First Time Quilter Needs Advice

[LovieDovieAnn]

Okay. So maybe not first time. But first time in over ten years. So it's kinda lost to me. I want to make a quilt for my sister's baby shower next weekend. It's going to be a crib quilt and I opted for large pieces totaling only 16 for the entire front. It's a homemade design done on QuiltAssistant 2.03 and I'm rather proud of it. But I need a little help with ideas here.

The Design:



The Supplies:



Should I just do ditch quilting all over? Or would a little straight quilting through the pieces be too much? The outer fabrics are large print plaids and the design fabrics have very little pattern. What do you guys think?

Also, the proper way to piece this one escapes me. Should I do to sun and rays first, then the hills, then the borders? 

Last question: The batting is rather thin, natural wool. Is doubling up on a baby quilt acceptable or should I just do the one layer to avoid bulk?

[Marmish]

I would use the blue as the background for the top half and applique the sun rays and center onto the blue.  If you think the blue will show through, use a piece of batting under the yellow pieces.  It will also give the sun a bit more dimension.  I would use a muslin for the base of the bottom half and do the same with the hills, or overlap them working top to bottom and top stitch or hand applique them to each other.

As for the batting, I use Warm and Natural, which I think is rather thin, and I don't double it.  Never used wool, so I can't compare.

I like your design a lot.

[LovieDovieAnn]

So you're saying to appliqué the yellow pieces? I didn't think of that. That would take soooooooooo much less time. And considering my deadline, it's BRILLIANT! And the batting will probably get done even if it doesn't peek through cause it's really too plain otherwise.

Thanks! 

[Eowynt]

Quilting in the ditch is an effective and easy way to  quilt - especially if you are rusty. It will bring out the pieced design elements nicely.  I cannot help you with the applique part, though.  I machine piece everything. . .

[Marmish]

So you're saying to appliqué the yellow pieces? I didn't think of that. That would take soooooooooo much less time. And considering my deadline, it's BRILLIANT! And the batting will probably get done even if it doesn't peek through cause it's really too plain otherwise.

Thanks! 

Yep, applique the yellow.  You can do it by hand, or turn the edges and topstitch, zigzag or satin stitch.  If you satin stitch use fusing or some kind of stabilizer.

[LovieDovieAnn]

Crap. I didn't leave room to turn the edges. 

I think I'll just use a semi-tight zig zag and let it fray if it wants to. The colors and style are okay if they look a little worn, right? 

[Marmish]

I think that will work.  It won't really fray much.  Be careful not to make your zig zag too narrow, and if it wants to bunch up or move around, you have a couple of options:  glue it down with a washable glue stick and then stitch it, or if it's bunching, use some kind of stabilizer behind the base fabric - this could be as basic as tissue paper.

Sorry if this is too late.  I was out of town getting sunburned

[LovieDovieAnn]

It is, actually. The completed quilt is already posted. I did the zig zag and it's really cute. It also didn't need stabilizing, which is nice since I'd already blown my budget. haha

[Marmish]

Glad everything went smoothly.  I am like a walking Worst Case Scenario Handbook, always trying to predict what will go wrong.  Finished pic's.

[LovieDovieAnn]

Yeah...I know the feeling. Nothing ever falls into place nicely. Ever.