Best quilting pattern for tumbling block quilt

I just finished my very first quilt top and am now getting ready to start quilting. The design has several sized tumbling blocks appliqued onto a dark black background. I intend to use the same fabric on the back.

I want to quilt the blocks in-the-ditch but am not sure what quilting pattern to use in the areas of the background. I will be machine quilting on a Bernina with a walking foot.

Suggestions please!

Reply to
MaleQuilter
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I'd probably do swirly mctavishing-style background filler to offset the geometric blocks. And I'd probably also echo the block shape inside each diamond, lines about a quarter inch apart. Wouldn't use a walking foot, it would be free motion. Roberta in D

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Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Thanks, Roberta. I just used a walking foot to stitch in the ditch on a few of the blocks. I used the walking foot because I have never quilted before and thought it would help. The only problem I had was getting all of that material to move smoothly under the free arm. My project is about 46x60. I stopped after about an hour because doing something so new is really nerve racking. I guess I am extra nervous because I am really proud of my project so far and I sure do not want to mess it up.

Why did you say you would not use a walking foot? Even though I am using invisible mono for the top thread I am not sure I am ready for free hand work.

Jerry in North Alabama

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Reply to
MaleQuilter

iirc, Roberta suggested doing some McTavishing or similar on the background so the blocks stand out nicely. google it and see how the design works, then practice doing it with pencil and paper, just keep doodling. you kinda train your brain to know how to do it for when you come to the actual free motion quilting. heck that works with any design. fwiw, j.

Reply to
nzlstar*

With free motion, you can go anywhere, any direction, no need to constantly turn your work. Takes practice, but so does anything else you haven't tried before. There are some aids to smooth fabric motion. Number one is a level surface. The acrylic extension table I use is not ideal, I'm saving for a nifty cabinet with a hydraulic gadget to raise and lower the machine. But I lower the ironing board and move it right next to the extension to hold the weight on the left side, and there's a big table behind the machine so it doesn't drag. Some people like to use garden gloves, or anything that will help you get a grip. Don't think of it as "all that material" because all you have to worry about is really the few inches just around the needle. Practice some free motion on a 12" sandwich, you might discover a whole new obsession! Roberta in D

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Reply to
Roberta Zollner

I use a regular quilting foot (open toe) with the Bernina stitch regulator for free motion quilting. I started out doing stippling, which is actually quite easy once you practice for an hour or two first. From there I worked on stippling with a few added designs thrown in, and now am working on more complicated quilting patterns. Work on getting your quilt to the left and quilt to the right techniques equal. I'm left handed and my designs usually look better on the left. This is most noticeable on things like feather patterns where you sew a plume on both sides of a straight line.

doodle at work, that really gets your brain primed for free motion.

lg

Reply to
Lobster Grrrl

Many beautiful patterns can be quilting with a walking foot. If that's what you want to do for this project, I say go for it. I do most of my quilting with one too.

Around those tumbling blocks you can do:

A straight line grid A diagonal grid (which makes diamond shapes which might nicely echo the tumbling blocks) Single/double/triple diagonal lines Cables

Reply to
Marcella Peek

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