chloemartin

I hope my picture attaches. I just finished this quilt and it's all pinned ready for quilting but I can't figure out which pattern I should quilt with and where to start.

Do I start from the centre and work my way out? If I stitch in the ditch or 1/4 inch away from the ditch how do I work, one square at a time, do I do an entire line top to bottom I'm not really sure where to start.

I was thinking of trying stippling but I just can't get the tension right and I'm not consistant enough with my speed to do it just yet. After trying the free motion I think the walking foot will be the way to go.

I really appreciate any advice. I know the quilting can make or break a quilt and I don't want to ruin all my hard work.

Prism99

For this type of quilt I would never start in the center -- too many threads to tie off and hide after you are done! What I would do is start in the *middle* of a side edge and work to the other edge, then start in the *middle* of the top edge and work to the bottom edge. That way you have a big X in the quilt adding stability.

Have you layered the quilt yet? If not, I strongly recommend heavily starching the backing before layering. I use a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water, "paint" this solution on the backing with a large wall painting brush, wait a few minutes to be sure the fibers have absorbed the starch, toss in dryer, then iron with steam. Starching adds a lot of stability to the backing fabric so it is much less likely to stretch or distort or pucker while you are quilting. I would also spray starch the top to add stability.

Edit: I see that you have already layered the quilt. You can still add stability by laying the quilt out on a large flat sheet and adding several layers of spray starch to each side. (A fan speeds drying between spray starch layers.) This helps even if you are using a walking foot. If you stretch the fabric while sewing, you will find that you will get puckers when you cross a quilting line. Starching helps prevent those puckers where lines cross.

tessagin

Beautiful quilt!.

nanacc

I love your quilt! Sorry I do not think I am qualified to give advice on quilting. There are Many quilters on the board that are always happy to help.

chloemartin

I'm so scared of quilting it. The more I think about it the more nervous I get.

DOTTYMO

Beautiful quilt and lovely straight lines ideal for walking foot. In the white squares you could do a flower shape and get away with the walking foot. A gentle curve diagonally across and back.gentle curve from corner to corner then another diagonal and curves all round the square.

chloemartin

Would the flower take up the entire white square? I like that idea, maybe then a diagonal through the coloured squares.

Thank you all. I got some spray starch but ill have to do it tomorrow as it is too cold here now to do it, I'm in australia.

Jingle

Pin it fairly heavy and to a line through the squares, making Xs. That would be the easiest and fastest. It will look good too. Good luck.

chloemartin

Sorry I know I'm asking a million questions but would I just do an X in the square or would it end up being diagonals across the entire quilt? Also do I outline the the or is the flower enough. I did a parties tonight and found it really easy to do. My friend who quilts thought I did it free motion. I didn't do the other diagonal as its a small square and I didn't do it in the right order but that's my very first go.

Misty's Mom

Beautiful quilt. I love the layout.