Do you use thread the same color as your backing?

[#1piecemaker]

I have always been told that you are supposed to use the same color thread as your backing is to quilt with. However, I have gone outside the realm here and used white on a colored background and colored thread on a white background. I think it looks pretty neat. What do you think?

[gollytwo]

I use whatever thread I feel like using.

[Stitchnripper]

I agree with gollytwo. I try to use a busy background because my FMQ is a bit sporadic.

[QuiltnNan]

your color choice for your thread is part of your design element... so use what pleases you

[luana]

I try to use backing with a busy pattern that will hide my thread when I do my own quilting on my domestic machine. When I send my quilts out, I am charged for changing the color of thread multiple times. So I don't think there is a rule.

[Barb in Louisiana]

I love using a thread color that shows up & pops on the quilt backing. It creates a reversible quilt. I quilt on a longarm with pantographs. It's a good thing others don't know what the design is supposed to look like. lol Ironically, everyone I show my quilts to, like the fronts but love the backs. I know before I give them the quilt that they are going to use it "upside down" because they like the simplicity & the starkness of the contrasts between the quilt back color & the thread.

There are NO quilt police. Do it like you want. Another irony, I match the quilting thread to the front so that it doesn't take away from the piecing & the quilt pattern. My material in my backs are always found on the front of the quilt too. This way there is no shock from a front that's pink & brown to a back that's yellow. Using a brown back with pink thread is stunning!

[feline fanatic]

The only reason you would want to use the same color thread as your backing is to camoflauge your quilting, to hide mistakes, etc. Prints will also do this no matter what color is in your bobbin and solids tend to show the quilting even if you match the color. If you are confident in your quilting I say ignore your backing color and go with whatever you have in the top.
I have had client quilts where the client specifically asked me to match the back and then later regretted their choice because you really couldn't see the quilting. Given a preference I like to match my bobbin thread to my top thread and ignore the backing color. Some of the results have been spectacular, like red and white bobbin thread on a black backing, made the back almost like a whole cloth.

[alleyoop1]

It's your creation and your the artist - so use whatever you want! There really are no such thing as quilt-police. If someone criticizes - they are showing ignorance of an artist's work.

[#1piecemaker]

Yall think the same way I do. I love the contrast that the different colors make. I like to make things go POP!

[catladyquilts]

there are no rules so use whatever thread you like. Sometimes you want the threads to blend into your background and other times you really want to show off your quilting.

[Jingle]

Sometimes I match bobbin to the backing and sometimes not. I only worry about the the front of the quilt. I'm with the others, do whatever pleases you. Your quilt - your choice.

[Silver Needle]

I usually just try to keep the top and bottom colors in the same color family and/or value so I don't get pops of color from the top to the bottom or vice-versa. Usually on thicker puffier batting this is not much of a problem but on thinner batting it is more critical. For instance I just finished a quilt with Superior Threads' Rainbow in the bobbin and a medium blue and medium green on the top with a lighter weight batting with no problems.

[Mariposa]

Do whatever looks good to YOU. Wanna show off the quilting-? Go for it with a great contrasting thread! Or blend in-?
Lots of options~~
I usually use same thread in top and bobbin. Makes things easier for me.

[stillclock]

i use similar colour on the backs of machine quilted projects because my machine quilting isn't really great. for handquilting projects i use high contrast colours because i love the look of the stitches.

enjoy your work! do what makes you smile

aileen

[katier825]

When I first started, I matched the color of thread to the back so my mistakes wouldn't stand out so much. Now that I am more comfortable with my stitching, I don't mind contrasting thread. I do sometimes use different thread in the bobbin, but I do test it out first to see if I am happy with the way it looks. My favorite threads are variegated colors.

[Rose S.]

I always use the same thread on top and bottom...so sometimes it matches and sometimes it doesn't. I do like the contrast.

[cowgirlquilter]

I love contrast, so whatever I like I use. I figure it is my party.......lol!

[bigsister63]

there are no rules so use whatever thread you like. Sometimes you want the threads to blend into your background and other times you really want to show off your quilting.

I agree! But I have found that if I use plain backing with contrasting thread my FMQ "boos" show up much more.

[annthreecats]

I use the same thread in the bobbin and the needle. I'm a little boring that way.

[costumegirl]

I like the look of the contrast - whatever you prefer will be the 'right' way Creativity shouldn't be judged by the 'quilt police'