contrasting thread for quilting
 

I am quilting a baby quilt now. The quilt top has a variety of dark blue patterned fabrics. The back is a lighter "baby blue" solid flannel. If I do my quilting with the lighter blue thread it will show on the quilt top. If I user the darker blue thread to blend with the top it will show on the back. Is this something that you guys concern yourself with? I have variegated thread, but it still shows pretty much. What do you guys think?

You can use te light blue on the bottom/bobbin and a darker blue on the top. Just make sure that your tension is good so there will not be "dot" on either side.

It depends-if you like your quilting skills, pick the color of thread that compliments the quilt top and let it show on the back--if not, or you want the piecing to be the focus, select a neutral thread color that will blend in or "disappear". My quilting skills are not the greatest, so for this reason I always select a back with a print and in the same color as the thread I plan to use so the quilting doesn't show up that much on the back.

I would probably use variegated thread, but a lot depends on the quilting design and how forgiving (or unforgiving) it is, plus your skill level. In general, I find a meander with variegated thread looks fine on most quilts as long as the stitches are fairly uniform and the curves fairly smooth.

I just finished a charity breast cancer quilt, and used hot pink in the top, and off while in the bobbin...my tension was spot on.....and I had none of bobbin showing on top or vice versa...I would use 2 colors - and use varigated on the top, and as close to matching as I could in the bobbin for the backing.

Even if you get a little dot of the bobbin thread on the top, it will not show or be considerably less noticeable after you wash and dry it. It is reallllly hard to get the tension so perfect that you don't get that little dot of color.

I usually use 2 different threads in cases like this....one in the top and one in the bobbin. Since i quilt to hold it together and mostly only do straight stitches of different kinds - the "matching" hides my mistakes much better !!!!!

Thanks everyone. I never thought of using two different colors - - that is an obvious solution. I am not too confident in my quilting skills... still learning slowly but surely

The infamous 'dot' always makes an appearance on the quilts I quilt with two different threads. But it usually disappears when i wash the quilt so I no longer get crazy about it. You can only adjust your tension sooooo many times...