I have just finished my Birds in the Air quilt! Thanks Margo for the quilting suggestion. I modified it because I didn't want to have to stitch in the ditch around all those HSTs. I found it very difficult to stitch back directly over the curlicues. But I had got better by the end. Thanks to everybody for your suggestions and encouragement.


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I also write "TOP" on the front of the plastic sheet, so I can tell which side has the marker on it...... If I can read the word, I know that the marker side is facing me and not against the quilt top. Even when you clean it off there might be some residue
Kathy

Thanks Lois.

Margo wrote:
Thanks, Margo, I have all those supplies. A good reminder.

Reetzbobeetz wrote:
That's great work. I am glad you are keeping it! I would too! Good job!

Twiglet, I love your baby quilt. The quilting designs are so much FUN!

You can also use clear vinyl to lay over the actual quilt (not a photo) and audition designs with a dry-erase marker. Get the vinyl (sold by the yard) in the upholstery department of stores like Hancock's and JoAnn's. Be sure to mark the edges (I use blue painter's tape) so that you won't accidently mark on the quilt. It does NOT wash out!
Also, there is a more narrow product called Quilter's Preview Paper designed for long-armers to audition designs when a quilt is mounted on the frame that works well.

http://www.handiquilter.com/product/quilters-preview-paper/

Here is a video showing how to use the preview paper, but Michelle is using a Sharpie Marker, which is permanent.

http://www.handiquilter.com/videos/?id=18

http://www.handiquilter.com/videos/?id=17

WOW! Some really neat stuff going on here.

I wonder if you could use transparent plastic sheets, like we used for overhead projectors when teaching? You could just place the picture down on a flat surface, and then tape the top of the plastice sheet and draw the quilting possibilities with an wipe-away marker, like the ones used on white boards?

Hi Margo,

Thanks for you suggestions. My machine quilting skills are very limited, so my quilting will also be limited and not very dense. However, I might incorporate some of your ideas.

Thanks again!

Renata wrote: Hi Renata,

I've been around, just reading a lot more than writing. Admittedly, I felt that I was spending way too much time online and made a conscious effort to cut back. Also, since I didn't participate in this year's TQS BOM--which seemed to dominate the Forum this year--I skipped past most of those related blog posts. I've enjoyed seeing all of the different interpretations of the BOM and look forward to the 2013 BOM.

Nancy, long time since you've been on the Forum (or have I missed something?) In any event, so glad to see you again! Wish I had quilting advice but I'm the one who's begging for help on quilting these days... Just wanted to say hi!

Margo wrote:
Thanks for your advice, Margo! It had never occurred to me to use Paint to do this. Yesterday, I used Paint to design the quilting for a quilt due in a couple of weeks. I had been struggling with how to quilt it, so I loaded Paint with a photo of a few of my quilt blocks and practiced quilting it online. I even used purple paint, since I will be quilting the quilt with purple thread. Here's a crude sample of one design: So far, I've not mastered using Paint's curved line feature.

I'm open to other ideas/suggestions for quilting this quilt.

Marilyn, I used monopoly on the quilt blocks and I used Superior Rainbows in a purple/pink combo for the sashing cornerstones and the border. I really love the Rainbows thread and my machine loves it too. Thanks.

Love the quilt Rita, it's quirky.

Thank you for comments on quilt. Yes of course you can use the foot print idea it's not mine. I googled baby quilting design and it came up with all the longarm designs and I reckon if you can long arm it you can fmq it

Marilyn some of the thread is a variegated blue/grey/cream but I changed to ivory because at night the blue looks black