I agree, too much is not good.

I don't like too much quilting on quilts. Some that are showed on here have way to much quilting but it is what a person likes. I love the softness of quilts and don't want them standing up on their own.

I think feathers are way over done. They are beautiful, in moderation I also think a lot of people put way to much quilting in a quilt and to me it takes away from the beautiful patters we work so hard to put together. For me, less quilting is best.

I haven't seen a quilt on this board that I thought was over-quilted.
I am not a long-armer, in fact I'm a hand quilter learning to machine quilt (so I can get more quilts finished) but I tend to go for denser quilting for hand quilting.
We'll see how I go with my machine :D

Same here.

I don't think anyone is bashing anyone, just people having a discussion on what they like. No need to take it personally.

I personally am not fond of feathers, but that's just me. Less quilting makes for a softer quilt, but there are times when I love to play with smaller quilting designs to fill an area.

I also feel that some ppl are 'bashing' as suebee puts it - and I don't think of myself as an over-sensitive type. :?

I agree..too much of a good thing. There was a quilt pic posted the other day and all I could was the quilting! Even on a close-up, I couldn't make out the quilt pattern. I wonder if any of these quilts drape as I think they should

So glad to know that I'm not the only one who likes a lot less quilting. I usually hand quilt and do stitch in the ditch or quarter inch from the seams and really like that look the best. I've seen several pictures that I couldn't see the piecing pattern of the quilt because there was so much quilting stitching. For me it makes the quilt very uninviting even though the stitching is beautiful and well done.

I like all quilting except stippling. I have seen quilts where there is not a square inch without stippling.

My fabric choices are important to the design and I want the quilting to compliment the design.

This is the first that I have seen or heard of the Leah designs and I like them. I see a lot of flexibility in size with those designs.

LESS IS MORE!

I agree. There are so many other patterns out there

The real intent of quilting? I had thought to hold the batting. I have been asking that question every time I look at the quilt show quilts which are very densely quilted... but it seemed like heresy not to rave about quilts that are stippled until the fabric is lost, never mind feathers.

Is it because antique quilts are quilted more densely?
Or just because our machines allow it?
I enjoy the layer of decoration and pattern the quilting provides, but when I learn to FMQ I may turn into a stipple-nut.

When a long armer post pictures of quilts she has done 99% of the time the pictures are taken to show off the quilting.....that's her craft that's what she is highlighting.....
I happen to to love feathers and I love heavily quilted and don't have a problem with them being any less soft. I haven to agree with some people that there seems to be some bashing.....such as calling out a bargello recently posted with feathers. .....I think there are plenty of la's that everyone can be happy.....if you don't like someones style don't use her....I choose to appreciate the craft of quilting as art and find beauty in every quilt.....just like a painter is a artist they also have a wide range of styles.

Well you always have one or two who don't handle conversation well and get mean, but the best way to handle them is to not acknowledge their comments. Mostly, ppl on here are just saying what they like, and that was the point of the thread.

Point taken Tina. ;-) :-D

I totally agree with you on this, some of the quilt tops are lost in all the quilting that is done on them. I love to see the beautiful work that is done on the quilt tops and not so much quilting on them.

Was so glad to see your post. I thought I was the only one out there who thought feathers can be over done. They are beautiful in there place. And I have to admit I think sometimes the LA quilting overpowers and smothers the quilt design. As someone else stated a little can go a long way.

I totally agree and also sometimes the quilting stitch is much too tight---makes the quilt look too "puffy". I have many like that here.
Happy quilting, Kutnso

I've been watching this thread, and haven't contributed to this point.

As for feathers ... I haven't had any used on any of my quilts yet, whether hand, machine or LAQ. Not that I don't like them, just that I don't think they have been a match for the quilt.

I feel that what is getting lost here is that "each to his/her own". Some like lots of quilting, some don't. Some like a particular quilting design, others like different ones. Some want only hand quilted, others LAQ, others machine, others tied.

And oh yes, I am one of the heathen who piece, but don't quilt. So far I figure there's others there that can do a better job and help my work shine out. Though I am starting to learn on smaller items.

What I appreciate most about this Board is the opportunity to learn. In the case of this thread, to learn why and why not for quilting techniques and options iin an open discussion.

