Quilting a Real Quilt #1
A few days ago, I received this question on the blog from Maresan:
I wondered when doing this on a real quilt where do you start and stop and does this depend on the size of the quilt?
I decided to not include this with Question Thursday #1 simply because I’d like the chance to go into more detail and ask for input from you as well. We all quilt differently, and so long as it works, these are all viable methods for getting the quilting stitches on a quilt.
I do this largely out of habit. I was taught to baste my quilts from the middle, then quilt from the middle because the fabrics would evenly smooth out. Any extra fabric or batting would be pushed to the edges and not create puddles or pleats on the back.
I also like quilting from the middle because it knocks out the hardest part of the quilt first. Once the middle is complete, you’ll have less bulk to squish under the arm of your machine and it’s much easier to quilt.
Why? Because I figure if I’m not following any set rule with piecing a modern quilt, why should I quilt it following any set rule either?
Modern Quilting, for me at least, is an act of total freedom of creation. Nothing is wrong. Anything goes. The piecing and the quilting should both reflect this idea, so for these quilts at least, I’m going to quilt them however I feel like it.
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
You are right when you say there are a million ways to quilt! Each quilter has her/his own style, but it's fascinating to peek over your virtual shoulder as you go through the design process. Thanks for sharing!
I learned to quilt from you at first, so I began to quilt from the center outwards. This worked well for all the reasons you mentioned, i.e., excess fabric gets pushed out, it gets easier as you go, etc.
However I recently made a quilt and decided to use a large scale foundational design over the entire surface. Now, unless you want an end in the middle, this has to be done starting and stopping on the edge.
I found that if I took more time getting the back of my quilt really flat and taped down before basting, that there was no extra fabric in the middle and it really wasn't any harder. I just had to turn my quilt under the machine to which ever "quadrant", as you call it, I was working on.
Time to shut up and quilt eh? 🙂
Thank you so much Leah for referring to my question about quilting and where to start, etc. Boy, my thinking is so rigid and black and white at times that your comments, suggestions and thoughts are such a big relief to me. I am beginning to go easier on myself in the way I approach quilting and how to "do" things and not to do them a certain way or even think about perfection. You are such an inspiration to me and I want to thank you for all you share.
You are indeed a very special young woman.