Distance between machine-quilted rows?

I am about to quilt a twin-size quilt with cotton batting that may be quilted up to six inches apart. I think the easiest and prettiest way to quilt this would be with machine-sewn lines, one or two inches apart, lengthwise only. I think I have seen pictures of quilts that were quilted this way?

My question is whether it would be adequate to just quilt lengthwise, or would it be better to quilt width-wise as well, to form a grid?

TIA, ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl
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Just off the top of my head I'd suggest spacing the lengthwise rows further than 1-2 in. (that's overkill unless you just want to do that) and add some horizontal rows. But it's *your* quilt and you can do anything you want to with it. As we say TANQP (there ain't no quilt police). And don't forget that the quilting will shrink your quilt in size- more quilting equals more shrinkage. Sometimes more evenly placed quilting looks better. Sometimes not. (I tend to 'quilt to death'- I have so much fun with free motion quilting that I don't know when to stop! VBG)

Have fun, get the three layers stitched together and gitterdun- that's what matters!

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

Hi Edna,

I think lines in one direction only *should* be adequate as far as stabilizing, but as Leslie says, there will be some contraction, and it will be disproportionately in the direction perpendicular to the quilting (your quilt will get narrower). I agree with her also that every inch or two may be overkill as far as holding things together, but not seeing the quilt, you may be correct that aesthetically more lines may look better - that's up to you.

Someone who actually knows what they're talking about - help me with this next part: Would it make sense (be practical) to quilt the lines

4 inches apart, then if Edna doesn't like it, quilt halfway between those (2") apart, then if still not the look she wants, halve it again to 1" apart?

Just another thought... What about a diamond grid?

Doc

Reply to
Dr. Zachary Smith

Wavy lines going diagonally across look pretty about 3" apart. They don't need to be exactly the same curves (not exactly parallel). Easy and quick to do and no spacing problems.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

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Leslie& The Furbabies > Just off the top of my head I'd suggest spacing the lengthwise rows

Reply to
Sally Swindells

I agree that the stitching in one direction should be adequate. I do like Doc's suggestion to start with lines farther apart and see if you like the effect. If not, stitch another line in between -- or try some lines in the other direction.

BTW, when I am doing a straight grid (or simply stitching between blocks to stabilize), I usually start in the middle of one side and stitch a row. Then turn the quilt a quarter turn and do a line down the center perpendicular to the first row. Then stitch a line on either side of both those lines, working out to the edges both up and down and across.

Julia > Hi Edna,

Reply to
Julia in MN

I have read all other answers before trying to describe one that flashed into my (rather tired) mind! I don't know how the quilt is made up i.e. blocks or whatever. However, had you thought about not making the lines an equal distance apart all the way across? I don't mean random widths for this, but something like some shirtings: eg a four inch as a sort of standard width (or 3 if it suits your block better), then perhaps a 2", then a pair of half-inch apart lines an inch from the 2". Then start again with the 3 or 4"?

I have never done it, but the idea just appealed to me. I have done Sally's wavy lines and that works really well. You can do it with a walking foot, if you don't want to try free motion - the curves are quite gentle. . In message , Edna Pearl writes

Reply to
Patti

I think if you are doing a bunch of parallel lines that you don't want to sew them all in the same direction. Sew some UP and some DOWN if you get my drift. Wavy lines are definitely easier to do than straight - altho there's an attachment for your foot which is supposed to make sewing lines easier (never tried it myself so I don't know how well it works). Starting further apart and then filling in the spaces sounds like a good idea too.

Allison

Julia > I agree that the stitching in one direction should be adequate. I do

Reply to
Allison

Thanks to everyone who answered, and I do like Doc's idea of starting with the lines further apart, based on others' assurance that two inches is probably closer than necessary.

The look I am seeking is definitely long, straight lines. It's funny how I thought I might do a simple, curved, Amish-style pattern I had chosen in advance, but by the time I finished the quilt top and layering, I felt that nothing else would do but straight lines, preferably long, straight lines lengthwise. This way, I can choose the right threads (top and bobbin) for each panel and "tree." If I have to do a tree, I'll have to find some dark nylon thread or just satisfy myself with the few threads I can buy locally.

The pattern is a simple Tree Everlasting (something like this but with only two pink trees

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and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I propose to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of quilting down the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines lengthwise just seem "right" with my particular quilt top. Thanks again, ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl

One small warning- keep the quilting density fairly even over all the quilt. If one area is heavily/closely quilted and other areas aren't quilted as heavily you can have some serious issues with the quilt not laying flat. Unless wobbly is the look you are going for.... some art quilts are supposed to look like that.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

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> and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I propose > to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of quilting down > the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines lengthwise just seem > "right" with my particular quilt top.>

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

Aha! -- thank you, will do. That means I want all my lines to be the same distance as from the center of the "tree" strips. Time to get out the ruler.

