dunster

Absolutely beautiful job on the applique. This is one quilt where you don't want to see the quilting IMHO. I would SITD to make the applique pop, then (if you think it really needs more quilting) use a matching silk thread to quilt straight lines along the lines of the background.

Tartan

I would do straight lines in invisible thread radiating out from the middle. I would do the short lines out until I could do the SITD around the dragonflies. I would then do a few lines between and out to the edge.

luvspaper

I agree with following the radiating lines of the background rather than competing with them.

Maureen NJ

Dubstep, that’s exactly what I would do!

Maureen NJ

Sorry, Dunster.

Nanny's dollface

I would agree with an earlier post about following the radiating lines. I will be tracking this post as I have the pattern and will be making it this year. I just started doing long arm quilting and tend to be baffled on how to quilt something with lots of negative space. Practice makes perfect

rryder

I'd be tempted to ditch around the appliqué to make it stand out, then following the direction of the the light and dark lines in your background I'd do some matchstick-like quilting with either a 100wt. silk or poly in a matching color, or using an invisible thread. The matchstick quilting would give the background texture that is like the visual texture it already has and would flatten it more which would allow the organic shapes of the butterflies to stand out.

Beautiful quilt!!!

Rob

SusieQOH

I love that piece however I'm so new to machine quilting that I can't give any opinion. Can't wait to see the finished quilt. It's gorgeous!

elnan

[QUOTE=MarionsQuilts;8005972]I really love the job I have done with my applique of the dance of the dragonflies.

I am struggling on how to quilt it. I have done straight lines - taken them out, done some tight stippling - taken them out.

And now I have done some meandering (organic LOL) quilting, but I still don't like it ...

What do you think? My tension is fine (finally), but I am seriously struggling with how to quilt this. I am almost tempted to not even quilt the negative space.

Please, give me your honest opinion, criticism. I don't mind taking it out again - I haven't quilted very much of it.

Thank you,

I am hardly the one to give advice on continuation of such a beautiful work of art. All I can tell you is that I greatly admire your work. Growing up in the South and having spent many hours daydreaming as I watched what we called "Snake Doctors", your "Dragonflies", you have captured the shimmering beauty of some of God's creations. Thank you for giving us a chance to look.

Terry in the ADK

Not sure how much you have done so far but if not much, here’s an idea. Deicide which way the light is coming from and do “rays” in a color which blends into the background.
BTW I like what you have already.