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Need Quilting Ideas

I recently finished this log cabin lap quilt from a kit sent to me by my sister. It finished up nicely with few mistakes. I want to figure out a way to quilt it, but I am still a novice when it comes to using my 15" Bailey. I have some stencils, but they don't seem to work well with this quilt. The blocks are 6 1/2 inches finished. The pattern simply says "quilt as desired" so no help there. Ideas, anyone?[ATTACH=CONFIG]314475[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]314476[/ATTACH]

I would either enhance the pattern by stitch in the ditch, following each seam or minimize the pattern by a simple over all scroll/meander. But I don't do anything complicated.

Hi jlm,
Sometimes it is good to take a creativity trip to the quilt store. Often the ladies have finished quilts hanging up to give you ideas on how to do things that you normally wouldn't think to do. If they don't, ask one of them to suggest something to you. This is a very busy pattern and it would need to be quilted in such a way as to hold down the intersections for it to come out of the wash well.

The stitch in the ditch is a good idea for a beginner, and it would get you off to a good start in quilting. Curves look great on a quilt that has so many straight seams. But, you first have to realize that form follows function. Examine where there has to be anchored down seams, then plan your quilting to incorporate that area into the design. An orange peal would work with this design and would work as visually pleasing.

I am sorry that is the best information I can give you. Remember to look at some quilting books while you are at the quilt store. There are some really good ones that show how to do this.

Do you have a 6 inch feather stensil? I think I would put a feather in each 6 inch block with the feather spine on the 45º line created by the corners. I think feathers always look good on a traditional block not matter what it is. If you're not up for feathers, an all over large meaandering would look good over the entire quilt top.

Here is a book that would help you to understand quilting. It starts with the basics about how to quilt, using different feet and threads to make your quilt sing.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0896896854/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

You did a great job on it by the way for your first attempt.

The stitch in the ditch was my first thought when I first saw it. Love the quilt it is beautiful.

no ideas but very pretty!

I tend to be a minimalist quilter, doing only as much quilting as is required to hold everything together. For a design like this I would most likely SID or do a wavy diagonal cross-hatch.

Since this quilt is sort of boxy with straight lines I like to do a rounded design to soften the straight lines.

I would do an all-over curvy meandering, with about 3/4 to 1 inch distance.

I'd audition beige and slate blue threads and see which was more pleasing (also depends on what your backing is, and how strongly you feel about matching bobbin and top threads).