What might be right for me, may not be right for you .... though there's no reason why we can't have a good discussion about all the differences of opinions.

I equally appreciate the talent it takes to either hand or machine quilt. I realize everyone has different preferences, and since I was out of the 'quilt world' for so long, I am surprised that the very dense quilting created by machine quilting has become the 'norm'.

Personally, I've always thought of a quilt as a warm, comfy, comforting creation, but the dense quilting looks & feels 'hard' & cold to me, & meant for a museum or the 'art' world, & not for comforting someone.

i agree with fersid too. i just thought i was the only one who felt that way. i don't do feathers either - i don't know how is why. i only do meandering and loops cause that's all i know how to do. i do quilting for the public too and they all seem happy with my work. also my charges are very reasonable. i like to do quilts for people that inherited the top from their great grandmother or somebody and they don't know how to sew. i do the best i can but i'm also striving to get better but i'm afraid to practice something different on a customer's quilt

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

You combined 2 different posts. I said I saw a bargello recently, I did not say it was on here or that it had feathers, just that it was quilted to heavily; and someone else said they saw a quilt recently on here. You assumed and announced that it was on here and you even knew what quilt it was. That is how people get hurt, when someone assumes they know something that they don't.
And for the record, the quilt belongs to the piecer (who is the one paying for the work) and the quilting should enhance her work, not the quilters. The quilter shows her talent by having the ability to have her work compliment the quilt.

Can we keep the discussion to why/ when/how we do and don't like feathers as I believe that was the original question? It's a bit fatuous to have pages and pages of ppl saying 'I love feathers' 'I hate feathers'. And keep it general and not pointed at anyone in particular. Just sayin'... :-D

i like feathers and DH likes heavy quilting he sayes it looks cheap if there is to much space between the quilting lines. so anything i do for us will be densly quilted but everything i do for someone else is whatever they whant other than pantos i dont do those.

I agree --DITTO-- to all of page one. I never understood where the comcept of the feather came from in quilting.

I agree. My friend calls allover quilting the "matress pad" look.

;) :thumbup: ;) :thumbup:

Tina I apologize .....I let myself get sucked into these debates.....I did not assume or announce anything about you directly or that wasn't already posted I apologize if you felt I was attacking you
My only comment on this now is I am a happy feather lover.

I agree too!!

I am joining the "not so many feathers" club. They do certainly have their place and are beautiful and sometimes I am in awe of them but too much of any quilting design can really take away from the piecing/appliqueing on the top itself. There is such a fine line between too much and not enough that sometimes it is hard to decide what to do. Of course this is all a matter of taste and opinion but so glad you brought it up as I thought it was just "me". PS: Also I think that a wall quilt can be quilted more heavily while a bed/lap quilt should be less so for comfort. Just my opinion.

I agree. Sometimes you can't see the pattern of the quilt for all the feathers. First it was stippling.....now feathers. The quilting is beautiful....just would like to be able to see the pattern of the blocks.

I am a long arm quilter and sometimes less is more. I am a light quilter.

LINDA

exactly !

I have to agree with most all of you. I feel that so many of the quilts posted and really over quilted. I think you lose the softness of the quilt with every inch of it quilted.

I happen to love Feathers. But I also love swirls and stipeling and all the other quilting designs. It depends on the quilt and what you want. My last quilt my LAQ did the whole thing in sunflowers and it was exactly what my quilt needed. I think the design of the the quilting is up to the quilters. I have yet to see a quilt I didn't like.

I think that the quilting should be appropriate for the specific quilt...period. That may or may not include feathers. I happen to love feathers- in the right spot- and done in the right manner. For instance, k3n's spectrum quilt looks fabulous with the feathers. I do sometimes feel that feathers "can" be a catch all when not used in the correct way. But then who's to say what the "correct" way really is, afterall, its just your own opinion.

I would like to add to the comments. All of the close all over quilting is okay for table toppers & wall hangings but not on quilts, it is nice to have some quilting but keep it so they are soft & drapable.

Wooooooooooooooah, have read all the pages and this is begining to resemble a quilt guild meeting.....ouch !!!
who just kicked me under the table.....


can we all agree to just quilt whatever we like