Wildflowers Quilt

[jebm]

I have a wildflowers quilt to quilt--its embroidery applique--done in batiks, very pretty. I'm just not sure how to handle those blocks with the embroidery applique. I saw a quilt at a show this weekend that had machine embroidered flowers in blocks. The quilting was a meander which didn't get close to the flowers--and they puffed out--and the blocks were quilted so that the areas around the embroidery were all different--not quilted. The area around the embroidery/applique on the quilt I have is fairly small. Suggestions? Thanks! Jane

[RitaR]

Jane, that sounds so pretty... I'm wondering if somehow you could post of a block or two, which gives us a real good idea of what you mean.. or what you are working with.

From my thinking.. not a good thing to do now, I think I would outline 1/4" away from the emb/appliq part and do a fairly small stipple or meandering in that small area.. or very small McTavishing.. like a bunch of bananas, with only 3 or 4 bananas.. might be hard for the area.. That's all I can think of right now.. no, maybe you do peas or pebbles in the background.. I think that would work well, you can size them to suit the area.. you wouldn't want say 4 big peas, rather use 8-9 or so.. depending on size of area and peas.

Ritar

[Mary Beth]

Jane,

Sounds like you have a beautiful quilt to work on. I would use your favorite brand of clear thread to SID around that applique. That will give the flowers definition. Then do whatever background you prefer. McTavishing looks beautiful on a quilt like you are describing, keeping it consistant on the quilt. You can do a different background in each block, that is entirely up to you. I like consistancey....but I am a traditionalist too. I'm sure a lot of other people will give you really great advice.

[Quilting Heidi]

I agree with Mary Beth. I always SID around applique and try not to quilt on it unless it just needs something added. If you don't you will get the look like the quilt you saw in show this weekend. Sounds really pretty.

[Gator]

I'm with MB and Heidi, I don't quilt over embroidery or applique. I like to meander around it or cross hatch.

[Stagecl]

I am with Connie, MB and Heidi, I don't quilt over embroidery or applique (unless I am adding the veining on leaves or some thread painting).