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Thread: Quilting questions for a newbie

  1. #1
    estrogen is offline Senior Member
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    Default Quilting questions for a newbie

    I have finished two quilts and sent them both out to a longarmer. I want to start trying to do my own quilting but am really confused. When deciding on a pattern, how do you start and stop to get to the next design? Lets' say you have blocks and are quilting in each block.....how do you get to the next block with your thread? I hope I'm explaining this right All I can think is that I'd have long lines between the blocks......this is probably a stupid question but I can't get my mind around it

  2. #2
    Claire Hallman's Avatar Claire Hallman is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Quilting questions for a newbie

    If you don't want to use a continuous line then you will need to stop, cut your thread, knot and bury it into the batting on the quilt, then go on to the next design area.
    I really prefer continuous designs without all the thread burial.

  3. #3
    Sylvia H's Avatar Sylvia H is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: Quilting questions for a newbie

    That is definitely not a stupid question! Shows you are thinking ahead to potential problems. There are several ways to do your quilting from block to block.

    The first is what Claire mentioned, starting and stopping within each block. You will need long threads at the beginning and ending so you can tie knots and bury them. It takes time, but sometimes is worth it if the quilting design really enhances the quilt. Some people have a machine that ties a knot, and that would be great. You could also decide to backstitch in small stitches to lock your stitches, and then cut the threads. You will still need that longer thread at the start to knot and bury.

    Another method is to quilt within the block, but use a design that starts and stops at the edge of the block. Then you can just start the design again in the next block, or you could travel "in the ditch" to where you want to start the next design. Travel stitching over previous stitching is also a way to get from one place to another. This is a skill that takes practice.

    Have you considered quilting designs that go over many blocks? There are various patterns that repeat, but don't end within blocks. There is also "stitch in the ditch", "stitch around the ditch" (both with straight stitches and with decorative stiches) and there are many different cross hatch designs.

    Finally, there is echo quilting that can be subtle, or can repeat many times. Oh! The choices!
    Last edited by Sylvia H; January 4th, 2015 at 01:46 PM.
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  4. #4
    hsweany's Avatar hsweany is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Quilting questions for a newbie

    I do a lot of straight line quilting. If you check Pinterest to Google, there are lots of ideas. Good luck!

  5. #5
    Alpha O's Avatar Alpha O is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Quilting questions for a newbie

    No one really shows how to do the single block patterns like those which exist in EQ7 or in some old books. It's usually all over patterns.
    I do QAYG and I like sashing. Single patterns seem to work best. I wind up watching only the part of the video that deals with technique for moving fabric and stitching since I have no intention of doing all over. I used a bunch of those single designs on a rag quilt. It was Otters and I wanted to make sure the Otters weren't overpowered by all-over quilting. The Otters were the focus, not the stitching,

    Finally found a book by Angela Walters that discusses quilting by shape. Lot of ideas that can be used for both straight line and FMQ. Simple or fancy, your choice.
    Called Shape by Shape

  6. #6
    Preeti's Avatar Preeti is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Quilting questions for a newbie

    Look up Leah Day - Free Motion Quilting a Sampler Quilt.

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