How do you think a bargello should be quilted?
 

I've seen many bargellos that are quilted along the color lines (diagonally), which would be fairly easy for me to do on my little machine (and I've done that before). I've seen some beauties, though, that have amazing quilting (feathers, waves, etc.) that really accentuates the motion of the quilt.

For a bargello, I think a lot of the beauty lies in the big picture and the color blending, so I don't think a less fancy quilting pattern (like the diagonal lines) would take away from it. I know there are places to rent a longarm near me (which might be a cheaper option than having someone do it for me), but I've never done it before. What do you all think?

I go by this when I can't decide: if the quilt pattern is all straight lines then arcs or circles for the quilting. If the quilt pattern is curves then straight line quilting.

I have a long arm but I did my bargello on DSM. I followed the lines of motion in the design. Quilting was definitely secondary in that quilt.

i've seen bargellos' quilted in many different ways- all are beautiful- some follow the lines, some use swirls, feathers, other fancy quilting---it is not an issue of (how it should be done) it's your choice how you would like it to be done- when i did my granddaughter's 'Ashley's Ocean' I quilted waves & bubbles (for the air bubbles above the fish) for my brother in law's outdoorsy appliqued bargello i quilted trees, deer, wild life on it. I think every quilt deserves it's quilting design to be an individual choice made for that quilt.

When I quilted a Bargello wall hanging I just did wavy lines in the center of each color following the flow of the design. On another one I did SID. I liked the look of the wavy lines better and it was easier to do as well.

I'm a sucker for swirls, feathers and wavy lines, especially on a pattern like bargello. Not that I haven't seen some beauties with straight line quilting...they just aren't my favorites. Print a picture of your quilt in color and put it under some tracing paper or transparency film or sheet protector and draw some things out with a pencil or dry erase marker. See what catches your eye! or do a google search and check out some images to look for more inspiration!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...IIq09QTx2YHIBw

I have seen it done both ways with quilting through the diagonal and swirls and feathers. Sometimes the swirls and feathers help to merge the colors of the bargello , especially when done with a variegated thread. It depends on the final look you are going for...