How artsy can I get with quilting?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 190
How artsy can I get with quilting?
I've gotten my quilt layed out and pinned (unless I decide to change it again) and I'm thinking that I definitely do not want to tie it like I've done before. What would be really ideal would be stitched branch shapes to make the concept more than just blending colors.
I've never stitched a quilt and it ended up being full sized so its probobly not the best idea to decide to learn to free motion quilt on this project (although I'm typically good at sewing curves). I used to do alot of embroidery so I'm thinking hand quilting is the way to go.
So what are the rules? How much space between seams is too much from a practical standpoint? How much can my quilting be drawing with thread?
I've never stitched a quilt and it ended up being full sized so its probobly not the best idea to decide to learn to free motion quilt on this project (although I'm typically good at sewing curves). I used to do alot of embroidery so I'm thinking hand quilting is the way to go.
So what are the rules? How much space between seams is too much from a practical standpoint? How much can my quilting be drawing with thread?
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 4,394
No rules! It sounds like you have a good idea of how you'd like it to look, you just need to decide on a technique. Space between quilting is limited by the batting. Some batting will allow you to space stitching further apart. Do you think some of the big stitch hand quilting would look good? I don't think I could FMQ something that large on my domestic machine. If you're going to hand quilt, you might pick a batting that is recommended as easy to hand quilt.
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Live Oak, Texas
Posts: 6,133
Some of the prettiest quilts I have seen the quilter did beautiful artsy quilting. It is your quilt so go with what you feel right with and you will find that you have beautiful quilts that are your own designs.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Wis
Posts: 5,928
No rules at all! And if your quilt is well basted and you have support behind/to the left of your machine, you will be able to manuver it for quilting. I've done quilts bigger than that on my regular machine (before I got my bigger machine). I think your idea sounds awesome. You should go for it!
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Well, there is one rule! The batting dictates the farthest apart your quilting lines can be. Some batting will support 10" between quilting, some 3 or 4 inches so it makes a big difference. Look at the packaging your batting came in, or go online and look it up.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,571
No rules! It sounds like you have a good idea of how you'd like it to look, you just need to decide on a technique. Space between quilting is limited by the batting. Some batting will allow you to space stitching further apart. Do you think some of the big stitch hand quilting would look good? I don't think I could FMQ something that large on my domestic machine. If you're going to hand quilt, you might pick a batting that is recommended as easy to hand quilt.
#9
I've gotten my quilt layed out and pinned (unless I decide to change it again) and I'm thinking that I definitely do not want to tie it like I've done before. What would be really ideal would be stitched branch shapes to make the concept more than just blending colors.
I've never stitched a quilt and it ended up being full sized so its probobly not the best idea to decide to learn to free motion quilt on this project (although I'm typically good at sewing curves). I used to do alot of embroidery so I'm thinking hand quilting is the way to go.
So what are the rules? How much space between seams is too much from a practical standpoint? How much can my quilting be drawing with thread?
I've never stitched a quilt and it ended up being full sized so its probobly not the best idea to decide to learn to free motion quilt on this project (although I'm typically good at sewing curves). I used to do alot of embroidery so I'm thinking hand quilting is the way to go.
So what are the rules? How much space between seams is too much from a practical standpoint? How much can my quilting be drawing with thread?
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 190
Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. I knew that I didn't see spaced out designs very often for a reason, and I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like what I'm envisioning before. I think it work to have some areas with a leaf motif spaced 6-8" apart and some areas with branches a little closer -- or would individual motifs be too small for some reason? Is there a good batting for hand stitching and wide spacing? I havent chosen backing or batting yet, I just needed to figure out if this idea would work because I would want to adjust the layout otherwise. I do have two fabric stores nearby claiming to be the biggest in the nation so I should be able to get what I need if it exhists. Also what is a good resource to help me understand the differences between hand quilting and embroidery (other than the obvious)?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Fab-ra-holic
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
42
06-22-2011 09:23 AM