Newbie need help please
 

Hi I am just learning how to quilt and have made 5 quilts for Christmas. I am at the stage right now where I am ready to machine quilt. My question is the backs of the quilts are dark and the fronts are light. What colour would you use to quilt it. Can I put the colour for the back in the bottom and the colour for the top on the top? Will that work out?

By the way this site is FANTASTIC. I have learned so much from all of you. I am sure this has been asked before but I have no clue how to search it. lol

Thank you once again.

Try your own suggestion on a sample piece first to check how your thread tension looks.
Generally for beginning quilters it's easier to put a printed fabric on the back of a quilt so that the print itself will help hide the stitching as you are learning.
Sometimes using a dark backing on a light top will allow the backing to show through the batting to the front, in certain light. There is dark batting useful for altogether dark quilts, that prevents the batting from showing thru, too.

Jan in VA

I'd go with a dark bobbin thread to match the back and a light spool thread to match the top fabric. enjoy yourself, breath and show us your end project.

Advice from either of the above is great. And welcome from Texas. froggyintexas

If your thread tension is properly balanced then yes, you can have two different colors on top and bottom. Good luck with you quilting!

As already suggested, you can use Two different colors of thread but it is best to test the result on scraps first. If your thread tension is off just a little, you are likely to see dots of the dark thread on the light fabric side. If that happens and you do not like the resulting look, I would opt to go with the color that matches the quilt top for both sides, and just live with the stitching showing on the back of the quilt.

Welcome to the board! Like everyone said, do a small test first, and then have fun with it!

Dina

I always use a different colour in the bobbin to what is on the top, because there usually are different colours. I agree that check your tension first and enjoy!

I always get a backing that coordinates with the front of the quilt top. If you are doing stitch in the ditch, you may just be OK. But if you are doing FMQ, the black thread will pop up and show on your light fabrics. That is why I try to make sure both threads are very similar.

If you use two different colors just make sure you test your tension on quilt scraps to make sure it is correct before you start and pay attention as you sew. You may need to make small adjustments as you complete your project.

You can also use light for both top and bottom ..If u want the design to really show on the back..I have done that before and like the results..

Because of the tension issues with FMQ I would suggest you use a So Fine thread (or similar) and then use a "neutral" like a light grey or taupe, etc. It will show on the back, but the fine weight thread will be kinder with mistakes and using a print on the back will really make sure that you don't have mistakes showing.

Unless cost is a factor, I would suggest being kind to yourself and find a backing that was printed and similar in color to the top quilt. Since this is your first time quilting, you want to have as many advantages as possible.

If the top is similar in color to the background, you won't have to worry if the bobbin thread shows through every once in a while and you won't have to worry about the high contrast of the backing showing through to the front of the quilt.

A printed background will not show your stitches as much as a tone on tone fabric or a solid fabric. If you are doing free motion quilting for the first time, you will want your stiches to not to show, because until you have some experience under your belt, you may have a few stitches you'll wish people couldn't see. Of course, once you wash the quilt a lot of the 'oops's' will melt away into the quilt.

Doing practice on some pot holders will help give more experience and control to your free motion quilting. The name of one the 'queen's' of free motion quilting (her name escapes me) says that before she starts quilting anything she practices for 15 minutes on something WITHOUT any thread in her machine. She says it gives her the rhythm she needs to start quilting.

I am certainly not trying to discourage you in any way, but just offering some 'seeds of thought' for starting out.