How and what do you choose to do?

[Susan B.]

Amo, Quilter's Newsletter Magazine published an article re how quilting makes the quilt and had several good pictures of sam e block but with different quilting designs...I believe the article discussed tips on how to get to the final design stage also. This article was published a few years ago....

[Susan B.]

Here's a thought - How about a block of the month 'quilt' that is exactly that a QUILT :shock: , either 'whole cloth' or 'quilt as you go' with no piecing (except construction seams) or applique.
We could even try to organise a round robin design team
Lets get the quilting back into the quilts :lol:

yours in the cause

Rosemary

[Sue R.]

Rosemary, I've also thought about this subject. Certainly the accepted current tread is for the quilting to really steal the show when it comes to show quality quilts. Not to say that the piecing skills or designs aren't valued, but a winning quilt now has to be stupendous in both areas, or at the least, in the quilting area. The video on the Daily blog with the quilts from Road to California shows this on many of the quilts. Isn't that Lord of the Rings quilting something ?!
Quilts of long ago, however, had quilting to hold it together--the quilting was a more subtle design element and there for a purpose, but not meant to be the star of the show like now.
I love all the breathtaking designs, the shine, the artistry of the winning show quilts. But I don't think you'd want to sleep underneath one---I imagine it would feel like corrugated cardboard.
So, at least in my perhaps over simplistic mind, there is magnificent quilting for show, wall or art quilts, and less dense quilting meant to be pretty but not so dominant for our bed quilts that we want to be cozy.

[Sue R.]

Isn't the density of stitchiing a matter of personal taste?

You wil over and over again see that types of quilting thread, patterns and density of quilting is a personal taste. But if you look at it this way: If you want something to stand out, an applique f ex, if you quilt around it it will stand out even more. Depending on what batting you are using it can get a trapunto feel to it if densly quilted. It does not need to be some spectacular type of quilting, but in the same color as the backgound fabric. I have even changed color of a fabric that didnt work well using dens quilting :shock: If you are unsure make 3 sandwichs ( 7" sqs should be enough!) , draw a circle on each of them and quilt with different denseties on it and you can tell what will work for you and the quilt.
But; as I alway say: The most important is to have fun while doing the FMQ!