How do I machine quilt the applique blocks?

Stipple quilt all around the applique - it will make them look like puffy lil bunnies!

Just took a peek at the quilt - they're cute!

IMHO, Ann, just outside of the bunnies will be fine stippled and I wouldn't go through the bunnies. It seems to me that a lot of close and tight stippling creates a rather stiff quilt. I would suggest stippling not quite as closely as you might for something else. Now. As to the border, it's fun to add on a carrot or two and top them with just a few curly Qs of chenille. We can teach you how to chenille if you want to. Polly

Thanks Cheryl. They are cute :)

You and Cheryl both suggest not going through the bunnies........thanks.........makes sense and also will go much quicker. Only sewing time I have left is Monday daytime and Wed evening. Baby quilt is for DH nephew's new baby. We are having DH family Christmas this Saturday and will be seeing new baby for the first time so want to give the quilt then.

I know what chenille is Polly but I would love for you to explain how to do the tops. I have another 12 bunny blocks cut out, ready to machine applique so if I don't run out of time on the next baby quilt I may try the chenille.

I wouldn't go through the bunnies either, and a lot of close stippling not only makes a stiff quilt but it will be less warm. Have you considered McTavishing? There are some great examples on the following pages.

through to:

All the blocks have a central design, so they are similar to your type of blocks.

Love the quilt in any case, and I'll love to see what you do with it. Adorable!

HTH

That is so cute! Such great positions for the bunnies! If it were

How adorable! If it were my project, I'd stitch around the outline of the bunnies, and then maybe echo that shape by quilting around the bunny outline at half inch intervals or so...not so close that the quilt (where it's for baby) becomes too stiff. :) You did a lovely job!

Nancy in NS

Ann: What cheery colors! I agree with others about using a loose stippling outside the rabbits. First, I *would* outline each form, about 1/4" outline. This will make each rabbit stand out from the background.

Also, it would be nice to add a *wee bit* of detail on the rabbit. Example, along the stitching you have on curve of the leg, around the ears, around the tails, and maybe add a few whiskers!

PAT

Ann wrote:

Howdy!

I would do some quilting in the bunnies. Uneven quilting leads to more wear & tear on the quilt. Larger unquilted areas like those bunnies will cause the fabric to poof out and rub against the batting more than the quilted areas will, and that wears out that fabric faster than the quilted areas, front & back. Even more so when an area is stipple-quilted and the adjoining fabric is not quilted at all. No, I don't machine quilt but this holds true on any quilt, however it's quilted. Note that tied quilts tend to wear out faster because they are tacked in only a few spots, leaving the surrounding fabric to poof and rub as it pleases, esp. when it's washed. And baby quilts get washed more often than others, at my house. YMMV Even if it's only a little quilting thru' the center of the bunnies, I'd quilt 'em to keep them down. hoppity-hoppity-hop! Beautiful quilt top, Ann. Cute as a .. well...bunny! ;-)

Cheers and Good Luck!

Ragmop/Sandy

I agree with Pat. It's an adorable quilt, but adding a bit of quilting detail to the bunnies will only enhance what's already more than cute! A loose stipple should be the easiest/fastest on the rest, though cross-hatching would also be effective -- just more stops and starts.