cjsews has excellent advice for you--what you drew makes great sense. In the setting blocks you could echo the seam about 1/2" away and in the white parts in the actual block you could do the same--and leave the red and blue in the blocks alone. Nice quilt!

I got the batting off a huge bolt so there was no packaging but I'll call them tomorrow. Yep, I have to come up with something inside the blocks...

What great ideas! Thank you everyone! You've bailed my sorry tail out again!

I always quilt no more than 3-4" apart. Not worth it to me to take a chance of it bunching up later on.

I usually do FMQ and it is not an issue.

Your quilt is beautiful, love those colors.

Your quilt so nice, you'll get to love it more after its done. I find it easier to quilt spirals or feathers then straight lines. Swirls and curves work for me. Straight lines, don't come straight enough. I would do feathers and make some sort of x type shape on the blue diamonds to get from one block to the next, if that makes any sense. I agree too much quilting makes a quilt stiff. I always start in the center of my quilt and work my way outward, so it comes out nice and flat without puckering. Another suggestion is just some swirls in all the white background, see how it is and decide if you want to add more. Play as you go.

I would stitch two lines down the red stripes with blue thread, stopping at the border.
Then stitch 2 lines with red thread say an inch in from each side of the border.
Then stitch a square say an inch away from white squares, with white thread.

I think the contrasting colors would pull the whole thing together.
Or if you choose, use matching colors but the same quilt pattern. =)
For example, I think all blue thread would look good too....

Audition the thread!
Unwind and put down 16" or so of red, white and blue thread on the different parts of your quilt.

See what you think looks the best! And run with it. :)

I would stitch around the stars in the white sections with white thread and also around the white centre squares. White thread on white fabric......very, very forgiving and actually, swivelling your work ever so slightly to "follow" the star points is very doable....just take your time and check your backing for bunching each time you've swivelled...but if you've basted fastidiously (and that is an absolute must in your preparation for quilting) that shouldn't be a problem and as you get comfortable with the process it will become easier and easier. I agree, red stitching through the red and the blue...it'll provide a nice contrast when the eye rests on the red stitching across the blue. Walking foot quilting can be very versatile; check out Jacquie Gerings' books and you tubes...she's brilliant and very clear with her instructions. Good luck, you'll be fine and your quilt will look fabulous.

I might add at this point in time I am angsting over exactly the same problem. I have a quilt top of very contrasting colours and I have a gazillion different coloured threads laid out across it auditioning for me. It drives me nuts!!!!!

I send mine out. FMQ is beyond my capabilities. I just got a blue bear paw back from her. It has the sashing too. She did a wild river (bunched ribbon) in the sashing. It is quite impressive especially from the back because you can really see the quilting. I'm still hamstrung with this new phone/camera and unable to upload to the board.

I like your idea of the stitching across the red sashing. My choice in the blocks would be stitch in the ditch around the stars and around that center white piece. And, yes, you can use transparent thread. Some don't like it but I've used it on several kid quilts and it has held up well. Is this the quilt that has satin in it?? (There was one recently.) Be careful of quilting on the satin as the needle pokes holes that may not be so desirable and I suppose could end up with those pieces fraying out. Good job on this one as it is very striking in color and pattern!