Need help deciding on thread choices for quilt
 

I am working on a quilt I would like to enter into a show. Can't decide on thread choices. Using stencils for most of the FMQing except for small stippling in the hot pink HSTs. I am not an expert at FMQ so I do want to make that part of the quilt look good and hide as many mistakes as possible. The big stars will be stitched 1/4" inside the points and stenciling inside the box.


Need some help to decide the best choice of thread colors to use on the different fabrics.

Suggestions are very much appreciated.

The higher the contrast...the more the bobbles will show. Ask me how I know! I like the 1/4 on the top picture. I would pick either a slightly darker neutral or a lighter pink on the 2nd. (the white is too light...and the pink too dark) Not sure about the dark border..maybe even one of the greens..and the lighter green in the last. Your colors and piecing are very nice...if it was me, I would want my piecing to stand out and the quilting to be a supporting character. That being said..its YOUR quilt, so YOU need to be happy with it! ..I think I have that panel of sayings!

Not a fan of the white thread. I like your designs and feel that a colored thread makes your quilting stand out. There's also those varigated threads that vary in color from light to dark. That may look nice.

I agree with Beth. I think this is a quilt where the piecing is the star of the show, not the quilting.
Joan

For hiding mistakes, what works best is not only a thread color that blends in well with the fabric, but also a lighter weight thread. Aurifil 50wt 2-ply is a finer thread, as is Bottom Line (which is 60wt poly). Invisifil is also a possibility, as it blends with everything. The more contrast you have with thread color, and the heavier the weight of the thread, the more it will show.

If the thread you used in the samples is all standard thread, it is probably 50wt 3-ply. I personally don't use this type of thread for FMQ on my domestic machine anymore (used to) because I think it shows my mistakes more. With finer thread I look like a better quilter!

Edit: Other things I do routinely to minimize mistakes is use the same thread (including same color) in top and bobbin. When the thread is fine, this seems to help unify the quilting.

I can't advise you on which thread to use but you have made a very pretty quilt.

The thread in my samples is C&C cotton, not sure of the ply/wt. Seems to give me the best stitch tension. I used Superior mono-filament on the top and beige C&C in the bobbin. Pic of backing is attached.

The heart is a stencil design that will be on the front of the quilt, mainly in the brown borders and in the 4 corners in the red/pink/white fabric.

I know of several quilters who actually use different colors of threads on the different colors of their quilts.

It all depends on how you want it to look. You might want to try a Walmart type clear vinyl, Clearly mark the edges all around so you keep to the vinyl, the preview with different designs and colors with some wipe away pens like those used on white boards. Careful you don't smear onto your quilt accidentally.

I agree. You want just a tiny shade dark for the thread not to show. I would just stitch in the ditch. If you have a stencil for the center of the sawtooth star, I would practice the design then try quilting the center. Try to look ahead when you are FMQ. Don't look at the needle but to where you want to steer the fabric to next. Like driving a car. You look further down the road than just in front of your car. Be sure if you need to stop to reposition your fabric. do it only at a cross point never on a curve-it will show. I see good effort on your part but it might help to take a quilting class at the LQS if you have one. I was already doing very good with FMQ on a DSM but I excelled more when I took a class from Harriet Hargrave. I noticed that one of the quilts in the current valentine contest has a similar star so you might what to check out how that quilter did their star. I would quilt something small in the brown borders, maybe a small continuos simple heart. You CAN always mark the back of your quilt if the front is too busy and sew from the back. Good Luck and keep up the practicing.