free motion stippling question

Michelle, I usually try to do some "stabilizing" quilting -- straight stitch -- along seam lines before beginning the free motion stuff. If I do that, I don't necessarily begin in the center when doing the FM. However, if I can't do this stabilizing quilting for one reason or another, I prefer to start in the center with the FM; it just reassures me that it's less likely that I'll get tucks and pleats.

This is just the way I do it -- it's no "rule" or anything, and you should do what makes you comfortable.

How big is this? If it's as big as it sounds, my advice would be to get your first 8-10 hours in on something smaller!

My usual FM technique (along with meticulous pin basting) is to divide and conquer. I mostly try to do some sort of overall grid, so that the quilt falls into 12-16" sections. (Check often to make sure you have no tucks on the back!) Then I finish the border design, attach the binding, and trim off excess. Then go back and fill in the rest.

If you must do it all >I'm about to finish my Scrappy Stars quilt top, which has been over 10

One advantage of starting in the center is that you end up on the sides, which are usually easier because you have less bulk under the arm of the machine. On the other hand, the center is often the most noticeable part & any early "less than perfect" areas may be more obvious.

Julia > I'm about to finish my Scrappy Stars quilt top, which has been over 10

Thanks Joanna,

I've always started my straight line machine quilting in the middle, but free motion is a whole 'nother ball of wax. I'm trying to figure out how to keep on top of it, so to speak. Guess I hoped if I could start on an edge or in a corner, I'd be able to keep track better.

Feel better soon! Sinus infections are the worst.

Best regards, Michelle > I always start in the middle. It will prevent heartache later if you

Hi Sandy,

When I've done straight line machine quilting I've always started in the middle for stabilizing purposes too. However, I thought if I could start on an edge, maybe it would keep from getting "lost" when I'm doing FM. You may have given me a way to have the best of both worlds. :-)

Thanks! Michelle in NV

Yes, that would be the sane thing to do. :-)

You quilt the main part of the quilt, BEFORE adding the borders? What a novel idea. Do you cut your backing and batting large enough to accommodate the borders or do you add the backing and batting for the borders on when you add the borders?

Fabulous! This is exactly what I needed to know. I kept feeling fearful of getting lost in the expanse of the quilt.

I've always used spray basting, and have never had any problems. I've made two king sized quilts with very simple straight line quilting, but never had any tucks, folds, etc.

Thanks so much! Michelle in NV

Very good points, Julia. Thank you.

Best regards, Michelle > One advantage of starting in the center is that you end up on the sides,

I fear you honestly must do a few practice pieces!! However, do them with a specific purpose: you need to find out which direction you (personally, regardless of what anyone else says) find that you prefer to move the quilt in. You might find that you prefer to start at the side of a section furthest away from you and push the quilt 'away' so that the sewing is coming towards you. Or, the opposite (I found my side to side work was the hardest to master - not that I have yet!). I couldn't contemplate trying to get the whole quilt done in one 'area' - I would get lost, and the sewing density would vary I'm sure (I'm not very good yet, though). You will learn a lot of valuable 'stuff' by doing practice pieces - not just basically how to do it >g< You might find your own style, that you can do much better than the generally seen stippling. I say this because I can't do traditional stippling! Mine always seems to need to have points in it >g< Don't just copy others; try things out and let your own stippling be your signature. Even if it is the same as everyone else's it will probably have a few little quirks.

Good luck - it is not an exam.! . In message , Michelle C writes

Thanks for all the helpful hints, Patti.

Yes, I know it would be wise to practice on smaller pieces first--I have done some--although not enough to answer the questions you posed or to find my own style. And a few years back I stippled a wallhanging, although not with the free motion technique. Didn't do my homework on that! Anyway, while the wallhanging was medium sized, I stippled by turning the darn thing. It actually came out okay. The problem I foresee with free motion, is having too much freedom to move. HA!

So while I know you all are shuddering to think I would start on a full size quilt--and probably rightfully so--I'm not totally inexperienced; just almost. On top of that, this particular quilt is a very old project that's far from perfect (although I think it will pass the galloping horse test). The scrappy star is a rather difficult block that despite hand-piecing to increase accuracy, the blocks are still not that accurate. In putting the blocks together, many of the points are buried. Also, the white background fabric is substandard. Something I would know better than to do now, but didn't then when I began it over

10 years ago. This is to be my personal quilt--despite all it's failings I love it. And so if I find that my quilting technique varies over the process, so be it. No one else has to put up with it but me. (Even if my quilting were perfect, I would never give this quilt to anyone else because of the aforementioned problems.)

Thanks for your insights. I will definitely keep them in mind!

Best regards, Michelle > I fear you honestly must do a few practice pieces!!

doodling will often show your own style. also good to practice. it make trains the brain.

Yes, I know it would be wise to practice on smaller pieces first--I have done some--although not enough to answer the questions you posed or to find my own style. And a few years back I stippled a wallhanging, although not with the free motion technique. Didn't do my homework on that! Anyway, while the wallhanging was medium sized, I stippled by turning the darn thing. It actually came out okay. The problem I foresee with free motion, is having too much freedom to move. HA!

So while I know you all are shuddering to think I would start on a full size quilt--and probably rightfully so--I'm not totally inexperienced; just almost. On top of that, this particular quilt is a very old project that's far from perfect (although I think it will pass the galloping horse test). The scrappy star is a rather difficult block that despite hand-piecing to increase accuracy, the blocks are still not that accurate. In putting the blocks together, many of the points are buried. Also, the white background fabric is substandard. Something I would know better than to do now, but didn't then when I began it over

10 years ago. This is to be my personal quilt--despite all it's failings I love it. And so if I find that my quilting technique varies over the process, so be it. No one else has to put up with it but me. (Even if my quilting were perfect, I would never give this quilt to anyone else because of the aforementioned problems.)

Thanks for your insights. I will definitely keep them in mind!

Best regards, Michelle > I fear you honestly must do a few practice pieces!!

No, the whole top is together, including borders. I meant that I finish quilting the borders (after doing the big grid in the middle), then add binding and trim off the excess batting/ backing before finishing all the middle quilting.

Although (clipped)>

Cool idea Jeanne! Thanks!

Michelle > doodling will often show your own style.

Okay, I see what you mean.

I think I thought of it because the two king size quilts I made were completed in 4 separate pieces and then joined after the quilting was done.

Best regards, Michelle in NV