Here are some pix of my very first quilt. It is in purples, not sure that the pix really show the actual colors to their best.

I am hand piecing this sampler to be my Mothers Day gift to my mom as a wall hanging.

I have no idea how I am going to quilt it now that it is time to start that part. Any ideas or opinions?

Keep in mind that it is my first time and I will learning on this. Also, what looks good on a sampler when all the blocks are different? Is there a good technique for samplers?

thanks for the help,
Tracy

Before I started I had no idea where fabrics would go or what they would do. I learned a very good lesson right off the bat when my squares had the same color as my sashing and they seem to disappear like in the flying geese block.

I now have read lots about planning ahead and drawing up plans first and can see why....

Lesson # 1 Learned.

Tracy

very nice,Good Job. Are you going to hand quilt too? I am not much help on the quilting design, thats where I always stall. But Mom will love no matter what you do on it!!!!

Yes, will hand quilt. I really have no idea how to begin with my machine any way. Learning one little thing at a time.

thanks for the thought that Mama will love it.....It will be the most personal gift she has gotten since I stopped making take home crafts about 30 years ago.....LOL

Tracy

Hi Tracy, oh your quilt is so beautiful! Your mom will love it any way you do it for sure. My handquilting isnt good, have only done a little, but i like stitching in the ditch around the patterns, and in large areas like triangles and stuff, some echo lines would be nice and easy too. I like stitching in the ditch, because it makes the quilt pattern stand out so much more. Mayber on your borders you could do hearts or something? But very pretty :)

I LOVE all the purple :)

I think it is beautiful! I love the fabric.

That's really pretty! You're doing a great job. Gotta love purple!!

Very nice! :) Can't wait to see how you decide to quilt it. :)

You did a beautiful job. When I first started hand quilting I did a lot of outline quilting 1/4 inch from the seam. Then I got adventurous and started doing other shapes in squares and things like that.

Come to think of it, that's still pretty much how I do it!

I like it!
Love purple!!

I agree, your Mom's gonna love it!

I like it! I like how the one patch disappears into the sashing, it adds interest..... mistakes in our minds can make interesting designs :D

That came out very nice good job........all the quilting ideas suggested are good . A wonderful Mothers day gift :D

Awesome job! I even see points in the right place. You did a great job!

Oh, thank you guys so much!!!! You know how you think you're doing okay, but you feel kind of scared for others to look. I SSSOOOO apprecatiate you all taking time to comment......

Ima....I tried very had to get those points there. Thanks for noticing....

Ruth, Celeste, Barb and MG....I really do think my mom will and I thank you for saying so. You know you feel very attached to this first one. I'm sure you remember. So "gifting" the first is extra special I think.....

Barb & Harmony, I was thinking along your lines. Maybe in the ditch for the blocks and around the seam for the other areas. I think the sashing is narrow enough to only do the 1/4 inch on each side. And then maybe something nice in outer borders. Thanks for the ideas.

As for the rest, amma, tlrnhi, shadow, Strawberrry, Turtle, henry>>>> thanks so much for the compliments!!!

Tracy

auntshamaine, that's a beautiful first quilt!! Bravo girl. :thumbup: I love the colors, your piecing is really good, and I too love how that one little part of the flying geese falls into the background. Sometimes an "oops" can turn into a really neat, and unexpected design!

I agree with the others on the quilting. I think keeping it simple is best to start, and besides, it's busy enough and so colorful that a more complicated design might just get lost in there anyway. No matter what you choose to do, she's going to loooooove this! :)

Did you get pictures when you gave it to her?

Tracy-Your sampler quilt is just beautiful and your mother is going to love it!! It is perfect and I would not have changed a thing about it. It looks like you planned it all out before you began. Great first quilt!!!!!

I would quilt it by stitching 1/4" away from the seam, or in the ditch for the blocks. The borders always hang me up.

I have been quilting for 9 years and I still learn something new from every single quilt I make (and sometines I make the same mistake twice so I don't always learn really well!)