FMQ site...cool patterns, and a question...

[coffeebreak]

I learning about FMQ and stipppling.... someone mentioned this link and after searching it for awhile...very intersting link...I found this page....
http://www.daystyledesigns.com/365abc.htm

TONS of stippling patterns...tons of them! I am cross-eyed from looking at them trying to find an easy one for me to start with. My question tho...they are all so dense...so close together. I did stipling (free hand) on a quit recently and was very dense and it made the quilt very stiff. I used a fluffier batting and quit was 2'x3' and the only thing I think I did "wrong" was I crossed thread lines... I heard later you aren't supposed to do that ... only if that is needed to create the specific design. But still....also in the videos she had...she was stippling very small and dense....

My question... does doing it small and dense...is it common for the quilt to be so stiff? My thought is that with all the stitching, it flattens out the layers...makes the layers smashed into one really thin layer...not only do I feel that takes away from the appearance of the quilt, but also..the warmth? How do you cuddle up with something to thin and stiff?

What am I missing?

[K. McEuen]

I think her samples are just that, sample pieces. When quilting your quilt, the more quilting stitches you have, the closer together, the stiffer your quilt will feel. You can practice smaller designs and spread them out when actually working on a quilt.

[debinmalaga]

If you can, check out Leah's latest project, the free motion project. In one of the videos she discusses scale, which is what you're talking about. Probably a 1" scale is the smallest you want to get if you want your quilt to be soft... I think. Other opinions?

[MaryB]

I've been following Leah's new project too Deb and think she explains very well the different results you will get with scale. I have been a FMQ klutz for a long time but with Leah's instructions am soon going to have a go at quilting my grandson's Variable Star quilt using FMQ. Wish me luck!

[rebeccas-sewing]

Also, it takes so much longer to complete a project with small quilting designs. Those little patterns look lovely but I personally think those small designs should be used for small projects or quilts for show only. Quilts for everyday use don't need all that. I know many of the quilts from the past were quilted with very small designs. I think those quilts were still comfortable because the handstitching is loose by comparison to machine stitching. Consider how many stitches per inch by hand compared to how many stitches per inch by machine and I think you'll get what I mean.

[sunnyQLDmum]

I came across a blog on the weekend, Sew Cal Gal, which is hosting a free motion challenge this year with a different 'expert' doing a tutorial each month. I found the February tutorial to be very helpful and the January to be a lot of fun. Check it out. Just google sew cal gal

[Nena]

I think that it would depend on where on the quilt you are going to put a dense design and what look you want to achieve. I highly recommend Patsy Thompson's site. She is an excellant teacher. She has so much to teach and show about fmq. The smaller and closer the design---the stiffer the quilt will be.