Quiltforme

I can confess to the over quilting but once I washed it it was so soft and really didn't make a difference. It was my first time and I would do it again maybe not as close but I really liked the effect. I like how you worded this I would have asked the same question.

mamasuze

The thing that makes this board so great is that we all have our own opinions but respect the opinions of others. Some like puffy, soft quilts; some like flatter, closely quilted quilts. Each person is "right". I love hearing everyone's opinions and ideas, as it really helps me come up with better ideas for my own quilting.

How the quilt is going to be used also matters. For a show quilt, the quilter is showing her quilting skills as much as she's showing her piecing skills. For a much-loved, much-washed quilt, it needs to be quilted pretty close to keep everything in place. For a quilt that's only going to be used as a decoration, the quilting can either be much fancier or much farther apart. Once again, each method is "right".

Rosyhf

I guess different strokes.

I like my quilts to be soft and comfy, so I never do the the tight quilting and meandering. I suppose if it's a quilt that you want to hang as a wall hanging, then the tight quilting would look perfect.

I also do very simple free hand quilting so my sewing is the main object you see, some folks like the fancy quilting on their work so it's the quilting you see....so everyone has a preference as to what they like.

MZStitch

When I quilt a quilt that has applique, I love the look of densely quilted background, as the applique pieces really stand out! I also think a densely quilted quilt lays flatter. I do other pieced quilts less densely, and they are a bit more comfy to cuddle under, that's for sure!

clem55

LOL, see we still have our sense of humor!!

JoyVoltenburg

I've quilted some of my quilts very densely - because that was the look I was going for. Quilts I did when I first started quilting were mainly stitch in the ditch or outlined. I try to match the quilting to the quilt, but also like trying new techniques. Quilting is an art form and as anything else in art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

MadQuilter

Nope, no flame thrower here. I think there is a place for either type of quilting. Right now I am in a quilting class and I am learning to do the stipples and meanders and realized that my favorite batting (warm and natural) will not work for any "overquilting." So I am in search of a new batting (silk or wool).

KathyAire

I, too, prefer a loosely quilted quilt, if it's supposed to be a functional quilt. If it's a wall hanging or just for show, than I like it to be quilted tight.

Katia

My son said something similar once. About quilts being cold. But he had a different take on it. He was sick at the time with a fever, and about 14 I think. He said he loved his gramma's quilts because they start off cold, which feels good when you have a temp, but then warmed up, just like a hug from Gramma. I don't think he meant that his gramma was a cold person, but she liked being outside a lot, in the garden or where ever, and she did have cold skin when she came in.

Shelbie

Our fall fair judge wrote on some entries that there should be no space larger then your hand in your quilt that wasn't quilted. She seemed to think that a quilt not quilted densely enough would eventually fall apart. This has not been my experience and I have definately found that quilts not quilted quite so closely are more cuddly. Some of the newer types of batting even say that your quilting lines may be up to 10 inches apart. If you are trying to win prizes at shows it seems that dense quilting is mandatory to have any chance of a ribbon. It all comes back to your preferences as a quilter and the ultimate purpose of the quilt. The heirloom wedding quilt may need more quilting than the couch quilt that your son and dog snuggle under.