gorgeous. The color choices and skill are so remarkable. I'm thinking you would also have lots of talents doing fmq.

Love your quilts. The Bearpaw is awesome. BrendaK

Thank you for the kind compliments and wonderful advice. After seeing the pictures of the other quilts here, I think I May just sit down and see if I can learn how to do FMQ. I figure it will take a while to become "good" at it, but I think now I may just prefer to try to quilt it myself vs. sending it out.

Thank you, to each of you for your valued input! I love the inspiration, support and friendship on this board that I have seen over the past 6 yrs of lurking. Best to each of you in your quilting endeavors.

I like bear paw quilt - never saw one I didn't like. Good luck with your labrynth one - I have to say, I don't do well with the quilting end of these projects - much rather design and piece than quilt (hence my personal UFO pile), so can't offer any advice on that situation. Thanks for sharing your work :)

I love all your quilts and am glad you are back!