Quilting Question about Thread Color and Background Fabric
 

I am in the process of FMQ a wall hanging. There are only two colors on the top, White (background) and a Teal/Blue/Purple Batik. The backing fabric is a deep Royal Blue. My question is what color of thread would you use to quilt in the white background? The color of thread that I am using on the batik is the same as what I am using on the back. It is a variegated thread that includes the colors from the Batik fabric. Because of the design of the top, I do not want to use this on the White background fabric.

Would you stay with the variegated color on the back and use white on the front? When doing this, I am afraid that either one or the other would show up on the side it is not suppose to, if you understand what I am getting at.

Would love to hear what you wonderful people on this board would suggest doing in this situation.

Thanks

I would do a white on the front see if you can get a white the same weigh and stuff as the one on the back. It will make life easier.

Why dont you want to use the variagated thread on the white, maybe if you show us a picture of the top we can help you better select a color

I know that the variegated thread would take away from the design of the top. That much I am sure of. My question and maybe it is just fear of not doing this before is that what would the white look like on the back of the quilt. Yeah, I know, it is just the back but it still is in the back of my mind.

experiment with a small sandwich and see what it looks like.

How about using white on the top with the same variegated thread on the back and loosening the tension on your top thread ever so slightly so that any 'bumps' will show up on the back, not the front? It's a compromise, but may be your best solution. You could make a test sandwich of the same fabrics and batting to try it out. Luck!

ETA: Besides, it would be a lot easier to 'color' white bumps on the dark back than dark bumps on the white front.

I almost always use the same color on the back as on the front. I don't want to take ANY chance of those pesky little dots of color showing through. You may be surprised as to how great it looks on the back when you are done.

I agree with Wendy. I usually end up loving a sharp contrast between backing color and quilting thread when it happens. It usually ends up looking really good. But that is me. Some people can't stand it. If you are of the latter category do what Ghostrider suggests becaus it is a lot easier to take a micron pigma pen to white pokies and color them in blue then it is to try and make blue pokies white!

I like seeing the 'quilting' on the back. It gives a whole different look to the quilt. I once had a group do hand quilting on a grandmother's flower garden quilt for me. I used a print on the back and the quilters told me it was such a shame that you couldn't see the quilting on the back because of the print. So, I like seeing the quilting.

I have been pleasantly surprised how well the quilting is looking so far on the back with the variegated thread. I can actually see it better on the back then the front when it comes to the lines and all. The front looks great because of the texture that it is creating. Because of the design on the top, I am thinking that I will end up using white on both sides. I tend to over think things sometimes and this happens to be one of those times. Then again, I have not done quilted with this drastic of a thread color/background combo, so am hesitate to jump right in and do it.

I have had the "Salt & Pepper" look when the top thread shows on the back, but never though about the suggestion of "coloring it away". :rolleyes: I like that idea and will have to remember it.

Thanks for the ideas and encouragement on this one. This has been a learning experience on the whole quilt and it is turning out real nicely so far. Will post pics when I am done.