Can I do anything about this?
 

I had a bible verse embroidered on a quilt square for a memory quilt. I gave the lady the fabric and told her green.... so she did just as I asked. I did not want the bible verse to be the focus of the quilt, but as I look it is not very easy to read. I am wondering if there is anything that I can do to improve the legibility of the writing. I have ideas, but not sure if anything would work. I wondered about dry brushing some fabric paint on the letters - just barely to add a little definition. Any ideas?

I would sash the block in something light with that green in it, it will make the blue fade and bring the green out.

I think to make those words stand out I would take either white or black embroidery thread and outline each letter by hand. It will take a while but that will make it readable. It would make a good task to do while watching TV.

I agree with Central Ohioquilter... but boy what a job!!

I also agree, outlining each letter, probably in black, would work the best.

Fabulous idea!!! :thumbup:

Thank you so much for your responses.... I think I will lay some green fabric down by it and see if that helps me. If not I will try the outline each letter by hand idea. If I go the hand emrodiery path... I could just hoop it and get to work? The embroidery shop used tearaway interfacing so there is none left. I will compare black and white and see what looks best with my blocks - - would just 1 strand of floss be enough?

If necessary - could you have it redone?
Do you have enough fabric?
Would it cost a lot?

Did you check out the thread against the fabric before getting it done?

The colors do seem to be very similar in value - but sometimes subtlety is a good thing - this could be the sort of thing that one 'bumps into' when holding the quilt.

I wonder if a weak solution of bleach water might lighten the fabric but not bleach the thread. Or perhaps laying it out in the sun. I don't think embroidery threads fade. Risky to try though. If it's not too expensive, I'd have it redone with black thread.

I did compare the thread to the fabric before - and I wanted subtle... don't want it to jump out at me. But now as I am putting the quilt together it seems to be lost and may be completely missed. I have thought about redoing it...... but it took me 6 weeks to get it completed the first time. :mad: The lady is very backed up. I have another place that I could take it to..... but I figure I might as well try to "fix it" somehow before I have it redone. If I try to fix that may work and if it doesn't work then I can redo it...... I should have plenty of fabric for another shot at it. It was a little pricey, but for the memory quilt I don't mind the money. If I have it redone what color thread? Wouldn't black get lost as well?

How about some dots of acrylic paint? I'd practice 'dotting' on paper first but it would be a zillion times faster than tracing all those letters...
and anyone whose ever painted know it is permanent on fabric/thread ;)

I really think it is the font used that makes it recede. I would do it for you , no fee, if you were close by! I believe a block font would stand out better, and maybe a lime grn would be better than the forest green. I surely hope you get it worked out--very disappointing when you've done all that work and paid for it.

I agree, it is partly the font too... but what's done is done. mermaid I wish you were close by I would buy you lunch to help me correct this :o KalamaQuilts: My first thought was paint, but I am not sure what the out come would be like. Would it get stiff?

If you decide to have it redone, I would suggest doing a bit of hand work in the different colors you are considering. Kind of like auditioning fabrics. It will be apparent quickly which color will stand out. I predict white will show up best.

You could outline each letter with a black sharpie permanent marker - that might take less time and be just as effective.

I have seen many embroidery words on fabric and plain block font always look better and easier to read when there is lot of lettering. Unless you can get another one made I wouldn't try to change it if it is the only one I had. Too much can go wrong.

BellaBoo: I know what you mean - I keep having visions of what could go wrong!! But I have to decide how much it bothers me the way it is. I actually have 2 of them.... because I am making 2 quilts. So if I try something and it doesn't work that just means 1 quilt will just have a plain block. I like the idea of hand stitching around it... but I have to give it some more thought because I don't needle point. Nammie to 7: the black sharpie sounds good, I wonder if I could do that uniformly so it still looked nice??????

I have had very good luck with Sharpie (permanent marker) pens, just running along the top of the stitches, using black. It "dyes" the thread, lasts almost forever even through washings. I would not mark the fabric at all, too much can go wrong. However if you use the fine tip marker and just run it over the stitches, it should do the job. Good luck.

The embroidery looks beautiful. I would leave it as is. You'll forget about it anyway. I know I would. :)

Thank you ... I have some ideas to think about. I have some time yet on my projects before I have to make a decision

I had this happen on a quilt. A friend embroidered names over part of the quilt for me and we had the hardest time finding a color that would show up on it. Always best to pick something that really contrasts I think. Hand embroidering around the letters would make them really pretty I think plus help them stand out. Are you a good embroiderer? If not, you might employ one to help you out. Good luck!

I have very very little hand embroidering experience... but I am thinking about giving it a shot

How about a dark/darker shade of blue instead of black?

Black would have the most contrast with that shade of blue, but I think a darker shade of blue might be better?

Tell you the truth, I gave up trying to read the verse -

I also agree with centralquilter. It will really make it pop and be a nice relaxing activity while watching the TV.

"And he dreamed and behold a ladder set up on the earth and the top of it reached the heavens and behold the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." Genisis 28:11-22

I took your photo and put it into Photoshop and enlarged it. I was able to read it easily. My question to you is, "Can you read it?" Even though the contrast isn't great, if it is readable to you, it will be just fine. It is a lovely quote and maybe you are worrying too much. IMHO. Good luck.

Use a fine tipped fabric pen to lightly go over the center of each letter, take your time. It will work.

you know most embroidering machines don't make perfect lettering," missed stitch and other things that happin" a pulled thread, most of us use the colored fine point markers to correct it. a lot will not admit it but you do to make it look better, it will work just make sure that the markers are for fabric . I've been doing this since 2000, and no complaints. they should have used 2 tear-away backings the heaver the fabric the more backings. I also use the iron on to steady the fabric ,when you get puckers it is a tension problem. DottieBug

I agree. I use Pigma Pens for writing on my labels (I love them and they are really easy to control). They would also work to enhance the threads of the embroidery. If it were me I would get a dark green or black and just start on the outside of each letter going from outside toward the inside but only going about 1/3 of the way leaving the inside of the letter unchanged. It will look like it is shaded from the outside. It would give more contrast but leave the green you originally intended. I think it would look creative and amazing. Yes it would be a bit time consuming but not as much as embroidering around each letter. Post a pic when you've fixed it and let us see how it comes out ok?

What about weaving lighter thread through a couple of the letters with a very fine needle to where if you didn't like it all you had to do was pull it out. If you like it then you could weave it more and go from there. Another TV task.

Thank you for your replies... I am going to try something, maybe the pens. I like the idea of the thread but not sure if I have that much patience