I think the hardest part to quilting a quilt is decide what motifs or how much to quilt/leave unquilted. My first reaction is always to quilt the snot out of it, but I'm not sure that is always the right thing to do. So I need your help!
 |
| I've added both sides on the quilt. |
 |
| I've added some straight line quilting to mimic the sashing. |
 |
| I used this bar to help guide the lines, but I still really hate doing straight lines, they are never very straight. |
 |
| So the big question is, do I quilt in the big areas between the sashing lines? |
 |
| What should I quilt? Something simple like stippling? A different "fill" in each area? |
Anyway, I would love it if you would all give me some ideas. I would like to quilt both sides before I added the top and bottom border.
I'm linking up to day with
Leah Day for FMQ Friday!
Color Me Quilty!
Pat
P.S. You still have until Saturday evening to enter my Fall Fabric Giveaway - click here for details!
looks great! I, too, like to quilt the snot(ha) outa stuff
ReplyDeleteWhat about fill in as you did with the blocks but use the blending thread not high contrast. The straight line in sashing looks great and is a good rest for the eye.
I say straight line quilting that is not perfectly straight is "organic" as in 'no I'm not a computer: I am human. :)
Straight line quilting that is perfectly straight doesn't look handmade. Organic lines are great! I would probably put a "rounded" fill inside the straight lines for a bit of contrast. I would NOT quilt the snot out of it.....well I would TRY to not quilt it that densely. Sometimes my hands take over and it ends up very quilted. LOL.
ReplyDeleteLike Diane said, I'll go with waves with blending threads, and then filled them as the top, but less densely.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand...the "lay" of the quilt is better if the quilting density is the same all over the quilt. So, if you quilt densely in the middle the borders lay better if they are quilting close to that same density. That's what they say anyway. However, I have no idea who "they" are!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI think the quilting you have done so far is stunning!!!
I am just pondering the same question on my colour quilt, i.e how densely to quilt it. In your quilt I would quilt the borders equally as densely. Looking at it I would continue the lines/areas from each panel into the corresponding border area, but stitch it in coordinating thread so it just blends in leaving your layered panels the centre of attention.
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the smoothness of the sides with the denseness of the top. I think it would look good left like it is, but I know that's unlikely. I think some "loose" loops to contrast w/the top would look good. (and if you don't like the way it turns out, you can send it to me.....I would love it and pet it on a regular basis...8-)
ReplyDeletexo Linda
You have done such a beautiful job on this quilt! I do agree that the thread should blend with the background. What about using a medium sized "Paisley" design (Leah's Paisley). That wouldn't be as dense but yet would be a nice curvy fill.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure whatever you decide on will be absolutely beautiful. I can't believe I am giving you suggestions, after all you are the one that gave me such good advice on free motion quilting that changed my life!! I can't wait to see your finish.
Love your quilting - nice with the yellow stripes in your quilt :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, wow! This quilt looks great. For some reason, when I saw the blocks being put together before, I didn't realize it was so large, which makes it even more impressive.
ReplyDeleteI think the sides need 'something,' and I tend to agree with some others that you can "extend" the organic shapes from the blocks down through the sides. But on the sides, quilt with a thread color that blends in. I think the effect would be great. You could also do "lighter" quilting that mimicked the blocks if you don't want to quilt as detailed.
You may also have thought of something else. It's going to be great. I'm sure of it because you have a great eye!
I know fully understand your comment on my blog about quilting straight lines is the hardest thing to do. Although, your straight lines on the sashing look fantastic to me.
ReplyDeleteYour quilting is amazing! I love how you use thread to paint such lovely quilting.
I think the sashing still needs something...but something simple like stippling or big loops or big circles.
Hello Pat,
ReplyDeleteI hate straight lines too.
I totally agree with Karin's suggestion for the quilting, but I would be tempted to use a contrasting thread just to be able to see it better when quilting - not too much of a contrast, though.
Love,
Muv
Hello Pat,
ReplyDeleteI hate straight lines too.
I totally agree with Karin's suggestion for the quilting, but I would be tempted to use a contrasting thread just to be able to see it better when quilting - not too much of a contrast, though.
Love,
Muv
Oh, I'd probably quilt the snot out of it, and in a dark blue thread so it sort of matches and stands out. I'm sure whatever you do will look great though!
ReplyDeleteYou've had a lot of suggestions for continuing the quilting on this most amazing quilt. I sit down to quilt "a few lines" then end up quilting the snot out of it! How does that happen. Love all your fill quilting, though. It really works nicely. BTW, on straight lines, I've discovered that I use my 6" or 9" square rotary cutting rulers, along the edge of my foot, as a guide. Tape a couple of pieces of sandpaper to the bottom for better grip, but leave enough lines to see through for measuring the guidelines. Gives me nice straight lines. I like them straight, too. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteHow about some fun feathers? Or water waves FMQ . Some big motifs will also get you through these borders quickly.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you decide.
Happy quilting!
Wow this quilt is a prize winner for sure. I love straight lines and agree with what Gene said. Maybe different sizes of spaces created by straight line? Deciding what to quilt is always a challenge for me.
ReplyDeleteI thought following the "waves" from the inside squares and maybe do a different motif like you did on the inside only with neutral threads.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking maybe a simple serpentine stitch, or some other decorative machine stitch, in those sashing spaces. It's ok to add machine stitching to a free-motion quilt. And oh my gosh, your free-motion blocks are absolutely stunning.
ReplyDeleteI do like it when you quilt the snot out of quilts, but since you did that for quite a bit of the quilt just some light quilting might be nice on the edges. I think that some more organic straight lines might be nice, actually.
ReplyDelete