contrasting thread for quilting
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
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contrasting thread for quilting
I am quilting a baby quilt now. The quilt top has a variety of dark blue patterned fabrics. The back is a lighter "baby blue" solid flannel. If I do my quilting with the lighter blue thread it will show on the quilt top. If I user the darker blue thread to blend with the top it will show on the back. Is this something that you guys concern yourself with? I have variegated thread, but it still shows pretty much. What do you guys think?
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,468
It depends on how confident my FMQ skills are. If I think the pattern I attempt may have some boo boos, I usually try to match the thread closely to the backing fabric. The large expanse of the backing fabric show more imperfections if there is high thread contrast.
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
It depends-if you like your quilting skills, pick the color of thread that compliments the quilt top and let it show on the back--if not, or you want the piecing to be the focus, select a neutral thread color that will blend in or "disappear". My quilting skills are not the greatest, so for this reason I always select a back with a print and in the same color as the thread I plan to use so the quilting doesn't show up that much on the back.
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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I would probably use variegated thread, but a lot depends on the quilting design and how forgiving (or unforgiving) it is, plus your skill level. In general, I find a meander with variegated thread looks fine on most quilts as long as the stitches are fairly uniform and the curves fairly smooth.
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Winchester, VA
Posts: 1,552
I just finished a charity breast cancer quilt, and used hot pink in the top, and off while in the bobbin...my tension was spot on.....and I had none of bobbin showing on top or vice versa...I would use 2 colors - and use varigated on the top, and as close to matching as I could in the bobbin for the backing.
#7
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
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Even if you get a little dot of the bobbin thread on the top, it will not show or be considerably less noticeable after you wash and dry it. It is reallllly hard to get the tension so perfect that you don't get that little dot of color.
#8
I usually use 2 different threads in cases like this....one in the top and one in the bobbin. Since i quilt to hold it together and mostly only do straight stitches of different kinds - the "matching" hides my mistakes much better !!!!!
#10
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 8,101
The infamous 'dot' always makes an appearance on the quilts I quilt with two different threads. But it usually disappears when i wash the quilt so I no longer get crazy about it. You can only adjust your tension sooooo many times...
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09-27-2010 05:37 AM