I say definitely it can. I have seen quilts, on here, where I can't see the pattern for the quilting. Don't get me wrong, the quilting is beautiful but I, personally, don't like to see it over powering the piecing. I think that the piecing and the quilting should complement each other and one not over power the other. But as in all things quilting, it's your quilt do what you want.

I agree with everything ckcowl said. I've seen quilts very stiff from over-quilting. I've seen quilts where the pattern of fabrics and design have been completely disregarded in the quilting and it wasn't attractive.

I don't even like stippling, too much quilting w/o direction.

IMHO White on White quilts are made to show off the quilting. On this board is a German woman that hand quilts all colors of fabric to show-off the hand quilting. Her quilts are fabulous! There is a pattern and never too much quilting.

I prefer the quilting to be the 'icing' on the quilt, but not with nuts, sprinkles and coconut.

I have seen some beautiful quilting but have to say sometimes it does not do justice to the quilt. You start out with beautiful material and once the quilting is done the pattern in the material is so distorted. I wonder why people do that. I personally like a quilt that lightly done . Use all the design work for the boarders if you must

Of course this is a matter of personal choice and every quilter can decide how much quilting he or she wants on a quilt. IMHO there are two different techniques competing against each other on a pieced quilt and it is a challenge for the quilter to find the right balance between those two. They should harmonize.
On a wholecloth it's a completely different thing: you only work with on single technique on a consistant surface and the structures and patterns created by the quilting don't have to fight against something else. I have never seen a wholecloth that was overdone, especially when the quilt was hand quilted.

I agree that some quilts are over quilted. So many are so beautiful and some are so densely quilted that the borders are uneven. Each to her/his own, however. It's your quilt; quilt it like you like.

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I took a class by a quilter who has written several books on this subject. She had a saying about quilting until it is cardboard, no one sleeps with cardboard. If it is a wall quilt go ahead, quilt it stiff. I agree, I want to wrap myself in a beautiful warm soft quilt. Balance is the key in achieving a work that is funchional as well beautiful.

IF you are referring to machine quilting on a quilt, then yes, it can be overdone. I like to see the pattern of the quilt and the quilting should highlight the quilt, not be the main attraction. I have seen pictures of quilts that I can't even see what the heck the pattern is, sometimes the colors are even distorted.

You wouldn't put the effort or money on elaborate LA quilting if you had a quilt made with an average pattern and material. IMHO But when you have spent weeks and weeks of very special labor on a very special quilt you usually don't want average quilting or average batting. When you are trying to make an OMG! quilt then everything is carefully considered including pattern, colors, thread, batting, and quilting. Then your choice of quilting is as personal as your choice of all the other factors. And lots of quilters won't like the quilt you are so proud of! LOL!

I agree that a quilt can be over quilted. I've seen some quilts that were stiff with quilting...when there is that much quilting, it detracts from the quilt top itself.

sometimes the quilt top gives me ideas of how to quilt and how dense. I usually save the really dense for wall hangings and table runners.

A long arm quilter told me recently that heavy, over quilting is the same thing as cutting your quilt all over, and that it will wear it out faster. I had never thought of it that way, but is that true? I have noticed that a lot of quilts are now quilted heavier, and I would hate to think some of those beautiful quilts are short lived! :o

personally I like minimum quilting on mine whether I had quilt or have someone do it for me. I prefer the quilt to shine not the quilting, but I have seen some really beautifully quilted pieces on here. AS has been said, it is all a matter of choice.

that shold be "hand" quilt, smile...

Oh, this says it exactly for me = love to look at the dense quilting but personally prefer the softer quilts!

oh boy can it be over done..and lately it is all you seem to see. Like the quilter had nothing better to do but try to use every last inch of that 12,000 yard cone of thread....I do not like it and often find it is terribly distracting of the lovely piecing/design of the quilt!

I once asked a LAQer if dense was all she did, and she simply replied that perhaps she was not the quilter for me...right....if you can't do what the customer wants, then perhaps you are not the quilter you think you are!

Then there are then ones that really make me giggle...dense quilting in the open areas and for some reason on SND the pieced sections..causing "bubbles" or "boobs" in the less quilted areas....

yes, especially if the quilter used poly thread!

I agree with your thoughts golytwo. Some are really overdone. Just doesn't seem like its a homemade quilt.

Do the densely quilted ones seem "store bought" or not seem like quilts? What did you mean?

I think quilting should alway compliment the actual quilt pattern not distract! And yes quilts should bu cuddly lol!

Dense quilting is how all quilts had to be quilted in the past. It's only been in recent years, since the invention of needle punching, scrims and bonding that widely spaced quilting was even possible.

I've seen a lot more under quilting than I have over quilting.

My quilting is done to suit me, and I like a loose style so its soft, cuddly but still enhanced by the quilting. When all you see is the quilting designs and not the piecing of the quilt itself when looking at a quilt, its over done. When its 'balanced', then you have a truly beautiful quilt.

I love your quote - that's me too!

I agree that just because you can quilt densely doesn't mean it's a good thing for all quilts. As in Scissor Queen's comment, dense quilting has served the purpose of holding it all together for years & years. Now, since batting has improved, we have more options -- although keeping it even is still a goal. I like to consider each quilt individually, & longarm quilt it for it's purpose. For instance, baby quilts that are actually going to be used are nice left cuddly! The batting chosen makes a huge difference, too. Whenever possible, I go for the non-shrinking, QD wool batting -- so soft & still holds together if some spaces are a little farther apart.
The beauty of quilting is that it allows an individual to make so many unique, creative choices, with not many rules to worry about (as long as it holds together nicely)!

I have seen some intensely overquilted pieces. My first question to myself is, why bother putting in batting.....that sort of quilting definitely does not make the "bed quilt" warm, it has lost its purpose........I really think handquilting cannot be overdone...because the stitch itself is not as confining as a machine stitch...if you see handquilted tight meandering and the same by machine, there is a significant difference. I love to handquilt, but because I want to finish in my lifetime, I do machine quilt, but I really try to keep the same rule of thumb....the piecing makes the quilt and the quilting enhances it, not the other way around. Of course, in show pieces, the opposite is sometimes the rule of thumb, but like everything else in hobbies......to each his own.....

Yes, I believe it can be overdone. It can also have the wrong quilting design where it take away from the pieced pattern.

I amso happy to see there are still quilters who share my beliefs, beautiful quilting enhances the pattern. Since the long-arm quilting machines have come in vogue, there are many more all-over quilts, but my own personal preference is quilting to complement the pattern.