Stippling - I'm going to need to learn how to do this for a quilt I'm going to make for my new granddaughter, due Dec. 29th. Should I learn how, or should I pay to have someone just do it for me? How hard is it? About how much would a crib size quilt cost to have stippled?

I don't do all over stippling all the time. It depends on the quilt design. For children I like to use ME characters in every other block and children's redwork patterns in a matching color to the block(usually white for me using white for embroidery)in the alternate blocks.

There is nothing more special than to know it was all made by you. Another way to quilt it is to do "stitch-in-the-ditch". Also, I use my embroidery machine to quilt the few that I have done. Embroidery Library has many designs that can be used. I haven't master the free motion stippling yet. However, I want to do that one day.

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by pennyhal 31 Aug 2012

Stippling doesn't have to be free motion. There are paper and plastic designs out there that you can trace onto your fabric and just follow the lines if you are concerned about the eveness of the stitching.

It's not that it's hard to do, but it is time consuming. If you haven't started your quilt yet, that might be the factor that determines whether you do it or pay to have it done. You also say that your DIL is a perfectionist. If that is going to put stress on you and cause you to not enjoy the quilting process, then you probably might want to have someone else do it for you too.

Having said that, I don't think your grand daughter will care if it is perfect. If you haven't machine quilted before, it is one of the easiest techinques to do and it goes fast. I don't know what others charge to do it. You would probably have to call around to get a quote.

Stippling is probably one of the easiest ways to quilt and would be good for a first timer. Maybe you could make some place mats for yourself and practice on them to get the feel. Keeping in mind that this is probably a quilt that you will want your new grandaughter to charish forever consider 1. do you want the work to be all yours 2. would you rather have the quilting enhance the quilt and can your first attempt do this #. can you afford to have it professionally quilted (a baby size shouldn't be too high)? Whatever you decide, she will be alucky little girl!

By all means...learn how to do it! It's really very easy...just meander around and try not to cross over any stitching...kind of like driving on a very curvy road!

on the run just peeping in but this is the way to learn machine quilting one day at a time, the videos are awesome, followed her from the beginning and adore her work

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by hightechgrammy 30 Aug 2012

Thanks, I'll check it out!

As all these others have said. Do it yourself. The quilt will mean more to your graddaughter when she knows it was all done by you with love. If it isn't perfect, so what!!!!

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by hightechgrammy 30 Aug 2012

My DIL is a perfectionist. . . . .

Oh, Jan, I know you can easily learn to do stippling! I have never tried it, but love the effect it has around designs on a quilt. I have got several stippling designs, so I would probably use one of those, rather than free motion. Give it a go, and be sure to post a pic of the baby's quilt!!
Hugs, Angel

I am told that after a few glasses of wine your stippling improves He! He!. My teacher used to say to me Relax Relax. I am still not very smooth in my actions. Hugs Joyce

If you go to Leah Day's site she has lessons on all forms of free style quilting, she makes it look easy! You will need to practice a little on some scraps before tackling your project, you'll find it's not too difficult.

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by hightechgrammy 30 Aug 2012

Thanks, I think practicing makes tons of sense!

I like to watch youtube to get an idea of how to do different things

Hi dear, I've done five quilts but with my own form of stippling because I like the quilt to be light and airy. In these pictures I have a black line showing where I did the stitching and just thought to show you. Good Luck!!

2 images:[1]
[2]

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by shirley124 30 Aug 2012

Both are very nice. Shirley

by hightechgrammy 30 Aug 2012

Really nice quilts they look nice and even too!

I guess you mean to stipple the entire quilt once it's finished? As there is stippling around designs that one can do with the Janome Digitizer software these days and you can also get design files that are just a stipple to fill whatever hoop size you have. Other possible options to think about anyway, Jan. I'm sure whatever you do will come out well.

Oh, I think you should absolutely try it yourself. If you are concerned about your technique, then just get a couple scraps of fabric to make your quilt sandwich and sit down and stitch. I suspect that you will be addicted right off the bat.
Can I suggest that when you are stippling, keep your lines of stitching spread out a little bit. The tighter you stipple, the stiffer your quilt will be. So if you leave about 1" or so between lines of stitching, then it will be a real soft draping quilt.
If you are still worried, then sit down with a pencil and paper and practice. Your hands will teach your brain where you need to go, believe it or not.
You are an incredibly creative individual, and I truly believe that this is something that you can master in no time at all!! Good luck. And post your results in "projects". It will be fun to see what you created.

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by hightechgrammy 30 Aug 2012

I think I need to make something small first before I try it on a quilt!

I an no quilter, but I did get the foot with my last machine. maybe you could stipple each block at a time and not ruin the whole quilt. Sew them together , but what to do about the back? QUILTERS WILL KNOW!!

Easy Machine Quilting Part I - The Stipple Stitch.MOV

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by jrob 29 Aug 2012

Search for that on You tube. Here's another video. The only thing I do differently is I wear gloves with little rubber like dots on the palms and fingers and put my hands down flat on either side of the throat plate. Of course that would be easier with a crib size quilt than the 10" square she was using in her demo. If it has been awhile since I've quilted I make myself about a 24 x 24 square to practice on and get warmed up. It's really quite easy, but I guess brain surgery is too if you know how. :)
d

by jrob 29 Aug 2012

crib size quilt than the 10" square she was using in her demo. If it has been awhile since I've quilted I make myself about a 24 x 24 square to practice on and get warmed up. It's really quite easy, but I guess brain surgery is too if you know how. :)

You all have so much confidence in me - LOL Crazy Cuties! Do you draw on the fabric first? I'll check out the video Helen suggested. THANK You All! Hugs, Jan

I have never stippled either. They tell me you need to relax and remember to breathe. Sounds easy. Best of luck Shirley

memories-in-thread.net

There is a video on this site you can watch.
hugs Helen

I think I did find my stitchin pal. Are you coming this weekend for the joanns sale, don't bother coming to my store, I already got the good stuff! LOL!

try it on a runner or old sheet or even a thin towel ,wish i lived near you i would do it for you hugs carolyn

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by hightechgrammy 29 Aug 2012

You are sooo sweet, but a little too far to mail - LOL

by noah 29 Aug 2012

i worse comes to worse just mail to me ok :):)

Learn yourself by practising. It's like patting your head, while rubbing your tummy. You must learn to go fast with the foot control, whilst going slow with your hands!

You can learn to do it, Jan. The free motion stippling is the easiest form of quilting once you get into the rhythm of it. It's free-form, so you don't need to follow any lines, use chalk, or anything like that. You can make the stippling as close together or far apart as you want, it's very forgiving, and it's really fun to do. Being so small, a baby quilt won't be any trouble at all. You can have issues with large quilts, just because it's harder to get all that fabric under the throat of the machine. Practice on some placemats or something first, but just drop your feed dogs, use your darning foot, don't go too slow, and go for it! I know you can do it! Hugs, Marji

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by hightechgrammy 29 Aug 2012

Thanks for the encouragement!

I'll say learn how, Practice. You have time between now and Dec. And it's always great to learn and use a new skill. Keeps you young.
Bev

I think you could do it yourself. I've done a couple of crib size stipplings. It's not difficult. Just make puzzle piece shapes. Use your embroidery foot and practice a little. But I'm sure you can do it!