How do you pick the color thread to do the quilting?
 

I was so excited to start the actual quilting yesterday until I saw how horrible the thread looked on the backing of my quilt!
The top is mostly white with cool blues, lavenders and greys (churn dash blocks) and the backing is a dark blue. I thought (since I was determined to quilt it on my machine) that I would make it simple and just do simple cross lines to match the lines on each of the blocks. I picked this wonderful baby blue and it went so well with the colors on the top. But the back!! I don't think I am ready for such a contrast and don't know what to do other than use the clear filament thread that I always seem to fall back on.

So is the moral of the story to pick my fabric better? Do I just get used to the contrasting thread on the back and hope it never flips?

How do you all wonderful talented quilters do it? I pour over all the pictures and everone of them are absolutely gorgeous! Maybe some day I will have the nerve to post one too!

Liz

I often use a different color in the bobbin. You might need to mess with the tension a little to avoid it showing on the front. The little bit that may show usually disappears once it's washed.

If you don't like the look now, there's nothing wrong with taking out the stitching ou've done.
Better to take the time now, than to hate it forever!

How do I pick the thread?
I audition the thread, against both the back and front.

Pull some of the thread off the spool and just let it fall on the quilt top/backing somewhat like it would be when quilted. That is, about the same distance apart. Stand back a bit, and you'll get a good idea how it will look after quilting.

Contrast of thread is more noticeable, yet can be very effective.
A coarser thread is also more noticeable.
Both tending to show any quilting faux-pas!! :)
Wherease a finer thread is much less noticeable.

I've had good luck with the Wonderfil/DecoBob 100 wt and 80 wt threads when I don't want the thread to be a focus.

It is so frustrating to be on a roll to find out Oooooopppps. To avoid hassles like that i do take backing and thread into consideration. But if you know your machine you can make it work. You didnt really neation why it looks terrible in the back. Is it because the thread is different? If you change the bobbin to dark thread you might end up with littlewhite dots in the stitch and you will need to adjust your tension. I always make a sample quilt piece with the same fabric and do a practice quilt. Try that and maybe try changing it to a hue of gray.

If I am just doing SID, which it sounds like you're doing, I just match my thread color to the backing because it will be hidden on the front by the seam - for the most part. I don't mind a little contrast on the quilt top but I like the back to blend in. Good luck. I'm sure your quilt will be lovely whatever you do.

Since you're machine quilting, I'd change the bobbin thread to match the backing fabric. I hand quilt, so that isn't an option - but believe me, I do consider the thread when I pick my backing fabric. I make sure that it will all work w/ the thread.

I do it like this....not just a single thread, but a lot of thread pulled out and overlapping.

"Tip to help choose the color of your Quilting thread"

http://thecalicohouse.blogspot.com/2...r-of-your.html

For the back of the quilt, I usually use a blending color , nothing that contrasts too much from the backing fabric. I usually use prints for the back of my quilts, the more solid the color is, the more the quilting is going to show on the back of the quilt.

Thanks PatchSamKim .... shows exactly what I was trying to explain!

After all ... a picture is worth a 1000 words!!! :D

Match to your backing is the the best way to go. If your backing is a busy print go with a neutral like beige or grey that will blend. Keep trying different combinations till you find the right one. Better to invest a bit of tme now pulling stitches than to leave it.