dpendleton

I just finished sandwiching my first quilt - called "Doggo".



If you were machine quilting with a walking foot would you do straight lines, wavy lines or diagonal lines?

The original design was free motion circular swirls but I don't have a free motion foot. There are examples of it done with diagonal lines.

Would wavy lines in only one direction look weird?

I like the diagonal lines but I'm not confident that I could follow the quilt lines - I would take the time to mark lines with masking tape or an erasable marker.

Advice?

Stitchnripper

if it were me because I have done this, wavy lines. They will look nice agains the squares. They don't have to be exact which makes them user friendly I have done them diagonally or up and down. You don't even need to put them close together or measure exactly between the lines.. It is a fun, easy and forgiving way to quilt.

GingerK

Did you pin the sandwich or baste or glue baste? If it is pinned, whatever you choose may force you to reposition some of the pins.

If you decide to do diagonal lines (and I also suggest using the wavy option since it can hide a lot of minor oopsies) You have a lot of reference points that are quite close together. Just quilt the line diagonally, one square at a time. I would start with making a big X from corner to corner. That would certainly help to anchor everything.

RedGarnet222

Whichever one you choose. make sure you follow the batting instructions as to how close to make the lines. Most batting 80/20 want you to make them no farther apart than five inches apart. It will make a huge difference in how nice it will wash up.

toogie

I must say first how well you pieced this pretty quilt. I think however you choose to quilt it will look fine. Congratulations on making your first quilt!

dpendleton

I spray basted this quilt, which should be helpful when I quilt it.

Can I say that the process of managing such large pieces of fabric and batting was a nightmare? I had to do thois on a tarp on my basement floor.

And I don't have a display board to hang quilts on, LOL.

Thank you for your recommendations! I love this group.

LAF2019

Great quilt! Impressive corners for a beginner. Heck, impressive even for an experienced quilter! Look forward to seeing all your future projects.

stasher

G'day dpendl,
Congratulations on finishing your first quilt, good job. Do you have a serpentine stitch on your machine? As that is automatic it will leave your hands free to manage the quilt. You could stitch this in one direction, or horizontally and vertically, about a handswidth apart, or random. Otherwise, wavy lines would be my suggestion,random again, then you don't have to stress about equal distances. I have found it useful to do some marking with a Frixion pen. Please post a pic when it's done. Dive in! it will be OK.Cheers from Downunder.

illinois

Because some have had "bad" experiences with the Frixion pens, I've stayed away from those for some time and use the Crayola washable markers instead. The down side of both is that you will have to launder the quilt to remove the marks when you are done quilting. Laundering will take the Frixion marks away but apparently that ink is sensitive to temperatures and the marks can return. Not so with the Crayola markers. It is wise to test whatever you use on the fabric before marking your quilt.
As to my suggestion for quilting Doggo. My machine doesn't have a serpentine stitch so I would do straight stitch diagonally both ways making a big x. The example has the diagonal lines but more than necessary for my liking. Since I like a puffy quilt, I use polyester batting and less quilting than is on the picture example.

aashley333

I have 2 rolls of (blue) painter's tape, 1" and almost 2". I use them for straight line guides, careful to not stitch on the tape. I love the serpentine stitch. On my 45 year old machine, it is labeled as a darning stitch. I like variegated thread for colorful quilts!
I would follow the seam lines of the larger squares and create a serpentine grid.