Using Varied Thread Colors
07-08-2017, 03:53 PM
#1
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: East Oklahoma - pining for Massachusetts
Posts: 10,477
Using Varied Thread Colors
My snowman top is getting close to done and I will be pinning soon. There are many colors of fabric, and I would like to make the quilting in each block stand out. I am thinking very fervently of using more than one color for the quilting. I have shiny white, off white, gold, blue, and a few others.
Have you ever used more than one color of thread for hand quilting, and were you happy with the way it stood out?
Have you ever used more than one color of thread for hand quilting, and were you happy with the way it stood out?
07-08-2017, 09:20 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,256
I'm using many colors to hand quilt a crayon quilt, but for the opposite reason -- I didn't want the quilting thread to show and distract from the crayon shapes, so I'm matching the quilting thread to each crayon.
07-09-2017, 06:03 AM
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
For hand quilting I always used the same color thread throughout but I have used a variegated thread that was high contrast to the main background fabric. I was very pleased with the result:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]576129[/ATTACH]
Now that I quilt on a LA I won't hesitate to use different color threads. some I want to stand out, others I want to blend in. So far I am always happy with the result. Here is my best example of using high contrast threads and lots of them in machine quilting. Of course, some of this is almost at the level of thread painting but it still gives you an idea of how many different colors of thread can be used to enhance the quilt and draw attention to the quilting while also complimenting the piecing.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]576130[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]576129[/ATTACH]
Now that I quilt on a LA I won't hesitate to use different color threads. some I want to stand out, others I want to blend in. So far I am always happy with the result. Here is my best example of using high contrast threads and lots of them in machine quilting. Of course, some of this is almost at the level of thread painting but it still gives you an idea of how many different colors of thread can be used to enhance the quilt and draw attention to the quilting while also complimenting the piecing.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]576130[/ATTACH]
07-09-2017, 06:26 AM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: SW Washington USA
Posts: 4,502
It doesn't stand out very much if you are thinking of making a statement.
The last quilt I hand quilted had white background and I used different colors in every block from tan to navy. I knew it would be my last so the many thread colors were a bit of a last hurrah. Looks fine. But nothing stands out. As the blue quilt above this post, you have to put a Lot of quilting thread in to make it matter to the design,
The last quilt I hand quilted had white background and I used different colors in every block from tan to navy. I knew it would be my last so the many thread colors were a bit of a last hurrah. Looks fine. But nothing stands out. As the blue quilt above this post, you have to put a Lot of quilting thread in to make it matter to the design,
Last edited by KalamaQuilts; 07-09-2017 at 06:29 AM.
07-09-2017, 07:17 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I've definitely used more than one color thread in my hand quilting. I try to make the quilting stand out - isn't that why we're doing this - at least partially? I'm very happy with the results. I try to use a contrasting but coordinating thread color.
If I have say red and blue blocks in the quilt, I'll use the opposite colors in the respective blocks. Or a white; yellow; whatever. I try to keep my quilting thread colors within the same color families within the quilt but use them on opposite blocks to make them stand out. Or, by contrast, use same color on color if I don't want those particular blocks/quilting to make a statement....if any of that makes any sense.
If I have say red and blue blocks in the quilt, I'll use the opposite colors in the respective blocks. Or a white; yellow; whatever. I try to keep my quilting thread colors within the same color families within the quilt but use them on opposite blocks to make them stand out. Or, by contrast, use same color on color if I don't want those particular blocks/quilting to make a statement....if any of that makes any sense.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
beaqltr
Main
46
11-06-2015 06:17 AM
