? about machine quilting
 

I am doing this as a quick quilt to practice FMQ. The blocks are 12 " square and are all different colors using whatever I had in my stash. I still have 15 more blocks to go. The quilt will be backed with flannel and is just meant to be a cuddle quilt that I practice on. Question is - because I will be quilting on different color backgrounds what color thead should I use and can anyone suggest how to quilt this. The quilt will be 68" X 80" so lots of room to practice. Thanks for any suggestions.

id you do not want your quilting to show use a very fine thread that sota looses itself in the fabric if you want it to show maybe a varigated

if you do not want your quilting to show much---want it to blend in use a medium gray or cream---if you want the stitches to show up use a variegated or a contrasting thread (like white or black) grays tend to blend in with most fabrics and almost disappear---light gray on light fabrics, darker gray on darker fabrics.

Thank you, I do want the quilting to show, because I want to see all the mistakes so that I can improve as I go along but I also want it to look kinda good too. Variegated thread is a great idea. Using fine thread do you mean something like bottom line in both the top and bottom? I will not be using any sashing and one idea is to use a different quilting pattern (free hand) in each colored square or just do a meander all over but that will not give me any practice except with meander which I have done several times so am trying to stay away from doing that.

I think what ever color you use will work, because the quilt has so many different colors. BTW I love the quilt it looks very cuddly.

There is a thread color that seems to go with everything. I would suggest Signature Mother Goose or Signature Camel. Both thread colors would look very nice on this quilt.
For the quilting, you could alternate patterns and echo quilt around one star and radiating lines from the next star.

I like your idea of using a different quilt design in each square. Lots of freehand quilt designs here:

http://www.freemotionquilting.blogsp...nd-design.html

Go to Leah Days website. She teaches FMQ and her quiltalong now uses a wholecloth almost like this. It's a totally free sight from lessons to designs. She does have things to sell but teaches so much for free. It makes you want to buy her CD because she does such a great job at the free stuff.

this was my first thought, too

I like my quilting to show. So personally, I would use a variagated thread. I do not enjoy doing SID, but I would SID the stars and then I would do a background fill so my stars would appear to pop off of the quilt.

Leah day has a great website and hundreds of patterns of fmq.....I like the idea of different patterns for each block, but the problem with that is, it takes lots and lots of practice to get good at one pattern, one square just won't do it.....I would suggest picking a couple different patterns that you can alternate between the squares.....I am working on feathers now (sooo not as easy at it looks).....even just simple wavy lines takes practice to get consistent sizes.....whatever you choose, have fun with it and do your best not to get frustrated!

Thanks everyone - you did what I needed. Made me think!!! Went to Leah Days site and this is what came to mind. My paint drawing skills are non existent so use your imagination please. Thought I would use a neutral thread throught. What do you think..... Even got a name for the quilt. ``Star Flowers``

Since this is for practice I'd quilt each square with different color thread and I'd experiment with different background fillers. Leah Day has 365 different filler designs on her web site.

I have 3 standbys.... one is called 'Gold' from Joanne's cone thread... it is light colored and blends with any beige, light print and even light greens....the color is just weird and seems to pick up almost any light to medium shades around it....

then a light gray works for tons of stuff

and of course, any multicolored variegated thread in the tones you have used.... just open the thread, pull off several feet and lay on quilt top...it will really give you an idea of how well it enhances or disappears, whichever you prefer...

I would use cream color or grey.

I am a recent convert to echo quilting after many struggles with SID -- I found it very tiring to try to hold the fabric seams open and flat and despaired every time I wandered out of the ditch. Echo quilting is SO much easier and really makes the inner design stand out.