sayjan

Hi I am just learning how to quilt and have made 5 quilts for Christmas. I am at the stage right now where I am ready to machine quilt. My question is the backs of the quilts are dark and the fronts are light. What colour would you use to quilt it. Can I put the colour for the back in the bottom and the colour for the top on the top? Will that work out?

By the way this site is FANTASTIC. I have learned so much from all of you. I am sure this has been asked before but I have no clue how to search it. lol

Thank you once again.

Jan in VA

Try your own suggestion on a sample piece first to check how your thread tension looks.
Generally for beginning quilters it's easier to put a printed fabric on the back of a quilt so that the print itself will help hide the stitching as you are learning.
Sometimes using a dark backing on a light top will allow the backing to show through the batting to the front, in certain light. There is dark batting useful for altogether dark quilts, that prevents the batting from showing thru, too.

Jan in VA

lynnie

I'd go with a dark bobbin thread to match the back and a light spool thread to match the top fabric. enjoy yourself, breath and show us your end project.

FroggyinTexas

Advice from either of the above is great. And welcome from Texas. froggyintexas

sewbizgirl

If your thread tension is properly balanced then yes, you can have two different colors on top and bottom. Good luck with you quilting!

Jeanne S

As already suggested, you can use Two different colors of thread but it is best to test the result on scraps first. If your thread tension is off just a little, you are likely to see dots of the dark thread on the light fabric side. If that happens and you do not like the resulting look, I would opt to go with the color that matches the quilt top for both sides, and just live with the stitching showing on the back of the quilt.

Tartan

Try a few sample pieces to see if you can get the threads balanced for FMQing first. You can do straight line quilting with a walking foot instead if you have trouble getting the 2 colours balanced.

Dina

Welcome to the board! Like everyone said, do a small test first, and then have fun with it!

Dina

QuiltingByFiona

I always use a different colour in the bobbin to what is on the top, because there usually are different colours. I agree that check your tension first and enjoy!

ManiacQuilter2

I always get a backing that coordinates with the front of the quilt top. If you are doing stitch in the ditch, you may just be OK. But if you are doing FMQ, the black thread will pop up and show on your light fabrics. That is why I try to make sure both threads are very similar.