Both of those are awesome. The second one is what I was talking about with the stripe of a contrasting fabric, I really like that method. I was thinking of doing something similar with this one. Where you have your block with the tag, I was thinking I could put another vertical stripe to make an offset + with black fabric. I am just worried I won't get it straight and it will bother me forever (as in the whole back, not the stripes).

If I am making a full size quilt, I put the seam down the middle of the back. If I making a queen or king, I put a width of fabric down the middle and a seam on each side.

I like backings with interest and life to them, so to me that's a perfect one!

As for the thread ... audition them, just as you do with fabrics.

An easy way to do it is to pull off a few yards of the thread, and let it fall onto the quilt, much like the quilting lines would be. Stand back and take a look. Black or Grey as you are already considering ... I would even try the same colour as your backing. And for more interest ... look at variegated threads ... grey/black ... and you might even find one that mixes in some of that turquoise of the backing.

It's a beautiful quilt!

romille, that is a spectacular quilt! Where did you get the pattern???

Thanks :) It is Sheri Pape's Basket Lattice quilt. It is excellently done with full color pictures to show you how to piece things together.

I got it from a local shop, but I have seen it several places online as well. So just check your favorite shops or google around for it. This is the website for it: http://sheripapedesigns.com which is pretty much just an image of the outer page of the pattern, so you will know you have the right one when you find it (you'll only see the right side if your looking online, the printed page is folded so the left side is the back of package).