Quilt in a Day Forums

I have quilted for many years and finish with hand quilting. I would like to stipple a lap quilt(starting small). I will pin it to secure it. Is this enough? Do I need to anchor it by stitching corner to corner diangonally? When I hand quilt I use pins (lots and lots of pins) to secure it and start in the center. Would I start in the middle and work to the edge? I would appreciate any help as I have never done this before. Hopefully, this will be a good learning experience.
Judy from hot Texas

I'm just learning myself and asked the same question. Most all said to start in the middle and work out. I've been doing (sort of) a quartercorner at a time.

Linda/Oasis
from hot California

Judy, I don't really know what your quilt looks like, but if it consists of equally sized squares and you plan to stipple all over it, I wouldn't anchor it diagonally if I were you (unless the squares are set on point). If you feel you need to anchor it at all, I'd suggest you do it in the ditch, every 10" or so depending on how big you squares are. But, that's just how I would do it, and I'm no expert.

I'd also suggest starting the stippling in the middle, but for the possible anchor seams I'm sure you'd be fine with starting these from the edges.

Hopefully someone who knows what the quilt looks like will have better advice

Good luck!

Thanks for the help. I will start in the middle and work out. This pattern does not lend to diagonal stitching to anchor it. One more question, do you continue working the center until the whole quilt is completed or do you work a section out to the boarder and then go back to the center and work another section out to the boarder? I have 6 books on machine quilting and they give great instruction on how to quilt a sandwich block but the whole quilt is a different matter. Should I work up or do you work down in the area you are stippling?
Guess that is more than one more question...hope this is a good experience!
Judy

Judy, I think I would probably do as Linda/Oasis suggested, and do it in a "quartercorner" at a time.

I started using the quilt halo and it makes a big difference in how easy it makes the quilt move under the machine. I have lots of control and my hands don't get tired. There is a video of it being used here:

scroll down to Quilt Halo

http://sharonschambernetwork.com/'>http ... twork.com/

That halo looks pretty neat and keeps the quilt flatter that using your hands. I just might have to get one.

Thanks Sewbug.