Please do not take this as derogatory...Why is some of the machine quilting that I see at shows so intensely spaced that it almost overwhelms the quilt? It is beautifully done and would be great on a wholecloth quilt but on a pieced quilt it looks out of balance to me.

It's the quilting that makes the quilt? ~shrug~ I dunno for sure...but when you don't see the pattern of the quilt because of the quilting, I think it takes away from the quilt...

I'm a longarm quilter... and I happen to agree with you wholeheartedly! To me a quilt, unless it is an artistic wallhanging, is mean to be used, loved and treasured. Dense quilting does several things, in my opinion. It can dominate the quilt and become the focal point instead of the piecing, it can make the quilt stiff and not very snuggly! And last, dense quiltinig is VERY expensive, in both thread and labor.

I love flowing, interlocking edge to edge designs. To me, they are the perfect compliment to a pieced top.

I agree. However, I have looked at several quilts that have edge to edge quilting and think how much better they would have looked if there was a little more definition around the blocks, or a motif in the larger spaces. I can see how edge to edge really is less time-consuming and expensive, especially for a quilt that is going to be used a lot. When someone puts so much work into piecing, quilting should be a compliment to the piecing, not a detracter.

I was told that they are more artistic than practical. I've also noticed that the more heavily quilted something is the more likely that it will have a blue ribbon.

I once heard someone say in 100 years they will be able to tell the period these quilts were made in without a label. I figure it is a style like those granite counters or stainless steel appliances.

Thanks!

I saw some that the quilting truly enhanced the piecing and made what could have been a ho-hum run of the mill quilt a spectaular quilt, so I think it's all in the balance.

But there were a couple that looked to me like an inexperienced quilter got overzealous and didn't know when to quit.

I think the densely quilted ones are designed more as wall hangings to be studied and as a piece of art, rather than used as a bed covering. Since they're so stiff, they'd not function very well as a snuggly lap or bed quilt. I think there are places for all types of quilting.

I've also seen the opposite. Quilts that should have been quilted more and lack definition. Not all quilts are made to be used as blankets and I envy the talent that goes into some of these wall hangings.

I agree. On some quilts too much quilting is overkill.

Many of the gorgeous quilts with elaborate quilting will never be used on a daily basis. I think they are meant for "show" only.
While I appreciate the time, effort and creativity that goes into them, they don't appear to be made to use.
However, I do immensely envy all of that talent :D:D:D