I do notice some of old Amish quilts do have a wobbly look. I look forward to trying your tip on some wallhangings soon (I've got a great book of patterns for Amish crib quilts).

It's amazing to have such prompt and free access to expert quilters as this group provides.

ep

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>> and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I propose >> to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of quilting down >> the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines lengthwise just seem >> "right" with my particular quilt top.>>

Reply to
Edna Pearl

Well, not necessarily. ;-) You can have quilted feathers in one area and a quilted grid in another and meandering quilting in another area and so on. Just don't have quilted lines 4 inches apart in one area and then micro stippling 1/8 in. apart in another. That would be very uneven density. But it doesn't have to be exactly, perfectly even all over the quilt- that's not the important consideration- it's the *general* density.

Think more like 1-2 in. (example only!) unquilted areas in the feathers and the stippling and the grid to keep it more balanced. And don't get out the ruler for that, either. This is supposed to be fun not tedious geometry and math. Just eyeball the density and fly by the seat of your pants! When you are ready to have your quilts juried into the Paducah or Houston shows then you can get out your rulers and calculators for the quilting, okay?

I know- it can be corn-fusing! LOL

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

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>>> and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I propose >>> to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of quilting down >>> the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines lengthwise just seem >>> "right" with my particular quilt top.>>>

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

dont be corn-fused. just go for 'popcorn'. should turn out just fine and dandy. j.

"Leslie& The Furbabies in MO." wrote ... Well, not necessarily. ;-) You can have quilted feathers in one area and a quilted grid in another and meandering quilting in another area and so on. Just don't have quilted lines 4 inches apart in one area and then micro stippling 1/8 in. apart in another. That would be very uneven density. But it doesn't have to be exactly, perfectly even all over the quilt- that's not the important consideration- it's the *general* density.

Think more like 1-2 in. (example only!) unquilted areas in the feathers and the stippling and the grid to keep it more balanced. And don't get out the ruler for that, either. This is supposed to be fun not tedious geometry and math. Just eyeball the density and fly by the seat of your pants! When you are ready to have your quilts juried into the Paducah or Houston shows then you can get out your rulers and calculators for the quilting, okay?

I know- it can be corn-fusing! LOL

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

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>>> and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I propose>>> to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of quilting down>>> the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines lengthwise just seem>>> "right" with my particular quilt top.>>>

Reply to
J*

But I *like* rulers! :-P

ep

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>>>> and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I >>>> propose to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of >>>> quilting down the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines >>>> lengthwise just seem "right" with my particular quilt top.>>>>

Reply to
Edna Pearl

leave the kings to their own devices. just do it. then you'll be queen of your quilting.

j.

"Edna Pearl" wrote ... But I *like* rulers! :-P

ep

"Leslie& The Furbabies > Well, not necessarily. ;-) You can have quilted feathers in one area and

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>>>> and three foot wide panels, one dark blue and two dark green. I>>>> propose to closely quilt the three panels and do one long line of>>>> quilting down the middle of each five-inch tree. Straight lines>>>> lengthwise just seem "right" with my particular quilt top.>>>>

Reply to
J*

Howdy!

Sounds like a wally-world quilt special ($29.99 w/ matching pillow shams), those lines going in one direction only, parallel across the quilt. As a "quilter" (rather that a "piecer"), I wonder: why bother? No offense intended; I quilt because I love the quilting process. "adequate" ... isn't. This is, of course, my opinion. YMMV

R/Sandy - assum> Wavy lines going diagonally across look pretty about 3" apart. They

Reply to
Sandy E

Howdy!

parallel : side by side & having the same distance between them... extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never converging or diverging...

How would you do parallel lines that don't go in the same direction? ... just wondering.. here, have some M&Ms, dark chocolate w/peanuts...

Btw, just because the pkg says "can be quilted 4"(or 6") inches apart" doesn't mean it should be. Esta' es mi vida.

R/Sandy

Reply to
Sandy E

Reply to
Roberta

Reply to
Roberta

At your suggestion, I did. How lovely! I'm half tempted to do the two "trees" in my quilt that way, hand quilted, but I'm just too eager to get this one finished.

I'm having trouble putting a block of time together to machine-quilt it, now that I have my new walking foot installed properly and the package rolled and bicycle clipped. It should be fun!

ep

Reply to
Edna Pearl

First row: North to South Next row: South to North etc. ;-)

Doc

Reply to
Dr. Zachary Smith

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