Mpark

Now that I am almost ready to quilt my piece, what are your suggestions for the pattern for quilting? I will be using my machine, and this is my first time ever. Any other suggestions will be welcome. This is a baby rail fence.

amma

I would suggest a SID for the first time machine quilting.
First, read on the package of batting how closely you need to quilt. This determines how much quilting you need to do on your quilt.
You can stitch around the blocks or each rail, or some of the rails. You may need to stitch down the center of the rails too :D:D:D

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I just did a rail fence quilt, too. I'm bad, bad, bad at SID. I never stay exactly in the ditch so I quilted 1/4 inch in from each side of each of the outer rails. It was easy to follow the rails and no marking was needed because I used the edge of my foot as a guide.

sewingladydi

A meander would look good-curves in contrast to the straight lines of the rail fence. Plus I think it's easier to do than a SID-more forgiving

sewwhat85

i agree sid is hard for beginer

tjradj

Right now there are a lot more "acceptance" to new ways of stitching straight lines on a quilt.
For instance, if stitch in the ditch is too intimidating, just do vertical and horizontal lines randomly, some in the middle of a rail, some 1/3 from a side, some 1/4 from the side. That way, the only focus you have is to sew straight. And it will look amazing.