Thank you so much everyone! Your ideas are all good ones, and I can't wait to start. I'll order books, and the ideas about how to doodle on the quilt with plastic and with a photo are wonderful. Great help - just what I was needing!

Thanks again,
Cheryl

There is a product called Quilter's Preview Paper that is specifically designed for use on a long-arm. It's crystal clear and you can see your quilt through it. Using dry erase markers you can try (and erase) quilting designs until you get one you like! This link shows some other uses for it as well. I use it often, and the fact that it's reusable makes it a smart buy!

http://www.quilterstouch.com/previewpaper.htm

As for choosing what designs to try, it's always smart to look at photos of finished quilts from the same period. Lots of great ideas!

I would look at several books containing antique quilts to see how they were quilted. Utilitarian or everyday quilts sometimes had an allover Baptist fan, clamshell, or grid pattern. I'm a hand quilter/beginning machine quilter, so I'm not an expert on what patterns to use with the large machines. As for border designs, you might want to look at all of the design elements within the quilt and use some of these as an idea for your border quilting design. Judy in Torrance

If you have some wide plastic, like the stuff used to cover tables, lay that over the quilt/hang it over the quilt on the design wall and draw in designs this way. This allow you to see what the design will look like and practice quilting all in one shot. Use washable markers so that the plastic can be used again.

If you're a member of a guild or mini-group, take the quilt to them for suggestions. I get some of the best ideas from friends.

Look at the quilt itself - what cues is the quilt giving. Are there wide open spaces where an intricate design can be quilted? Long spaces where cross hatching or a gridded design will work?

Feel free to send me pictures, I'd be happy to share some ideas.

Teri

PDQuilt, what a wonderful idea! I would have never thought of that, thanks for posting it.

JoAnne in southern California

make several copies of your quilt (take a picture) on just plain paper. Then spend several days doodling over it until you like what you see.

I have a Tin Lizzie 18" mid-arm machine and I can't seem to get over the dilemma of what quilting to put where - especially sashing and star blocks.

And what do you put on a genuine antique (but not valuable) quilt top that won't look completely inappropriate?

It disables me to the point that I can hardly get started. I can't be the only one with this problem. HELP! Has anyone got helpful ideas?