I need help please. My quilt-top,wadding,bottom are all pinned together. Now what? the centre is one big panel, above and below there are seams. Can anyone suggest how I quilt it to stop everything moving about. I intend putting bias around the whole quilt edges.

Dear Gill, if it was me I'd pin it all together from the CENTRE outwards, smoothing as you go - you must do this otherwise if you start from the side by the time you get to the other side you will have fabric overhang. I see vickiannette has suggested the same method. Due to the heavily patterned fabric a simple quilting stitch would suffice. I, like the others who have commented, would suggest a stipple effect or straight stitching either diagonal or criss crossed. Good luck in whatever you choose to do. It will be beautiful when it's finished. Love and blessings Chris

It is a delicate printed fabric and I have no idea what type of quilting would work for it.

When you say "pinned together", do you mean around the edges or every so many inches all over the quilt. If you pin it all over it should hold in place. There are some good videos on YouTube.com that might help. You can just type in Quilting or there are some videos from the Quilt in a Day series with Eleanor Burns, Simply Quilts series with Alex Anderson, and the Love of Quilting with Fons and Porter. Just look around and see if there is anything that can help you.

Use some quality wash-away spray glue [505 temporary adhesive is good]. spray between your layers, then pin with bend safety pins, from a quilt shop. Important to start pinning from centre, and smooth fabrics as you go to the edges. Due to the highly patterned fabrics, a simple quilt design is all you will need. Diagonal or straight lines. Use a big ruler, soap chip to draw with and good luck.

One of the easiest designs that I learned was at a Phil Beaver workshop in Indiana. He pinned the quilt and simply sewed around the pins (not removing them until he encircled them with stitching. He would begin in the middle working outward on one sided for about 6-10 inches going the length of the quilt then, go back to the middle and work outward from the middle in the other direction. I'm attaching a photo that I took at the class. You can see big areas where the pins used to be. The big sunflower in the picture is one of his original drawings turned into applique. He no longer teaches sadly.

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1 comment

by noah 20 Mar 2013

Oh i love that idea i just might half to try that hugs carolyn

if you are worried about it moving around you can stabilize it by stitching in the ditch around the border that surrounds that panel. Then take the stippling of the area outside the panel in small stages and quilt inside the panel around the fairies, flowers, etc. That will give the back some personality. That is just my two cents worth...might only be worth that. :)

Stippling would look very pretty on this, but if you don't want to do it stipple, the sew across with about 2" in between rows, and then up and down, or you can sew diagonally making a diamond shape.
Hugs Jerri

6 comments

by gillemmerson 20 Mar 2013

Thanks. Its quite cumbersome so not sure I could keep a hold on it and get it even!

by noah 20 Mar 2013

I second this :):)that would be very nice i love stippling hugs carolyn

by rgotter 20 Mar 2013

Can I third it??? I think stippling would look very pretty too.

by jerrib 20 Mar 2013

I just use tailors chalk and my quilting ruler to draw the lines.
Very easy and quick.

by marianb 20 Mar 2013

I aso do this method, sometimes I will use painters tape to mark my lines and then stitch either side. make sure you roll the quilt to help reduce bulk under machine for easier handling..good luck. waiting final photo's

by highlandermom 20 Mar 2013

I have to join in with the stippling. This very pretty what you have so far.

I would echo quilt the center fairies & then stipple the rest of it. but thats me. There are lots of free stipple designs for machines too, it is very pretty panel set, best of luck with it. Hugs Loralye