If there was a "slit your own throat smiley", I'd be using it now. I've tried to take pics of my problem, but please see if you can come up with any other solution other than what I think (removing an awful lot of quilting :cry: )

I had planned to quilt in the ditch around all the compasses, then the blue compasses are done in trapunto. The swirly motif is also done in trapunto and I stitched around it also. Now, the next step was to stipple around all of the compasses (both blue & the pieced) and around the swirly motif.

Problem- backing seems too full to me and I am afraid that I'll get puckering and folds in the backing fabric. I know its hard to tell how full it is...my crazy cat was helping me (giving me moral support).

If I try it out to see what happens,should I just start in the middle, then undo any quilting that doesn't allow the backing fabric to lay flat and repin that part or would starting in the middle and going out like that distort the quilt?

Ohhhhhh :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: I just know you experts can help me....please????

Here are the other pics of the back.

Well, now this is just my humble opinion, but here goes... why do you feel it needs more quilting...I think it looks like it has plenty just the way it is and it looks great!!!

Otherwise, I think if you feel the need to do it....if you hold things flat enuf as it goes into the machine it shouldn't pucker too much...your apt to have some.... are you doing this with your regular machine or do you have a longarm?

This is exactly what I was thinking and I scrolled down and found CQ had already said it. Our family saying is, "Quit while your ahead!"

Your quilting is beautiful.

I am not a machine quilter, but it sure looks good to me!

I really can't say why I think it needs more quilting..hubby agrees with ya'll...(why add more? :shock: ) It just seems like the trapunto would really pop out if I have some quilting done that makes it stand out more.

I'm using "Sally" to quilt with...my early 1970's version Singer. Its the only thing I have..luckily we get along pretty good.

I think it looks great the way it is and wouldn't add more quilting. :)

well we are certainly an agreeable bunch on this one, it looks just right, if you put in that much stipple I think it would be stiffle! LOL It would really flatten it out though and make you trapunto stand out more.

im a longer armer and i have found over the years that less can be more,some think that more is more i think it looks if you can quilt that well on a regular machine i would be running arm. my advice is put a way for a few days,take it out and look at agine i think you may like it better. good luck

I have to agree with the majority here... it is a GORGEOUS quilt, and I would not add any more quilting!!

sorry about the post with the missing words,iam sure yuo get the drift.

Sandpat - The quilt is beautiful as is! Love your colors, too.

On second thought, I think you REALLY did "screw up" and need to send this poor disaster to me. I am always willing to give poor orphans like this a home. :wink: :wink: (TOTALLY tongue-in-cheek here!)

I really do LOVE the quilt!!!!!!

I probably have very little room to speak here, since I've never actually quilted a quilt...YET!!, but I think it looks absolutely beautiful as is!

I'm no expert, but I LOVE YOUR QUILT! Wow! :shock: :shock:

here are my two cents.

it isn't simply that your quilting is "good enough the way it is." no, no, no. your quilt is beautiful and already has just the right amount of quilting.

in my i'mnotclaimingit'shumblebecauseIKNOWi'mright...aga in...asusual opinion, more quilting would steal attention from all the wonderful piecing and quilting already there.

if you are absolutely, inconsolably convinced it needs more of something to better hightlight the trapunto, then don't add quilting. add stuffing.

OK.. You've all come up with the easiest solution....leave it alone! I'll just continue along the path I started and look again at it after I finish the swirlys and quilting in the borders. I'll post some more pics as I move along.

If I'm still not happy with it, well, I'll just give it to my SIL...she has these colors at her beach house...that way, I can make another 1 for me :lol:

But, Patrice, I can't help but wonder...how would I add more stuffing to the trapunto at this point? Unfortunately, it ain't no turkey :D :D

Wow, your quilt is gorgeous, absolutely beautiful! I love it how it is, but if you really want to add more, i wonder if this would work? What if you take a small section at a time, and set it in an embroidery hoop to finish your quilting? A small hoop would fit under a sewing machine i think

Your quilt (and quilting) is beautiful!! I don't see how you could improve on it. :D :D

WOW! You & Sally do great work. The colors & quilting are beautiful. I agree it looks great as is.
Jo

Thank you for the compliments...Sally will be pleased. I do have to talk nice to her :roll:

Barb..what a great idea! I'll try that on a sample to see what happens..thank you..thank you..thank you

I'm happy most agreed with me.... I thought maybe I was odd thinking it had plenty of quilting already! Good to know that it wasn't such a dumb thought! LOL

The way you have it now really accents the swirls. I'm afraid they would get lost in stippling. So I vote for no more. It's beautiful as it is. :)

cnolan--I think sandpat likes me better--and it should come here. :wink:

Maybe add some more quilting so you really hate it--then I'll send you a check for postage. :lol:

sandpat--I don't even see a pucker. How do you do that so amazingly well?

Less is more. I'm going with the experts' theme here. (NOT an expert, just agreeing 100% with them :D )

PS That is paper pieced? :shock: My goodness it's just stunning. (my smiley dropped back in a faint)

i didn't say it would be easy. :lol:

Think that quilt is beautiful the way it is! But I was thinking about the embroidery hoop thing too, Barb. Not for your quilt per say Sandpat but for any machine quilting where you aren't ditch stitchin'. Don't they use a type of hoop for machine embroidery??

sandpat--I don't even see a pucker. How do you do that so amazingly well?


I said I "had a fold" I've spent 3 days taking out quilting to fix it (what can I say..I'm partially OCD :? )

PS That is paper pieced? :shock: My goodness it's just stunning. (my smiley dropped back in a faint)[/quote]

No..I hand pieced this. I just now learned to PP and did my 1st block day before yesterday. (Wish I had known how when I did this though)

Patrice, I think that if I tried to add more stuffing...I'd look like your cat.. :roll:

Don't bother trying to make it any more perfect than it is, just send it to me. Those are my favorite colors and I think it is beautiful just the way it is I can pm you my address if you dislike it enough to get rid of it.LOL

It looks exquisite and remember: even a great kiss has a little puckering to it. :thumbup:

Vicki, I've had a few volunteers to take it off my hands. I think I'll finish it first..maybe draw names??

Steve,,,thanks for putting that image in my head!

As long as my name goes in twice as many times as others. :lol:

Vicki..:lol: :lol: :lol:

I got all of the inside swirly's quilted today, tomorrow, I'll start on the dark blue trapunto triangles on the outside. I have to say, that the more quilting I am getting done, the better it looks.

:lol: :lol: :D :lol: :lol:

no more quilting please... it is exquisite as it is.

Anita

I really like your quilt. If your undecided on if you want more quilting on it.(personally I'd stop with what you have) why dont you just leave it for a week or so, look at it on the bed or chair, and give it time. you may find that in a few days more quilting is not what you really want
Karen

Karen:

A perfect answer! Live with it for a few days before you do more!!

Anita

I'm thinking that I agree with all of you...I have had to take a break today and try to help a friend with her embroidery machine which I know NOTHING about!!! Anyway, I'll get back to it tomorrow hopefully !

To add to the trapunto, you can use a larger needle and thread soft yarn. From the back, just pull the yarn through the design and trim both ends. Or you coud quilt another line around the trapunto, rather than stippling it.
However, I think it has enough quilting, and looks great.
Debra

It looks great I'd finish what you were doing and add nothing else