Quilting: top up or bottom up?
11-19-2010, 11:33 AM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin Texas
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I'm ready to start quilting my first quilt and i will be doing a different color on each side to match the fabric. Should I quilt with the backside up or the front side up? Also do I need to start in the center and work out or does it matter? Thanks so much!!
11-19-2010, 11:35 AM
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North Carolina
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When I was doing it on my regular ole sewing machine, I would go from the middle out because it let the "extra" ease out to the free edges.
Now that I have a frame, I normally go from side-to-side of the quilt. On bigger ones or double stuffed, I'll still start in the middle and work my way out.
I like to quilt on the face of the quilt. That way I can kinda watch out for seams. I dunno what the "proper" way to do it is. :P
Now that I have a frame, I normally go from side-to-side of the quilt. On bigger ones or double stuffed, I'll still start in the middle and work my way out.
I like to quilt on the face of the quilt. That way I can kinda watch out for seams. I dunno what the "proper" way to do it is. :P
11-19-2010, 01:07 PM
#8
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Are you doing Stitch-in-the-ditch or free motion? If SID, then I start in the middle of the quilt at the edge of a seam line. I have only ever quilted with the top side UP.
When doing FMQ, then I start somewhere close to the center of the quilt - again, with the top side UP.
I can imagine quilting the back side up when the backing fabric has a motiv that is used as the quilting outline.
When doing FMQ, then I start somewhere close to the center of the quilt - again, with the top side UP.
I can imagine quilting the back side up when the backing fabric has a motiv that is used as the quilting outline.
11-19-2010, 01:19 PM
#9
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Location: FL
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Either or both! Whatever works best for your project. I made a quilt for my niece that had a piece back with her name and butterflies appliqued. I wanted to quilt around that, so I started with backside up, then flipped it over once that was done. It came out great. It looks great when a back has a large floral and it's quilted around the floral design. Looks nice on the front.
11-19-2010, 04:18 PM
#10
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If you're using two different color threads for the top and bottom you may find that you're unhappy with the final product. The tension may need to be constantly adjusted (depending on your machine, quilt etc.) and you may get the other color popping through to both the back and front. It's usually easiest and you'll get the best results using the same color top and bobbin thread.
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