ITH Quilt blocks and Quilt as You Go

As we have been doing the quilt along I have had a few people ask about ITH Quilting and using quilt as you go techniques.

The quilt as you go techniques that we are using for the quilt along are a perfect way to use ITH quilt blocks.

I have posted a few points for you consider when doing ITH quilting

• Check out your quilt blocks with a sew simulator etc before launching in to a full scale stitching of the block. If the quilt block combines embroidery as well as quilting make sure that all the embroidery is completed before you float the back and finish off the quilted section of the design.
• Your choice of thread is important here. Do you want to have the look of the quilting thread as in a traditional quilt ?  Some ITH quilt blocks that have stippling incorporated in the design may still need to be completed with embroidery thread in the bobbin and you do not really want that on the back of your quilt.
• Some digitisers may not give you instructions to change the threads etc so be mindful of that.
• Also you do not want your machine to be automatically cutting jump stitches and have the little tie offs that are left so turn off that feature when you are doing the last stitching.
• If you are not confident with just floating your quilt backing under the hoop, remove the  hoop from the machine(with your design still firmly attached) and very carefully attach the backing with a light spray baste. Place the hoop back on the machine and stitch the final quilting step.