Free Motion Play: High Contrast Thread
 

I'm working on a quilt with bright green borders and wanted to experiment with what black quilting might look like along the borders...that lead to hours of fun and inspiration to then try purple with gold thread. The purple fabric is from my hand dyed stash from another experiment several years ago...

OK you've got me so curious! Did you quilt this using a long arm, did you draw the designs on the fabric first, or are you just one of "those people" who do it all free hand out of your head? Beautiful work!

Thank you Joyce! I quilt on both an APQS long arm (without stitch regulation - it's a bit of a dinosaur) and a Juki TL 2010 Q. Yesterday was a lazy day and I wanted to sit and sew - so this was done on the Juki.

All of this is free hand - with no particular plan in mind other than wanting to experiment with a few fills and high contrast thread.

Stunning. Your design is very intricate and to think you created this free hand is simply amazing.

wow! wish you could "practice" on some of my unfinished quilt tops !

You are an amazing and talented artist! I could not do that with pencil and paper, let alone fabric and sewing machine. I love looking at your work, its what all quilters wish they could do!!

Thank you!!

Oh My! An inspiration to us all - I think all of us should experiment more with no particular plan in mind.

Isn't that the truth! I am practically "green".

those are gorgeous... they should be framed and hung on the wall

you are GOOD

Thank you! That's a good idea - maybe I will do that with the purple one if I finish it. :)

Those are amazing. I especially like all of them!!! The purple/gold combo is luscious.

Stunning work. What machine do you use for this? Your control is awesome! Please tell us about your methods to achieve this look. You are very talented.
peace

Thank you very much! Truly I have no special method other than doodling. For the purple piece I used scrap quilters dream batting (poly select - two layers) that I had laying around. It is not a preference, just what I had. For the green I used two small leftover pieces of Hobbs 80/20 from another quilt. I do like the loft of the Hobbs versus the QD but I use them both often. The purple fabric is a hand dyed fat quarter from a project several years ago. The green is scrap from the border of the quilt that I originally was practicing this for - though I don't know at this point if I will continue on with my plan. I used Glide thread for both - which is my preferred thread for high contrast quilting. For blended textural quilting I like Bottom Line or So Fine thread. :)

Regarding design I'm inspired by the intricate works of Diane Gaudynski, Sharon Schamber, and many other great quilters. This is doodling at it's best with no real plan in mind. I do on occasion draw an arc or feather spine out ahead of time with a water soluble marker or disappearing ink just to make sure it will blend in well with the overall quilting, but that's as far as the marking goes...the rest is just that very pleasurable spur of the moment kind of "drawing".

OH - and this was done on my Juki TL 2010 Q - though I also quilt on an APQS Ultimate 1.

OH MY GOODNESS those are beyond BEAUTIFUL ! Great job and you can be very proud of yourself!

You are an amazing quilter. I have tried feathers without much luck, at least in my opinion.

Ahhh, I get to see them again, yea! I still love em!!!

Absolutely gorgeous, I saw a video on YouTube where the lady made a soft book like thing that was her quilting on different fabrics with different threads I believe it might have been National Quilter's Circle (please don't hold me to that). Her work was nothing in comparison to yours.

Your quilting is superb. I have the same Juki but my machine doesn't do anything like that!!!😄😄😄

Thank you!

wow very striking really want to see your full quilt

nice

Thank you for sharing your practice pieces. I need to sit down and practice.

WOW-do you quilt for the public? You are SO talented!!

Your timing couldn't be better!! I have been drawing and making many practice squares to test, not only my abilities, but how my ideas might look once stitched. So far I've decided on pebbling for one area, McTavishing for another, ditch stitching on spikes, curved grid in another area and feathers on the outer border. I've questioned myself quite a lot as to the combining of so many different techniques. Your samples just answered my questions...if it fits and looks good...do it. I, however, do not have the stitching ability to do the contrasting threads as you have done so magnificently. All of my irregular stitch lengths and errors would really stand out like a great big "you need more practice before you can do that, dummy!!!" Again, looking at your work gives me such inspiration. I cannot thank you enough for your posting. Today I should begin on my quilt top. I think I've gotten the courage to go forward now. The person who said you should frame the squares had a good idea. Awhile back I had emailed a picture of one of my trials to a friend who said she wanted my sample for Christmas so she could make a pillow out of it. She was really tickled when she got it in the mail. Who would have thought?!?

Saw the same book video and totally agree. Yours is stunning!

I knew the moment I saw you post I was in for a treat, and as usual I wasn't disappointed. Both are breathtaking. I love to see the artist connection flowing into your FMQ on these practice pieces. I showed them to my husband and he wants to green contrast one to go on the wall here at our home and he wants to purple one to gift to me for valentine's day.LOL! They are magnificent. Thank you also for the info you updated and gave on post 16. It answered everything that was running in my head that I wanted to know.You are truly blessed with a gift and there is a difference in it and talent.

In a word - stunning!

Stunning works for me too!

To have such talent is truly a blessing! Gorgeous!

Thank you so much!!

I used to match my threads with the majority of the fabric in the quilt but I tried red thread on black and fell in love with contrasting threads from then on. Of course it doesn't always work out for every quilt but sure makes a statement as your sample pieces show.

I'm helping a lady with her 1st quilt done in scrappy pinks and yellows with unbleached muslin for the sashing. I pulled out my threads for her to pick for the quilting and she came up with a reddish purple, one of Connecting Threads newest colors called Sangria. I laid it up against her blocks and I liked it. The backing will be made from the leftover unbleached muslin so will be stunning too. Of course I can't quilt like you do plus I use a robotic system for mine as my hands tremor way too much but I sure enjoy your talent.

Thank you!

Beautiful eye you have! It's stunning.

You are a quilting "artist." Beautiful work!

very talented long arm quilter. Can tell you have had much practice!

beautiful !!!!

Gorgeous as always !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!