I am making this lap quilt for my dad. It's ugly ugly but it has a purpose. He will know EXACTLY why I chose the colors (even the blue..lol). It's all really a joke, but anyway. I'm new to the whole quilting thing. I'm struggling over the quilting part of it. I think I have chosen the color of thread, but not sure about how I'm going to quilt it. I have only free motion (swirls) quilted before. I have never stitched in the ditch. I don't have a walking foot either.

Oh, and the back of the quilt will be black.

I need to get this done today or tomorrow and I just can't decide which style to quilt in.

If I free motion, will swirls (the only thing I really know how to do), do I do it on the blue too, or will it look funny with that color thread?

Thanks so much for the advice!!

Stephenie

I think the verigated thread is going to look awesome, do the swirls over the whole quilt
and the quilt is NOT ugly

Take thr thread out of the wrapper and lay a length of it across the areas where you will quilt. It will give you a better idea of what it will look like

Good idea about taking it out of the wrapper and stretching it out. I'm not so sure about it on the blue and black. Hmmmmm.

Stephenie

I think swirls all over would look great. I really like the look of varigated thread stitching on a darker background.

Welcome and waving from Arkansas! Your quilt is not ugly at all and I think the thread on the black will be fine. You might want to use it to sew on a piece of black scrap to see what it will really look like. Merry Christmas and we're happy to have you join us.

Swirls all over in that thread will look great!!!
Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

I think the varigated will work well. Welcome from Louisiana, another Cajun here.

What she said. :)

Agree with the others, swirl away!!

IMHO you could use black thread in the bobbin. Most of the time, if the machine is balanced, the black does not show on the front.

But using the variegated thread in the bobbing will work too.

PS: if you are going to keep quilting . . . you really need to ask Santa to bring you a walking foot!!!

Swirl, girl, swirl! The swirls will complement the geometric pattern of your top. Great thread choice, it is going to look awesome!

Looking forward to pictures of it finished.

Ok, I put together a little mini quilt with the colors and I'm not liking the thread now, It goes from bold to disappearing on the quilt. I think I'm going to run to the quilt store and get orange and black (yes, I have no black lol) and do orange on the top and black on the bottom. I hope it works out!

The reason I don't have a walking foot already is b/c i wasn't liking my viking (brand new). It had major lemony types of quirks. I have had it in the shop more than not. I almost bought a bernina and sold this one, but I think I have it working now. I didn't want to invest any more money in feet before I was sure that I was going to be sticking with Viking.

I will post pictures when I'm done!

Thanks for the help.
Stephenie

I agree with Kathy. The thread and swirls will really add the perfect finishing touch to a great quilt.

I wholeheartedly agree :D:D:D

ditto :)

I love having a method to my madness, lol!
I don't know what this quilt represents, but it's not ugly, and your dad will get a charge out of it!
I'd use the same thread all over. I just got some variegated but I'm not ready to dive in...go ahead and then show us.
I'm too chicken...bawk! ;-)

Mousie;

I have used variegated threads for 3 different table runners. The last one I used it for both the top and bobbin thread. The recipient loved it and so did some of my "quilty" friends. I love it b/c they just give the quilting a different look. Don't be a chicken - just do something small to begin with the thread. I like it so much I have approximately 7 different spools - like the YLI brand the best (jmho there and not an endorsement.)