Simple Question
 

I find that I love quilts with white backgrounds and am wanting to make a scrappy quilt to use up some fabric. Do you use plain white (like Kona) or white-on-white? Pictures aren't usually close up enough to see--it just looks white. Thanks for any suggestions! :wave:

I like white on white but I have seen some quilts with plain white and they were very nice. It's whatever you prefer.

Either one. Depends what I have.

I like white, personally. But I've seen a lot of quilts that had a white on white pattern that looked nice.

I think I like the plain white because it really shows off the quilting the way I like.

Just my opinion,of course.

Watson

I prefer something that has some depth, like Moda Marbles, or their Grunge line. Don't really care for the white-on-whites with the sort of plasticky-looking prints.

I personally always use white on white. I feel it gives a bit of dimension to the white - but there are some of my friends who do not like it and use the Kona. It is a personal choice.

Personal choice but I like white on white. I seem to find that it doesn't show the seam allowance as much as a plain white does. But I also tend to use a lot of creams and other model and light fabrics as my whites.

White on white for me. I like the subtlety of pattern that you don't see from a distance. Reminds me of finding pictures in the Highlights magazine when I was a kid.

Both for me. I have a Pinterest Quilt Board and looked at it recently and noticed that I "saved" mostly quilts that had a lot of white it them and were mostly scrappy.

I would recommend a white on white, in fact you may want to get several and inter-mix them since the rest of the quilt is scrappy. I say this because when I was making a Double Irish chain, I was using a pansy fabric with green on the outside edge. I kept putting it together and used 3 different greens until I finally settled. (Can't tell you how many of the blocks I took apart.) Then when I was finally done, was getting it ready to hand quilt when I saw someone using the white on white and that was it. I set a square of her fabric on top of the white fabric in the quilt and i just popped. I was SO tempted to take the full sized quilt apart but I haven't. It is still waiting for the quilting to be finalized. (That was about 8 years ago.)

So if nothing else, I suggest you audition the 2 before making a decision.

I use to like white but now I like off white on off white. Use whatever you have or like.

I use every type of white that I have on hand. Sometimes mix cream color with them. I really like the look.

I prefer white on white so once I find a nice quality one, I buy up a couple of yards to have on hand.

I like scrappy whites. Someone mentioned having a problem using multiple whites because some ended up looking dull or dingy next to others. That is most likely to happen if you are mixing cool whites with warm whites. The warm whites can end up looking dull/dingy if placed right next to the cool whites-- or the difference between them can be used as a design element-- just depends on the quilt and what effect you're looking for.

Rob

I use them both but not usually in the same quilt. When using whites/neutrals, I follow the advice that a long time quilter gave me once. If you are going to mix, use at least 5 different neutrals. Then the differences are spread around the quilt and they look intentional and not a mistake if one happens to age differently. Of course, she was the quilt police and was telling me this after looking at one of my quilts but I think she was right on this one. So I either use a lot of whites or only one white off the same bolt.

Both. I use what ever whites I have at the time. And, sometimes I use numerous whites, white on whites, kona white, fairy frost white....what ever whites I have and want to use up. I like the subtle interest using multiple fabrics creates

I like a good quality bleached muslin when I want white.

I have used both plain white and white on white. I also love to use Kona Cotton Snow which is not quite pure white.

I buy yards and yards of a nice white Kona cotton.

I decide whether I want the colored pieces to stand out or whether I want the background to blend in with them. For a modern quilt with strong color and spare pieces I use a solid white. For a quilt where I want the feeling to be more traditional, I use a white on white muslin with perhaps little flowers or stars.

I love the look of the white on white prints. On my Mini Pinwheels quilt (picture posted sometime back) I used a several different white on white fabrics for the background, but the borders were done in one fabric.

white on white
 

I guess I usually use white on white, but I use the "wrong side". It gives just enough interest to keep me happy and doesn't show the ridges or blobs that look as though they could be picked off.
Just sayin'
Purl

I have done both & I like both but the white on white is my favorite of the two.

I like Kona Snow or the Moda Bella equivalent, or light gray. The other background I like is a batik neutral tone on tone print rather than the white on whites to give a bit of depth to the quilt. It really depends on the tone of the fabrics I'm using and I can't say I've made a lot of scrappy quilts yet.

I use both. Some patterns I feel look better with white and others with white on white. If I am piecing blocks I use white on white but if I am using it as a background for applique I like solid white.

I just bought 8 yards of the grunge white on white. I also mix my different whites to get more dimension in a quilt. Choose what works for you.

I use plain white al the time or snow.

I prefer a Kona "Snow". Love it and can always find it at Hobby Lobby where they will still honor the 40 percent discount here.

I like white on white, in assorted leftovers, for scrappier look!

I use a lot of white in my quilts (very scrappy mish mash) so the white helps calm it down for me. I use both depending on what I grab, solid white or white on white.

If it is scrappy I use both if I have both....whatever is in my scraps. Sometimes as if the fabric reads as white I will use it as well. If I really feel as if the quilt needs some calming down and some unifying I will use the same fabric for all the sashing.

I use either. A number of years ago, I purchased a bolt of white extra wide for backing and I am still using it. I happen to like the crisp look of white with my scraps. On the other hand, I have lots of white on white scraps that I use with my scrappy quilts too. Happy quilting. Follow your instincts.

Personally I prefer Kona Cotton "Snow". Just a hare off from being white...takes away the glare for me.

If I'm doing a traditional pattern in traditional fabric like 30's fabric I use a solid such as Kona Snow. For more modern fabric and patterns I use white on white or tone on tones style. I don't care for the white on whites that have the rubbery feel.

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. I'm anxious to get started! Let's see what I find at Mary Jo's Fabric Store tomorrow.

It depends on the quilt. I love the white Fairy Frost and have used it in many quilts. I generally like white on white, but not a real pattern (but I am OCD about shades -- they have to match if I use more than one fabric in the quilt and I never use the same fabric next to each other).

I use both depending on which I have on hand or the one that is on sale.

I like white on white (I like it with a small design). If you use a lot of white, etc, go with backing. It's 108" & I buy from buyer on FB at $8 yd... There are a lot of great deals on there....

I have used both. If the front is flowery,a white on white looks really nice, but something with more solids may look better with plain white. just depends on the front.