Hand quilters...thread colours....
 

I finished the top I want to hand quilt and the question is...do I match the thread to the material or do I use white? Or something else?

This is new territory for me so any help appreciated!

Thanks, Watson

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Watson,
When I learned to hand quilt many years ago, the class I took suggested white or cream hand quilting thread. Now...I use what I want. Use what makes you feel happy, we have so many more choices than we used to. If you're worried about stitches showing, use the color you are sewing on, and if you want them to show use white or even blue. When you first start your stitches may not be small, so work for consistent size and the smaller stitches will soon follow. I have watched your quilting journey and see progress in everything you have done. Keep up the good work.
Brenda

Personally I would probably pick one of the colors in the quilt. Yellow will blend more but orange or green would be cute on this.

I use YLI hand quilting thread, it is glazed so that helps prevent tangling and it glides through the fabric nicely. There's a variety of colours available.

If you want your stitching to show up, use a contrasting color to the fabric. If you want the fabric to be the show, use the same color as the fabric. I commonly change thread color to match what I am quilting on.

I would use orange quilting thread, of which I happen to have a spool! Your cheery colors remind me of the first baby quilt I made about 1977, and a twin quilt for my daughter in 1982. Guess colors come around again, too!

This is the basic rule of thumb that I follow as well. I will sometimes use many different color threads in a single quilt depending on what effect I want on that particular quilt. Remember, there are no rules!

Obviously, like everything else we do recently.....whatever you want! There was a time that all hand quilting was done in white/natural...but I think that's because not much else was available or affordable. Times have certainly changed.

You've received some really great advice from far, far more seasoned hand quilters than I (I just started my first project), but for what it's worth, I picked a color that is darker than my background so it would show up. I figured if I'm going to put that much time & effort into something, I want people to see it. :)

these people have said it all! Best wishes!