I see so many beautiful quilts posted which are professionally (or home done) by LAQ. I was just viewing a post of quilts from a show and some also showed up the beautiful quilting done on them. I have noticed something and wonder if it is just an optical illusion or what. Some quilts seem to have the quilting very pronounced --it appears to stand up almost like it was done too hard and some are far more pleasing to me and seem to blend into the fabric.
I know that they are stretched in order to quilt so I'm thinking that perhaps some are photographed while still on the rack and that is what makes them look so "hard".

Can someone explain this to me?

It could be the density of the quilting design, but I'd bet it has more to do with the batting.

I happen to like very dense quilting - doesn't have to be micro-stippling, but I like the quilt covered.

I've seen quilts done with 100% poly (not Thermore) - and ALL you could see was the quilting.
Especially if it wasn't done with very tight, dense quilting.
I'm not a fan of that look.
I know some LAQ's do prefer the poly.

The same quilting done with a cotton or 80/20 batting (or wool) allows both the piecing design and quilting to shine without one overpowering or dominating.

JMHO. ;-)

eta: I'm not a LAQ.

I'm not a longarmer but I'd guess it's the batting, too. I know that makes a huge difference in how quilting looks when I sew, even on my domestic machine.

I agree, it's probably the batting. Another possibility is trapunto. This is a technique where the quilter adds extra batting in certain sections to make them even poofier than the rest of the quilt.

I know of one longarm quilter who will use 2 batts on quilts that she's entering in shows - she'll put Hobbs 80/20 on the bottom and Tuscany wool on top.

thanks for the types. i never thought of using 2 different types

Whole cloth quilts are another example of why. The entire purpose of them is to show off the quilting. Type of thread used is also a reason for the difference. A fine thread doesn't "show" as much but holds the 3 layers together just as well.

If you are looking at quilts from different sources, are they all lit the same?

A strong side-light, from a single direction, is preferred to highlight the quilt stitching. A window in the early morning or late evening provides such light. Many of the long arm quilters on the board take side-lit photos to emphasize the work that they do. Conversely, having multiple even, broad sources of light makes the stitching difficult to see so the pieced pattern gets more attention. An outdoor photo at mid-day with the quilt laying down flat can make the stitching almost disappear.

When possible, I like to take some photographs with even light and some with side light to show both types of work.

Some show quilts are so densely quilted and the thread color choice is such that the quilting really shows.

I remember several prize winning quilts where the quilting was awesome. Great wall quilts. I surely wouldn't want to sleep under one of them though. They were too hard/stiff.

ali