As I work on this little baby quilt I’m thinking about how to quilt it. Not having done a quilt with stitcheries in it before, I have no idea what’s the best thing to do. Does one quilt over the stitcheries, just do in the ditch stitching around the block? The hexagons with the butterflies are 4″ from tip to tip, top to bottom and 2″ to each side. As it is a baby quilt which will, I hope, get lots of use, I’d like to quilt it fairly heavily, most likely by machine, to ensure it stands up.
I cropped one of the pictures to show the stitchery hexagons a little bit better. There’s not much room to do any quilting in those blocks unless I do quilt over the stitching. Any advice is more than welcome on this!!
This is another piece I started ages ago using 1″ hexagons and equilateral triangles. As I find a new coloured fabric that I like with it, I add more rows of hexagons and triangles. Currently it’s about 22″. I’m not sure, but I think I may finish off the second blue with enough rounds to make stars in that fabric and then perhaps end it off with a soft yellow. It’s really wonderfully enjoyable mindless stitching, lots and lots of lovely continuous stitching that makes it go together incredibly fast.
I’m going to look through and see if I have a soft yellow that will work with this. I’m not sure about this yet, but I’m thinking this might be an appropriate baby quilt to have done and tucked away for next time.
We had a lot of snow on Wednesday, it snowed a bit more on Thursday and now they’re saying there’s another big storm on the way for Monday/Tuesday?? I cannot believe the amount of snow we’ve had this year already. All I can hope is that as it started early, it will end early and we’ll have spring starting sometime in March. I wonder what the groundhog is going to predict next week.
Yet another picture of the boys together. We see them do this so rarely that we practically fall over ourselves grabbing the camera!
Quilt Obsession 
Hi Cathi, I think i’d outline stitch the butterfly’s wings and body and infill with some decorative stitching, maybe seeding or ‘veins’ on the wings. I sometimes do a ‘seeding’ stitch to fill in areas surrounding applique, and sometimes on the applique itself. All your work is lovely!
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I love the hexagons and triangles quilt! Maybe some darker pink or blue will work for you?Happy weekend!
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I would stitch in the ditch in the butterfly hexagons and leave the quilting for the stars. Love and hugs Gina xxx
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Pretty quilts and pretty kittys! And though you are tired of the snow, I bet it is also pretty. I am not an experienced machine quilter, but I thought about how I would do the baby quilt. Since you want to quilt it quite closely because it will get a lot of use, I would also quilt over the stitchery, only less quilting in those blocks. Just a few loops in to the block. If you did no quilting in those blocks, it seems to me that they would stand up more than the surrounding star blocks, and thus get more wear right where the quilt is most vulnerable. Just my opinion. Whatever you do it will be a beautiful quilt. TTFN….Lilly
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I have seen machine quilting over hand embroidery and I’m not crazy about it. What if you machine quilted the star areas and hand quilted the butterfly blocks?I think the kitties are trying to keep each other warm in this long winter.
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In the past I have quilted right over stitcheries, but your design is so delicate I would probably not do so here. I like the idea of outline quilting around the butterflies.
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i’m doing a redwork quilt with my mom and i did a little research and traditionally quilting was done right over the stitchery in thread that blends with the background. it was usually done in a diagonal crosshatch pattern. i was surprised to find that out…i was hesitant to quilt over the stitchery too, but it looks really good.
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I agree with perhaps an outline around the butterflies, and maybe a little heart or something inside the wings – one in the top part and one in the bottom on each side? Of course, that would probably be hand quilting. If it’s in something that blends into the background fabric, would that work? As for the groundhog – by the time he shovels all the snow away from his burrow to come outside and look for his shadow – he’ll probably be too exhausted and just decide to go back to sleep.
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The baby quilt is GORGEOUS! Just gorgeous!
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I’d go with Lynda’s thoughts on this one for sure.
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I’m with Lynda too, don’t just randomly stitch over them.
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Outline the butterflies. I think it is so pretty it would be a shame to quilt over the stitched butterflies.Love the other quilt too.
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Looks like a consensus is building with outlining the butterflies and I have to agree.Your other top is lovely, I really need to try using my Inklingo program LOL Just haven’t gotten the inspiration with all I have waiting for me in the sewing room to complete.
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I just finished a little quilt that has a stitchery in the center as a medallion. I hand quilted the quilt and echo quilted around the main lines of the stitchery. But between the stitchery itself and where the border stitching starts is quite poofy and I have been pondering how to quilt it when I read Linda’s suggestion. That is just the thing to finish off my quilt. Maybe it will help you too. Thanks
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I just love your hexagon quilts. My club is looking at doing charm quilts and will be doing a lesson in handpiecing at our next meeting.
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Hi Cathi,oh I’m sorry for not commenting earlier (or to your last posts). I should, because you -again ;o) – made such a great progress with your beautiful quilts! {And the PIF gift you got is gorgeous!}.I hadn’t time to read all comments, but I would definitely avoid quilting over the stitcheries. I don’t think that would enhance the design and after all, you’ve invested much time to embroider these. I’d probably meander/stipple the background or echo-quilting the cute butterflies {although echo quilting is far beyond my machine quilting skills…}..and maybe fill the butterflies’ wings with a swirly pattern (some random loops, stripes etc.).I’m sure you will find the perfect quilting pattern anf finish this quilt to a real heirloom!Hugs, Julia
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That second quilt is just beautiful! All those little hexagons and triangles would make me crazy! Well, crazier than I already am! ;0)
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So interesting to read everyone’s suggestions. I didn’t have a clue, now I’ve learned something.
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I love the butterfly and star quilt, but do not have any idea how you should quilt it.Also enjoyed the picture of the boys together.
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I would outline quilt too, although I’ve certainly seen a number of redwork pieces with grid quilting right over the stitching. It’s shocking, but it works.
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I had an embroidered quilt long arm quilted – she quilted up to, but not over the embroderies. Those embroidered blocks were pretty big, so something was needed. I think for smaller blocks, SID is fine.
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I think I would echo quilt around the butterflies and see how it looked. If it doesn’t look like enough then you could go in the ditch around the butterfly blocks. I think whatever you do, it will turn out just beautiful. You do great work!!!
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Cathi no doubt about it, you do such amazing work, both projects are just amazing….after looking at the butterflies again I think in the ditch or just out a fraction from the ditch…what ever you decide to do will be fantastic.
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Hi CathiThere are two schools of thought in quilting on applique/embroidery blocks. One echoes and the other does nothing. Since your block is so small, you could definitely get by with stitching in the ditch. This might be the best solution, as not to take away from the stitchery. There is going to be one content baby sleeping under that happy and charming quiltCharlsey
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Hi Cathi…what have you decided to do?I think this is a toughie, but I know it will be gorgeous!I wanted to thank you for stopping by and for your kind comment and support for myself but especially for Tim’s family.hugsRobyn xx
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Oh, I love both these projects. Don’t think I’d stitch over the butterflys. The blocks are small and dainty so in the ditch or in 1/4 inch from the edge should be enough. Christine
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keep it as simple as possible don’t over stitch it, as less is more in this case in my humble opinion…..Gill
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