quilting redwork

[kathyst2]

I am trying to decide how to quilt some redwork blocks. They are 13 inches square, with a redwork chrysanthemum in the middle of each block. The flowers are around 6 or 7 inches around. I am going to machine quilt this. If I leave the flower unquilted it will look funny. Should I quilt a grid right through the flower? I've googled redwork quilts and haven't found much info except to do grid quilting. Kathy

[kathyst2]

Kathy, when I hand quilted a "redwork" quilt I outlined each design, even individual design segments. Then I did a half inch grid on the blocks up to the redwork but not over the redwork.
Margarita

[kathyst2]

I too, would be tempted to stitch around and then do the grid up to it.

[kathyst2]

My dilemma is: the Chrysanthemum flower is big, with lots of loopy petals. There's nothing to outline, except the outer edge of the flower. I don't really like the way the lines for the cross hatching would cross through the flower ( I drew the lines on one block with a washout pen). Maybe I could treat it as an applique- outline the outer edges, and then quilt a few lines in the interior of the flower???

Thanks for the quick answers, I appreciate it.
kathy

[Zarah]

My dilemma is: the Chrysanthemum flower is big, with lots of loopy petals. There's nothing to outline, except the outer edge of the flower. I don't really like the way the lines for the cross hatching would cross through the flower ( I drew the lines on one block with a washout pen). Maybe I could treat it as an applique- outline the outer edges, and then quilt a few lines in the interior of the flower???

Thanks for the quick answers, I appreciate it.
kathy

This is how I would do it

[Reetzbobeetz]

It sounds like you have a plan now Kathy. I would love to see it when you are done?

[suehenyon]

Is there any way to add embellishment the interior of the design that would also be quilting? I'm thinking of little round or oblong things, maybe hand-stitched.

[kathyst2]

Is there any way to add embellishment the interior of the design that would also be quilting? I'm thinking of little round or oblong things, maybe hand-stitched.

Sue, when I went back today to look at the design, I think that handstitching on the inside is the only way to go. The design is so densely embroidered that any machine stitching would not look too good. There isn't a pathway or anything through the interior. Maybe some handquilting along the edges of some of the petals so it is nearly invisible??? I was thinking about some beads.....

These blocks were part of a block exchange at our guild from 8 years ago. My mom won the five blocks. 4 are in autumn colors and 1 is blue! I put the 4 into a 4 block layout on the front, the blue one is on the back.

This is probably the reason I didn't do anything with these blocks before

Kathy

[suehenyon]

Can you post a picture of one or two?

[rehak]

The professional longarmers on mqresource.com generally recommend quilting right over the embroidery. We always feel like it will interfere with the stitchery, but it doesn't if stitched in a thin, matching thread and avoids the ugly puff of the unquilted area. I don't have any personal experience with this, just passing on what I've read again and again.

[rehak]

Well, I wasn't thinking dense machine embroidery--that changes things.

[suehenyon]

Nancy, that information is good to know! Thanks!

[kathyst2]

I ended up doing a 1 inch diagonal crosshatch over the blocks. One block was very puffy and it needed to be held down. It looks pretty good. Kathy