I hid out in the girl cave this morning sewing the last two pieces of the border onto my kid sized quilt. I have the backing picked out so it will be pieced on the top but take on a completely different look on the back, sort of reversible. It was an easy pattern (until I made my bad cut!!!)
My BIG DECISIONS will be:
**What color thread to use for the quilting - I had a suggestion from one of my favorite quilt bloggers. She said black, and I was hesitant at first but then again, it will really break up the big, lighter solids. I really need a nice pattern in them. I think black might be my choice; however, the border wasn't on at that time.
**Do I change the thread for the border, using white or pink? How do I change it there? Won't I have to back stitch with the machine so it won't pull out?
**Do I try it myself? I've only quilted table runners and then it was straight lines. If I make a pattern how do I "draw" it on so I can follow it? If I use black, it will be very obvious if I'm not good at the quilting. Maybe someone else should quilt it while I practice on a mug rug or place mat?
This is a photo of the backing along side the edge of my pieced top.
Poor Taylor, she was all dressed down to go outside and try walking on the frozen "pond" in our driveway culvert-a few inches of water collected there and has frozen over. I made her stop and lay down so you all would have an idea of the size. She's a short 7 year old. I made her the big quilt for her birthday so I didn't pick kid fabric for this one.
I know the striped fabric is not straight, and I didn't intend to try to make it so. I normally avoid stripes for just that reason but it was within the collection of fat quarters so I just went with it. I like my corners pretty straight but not so concerned about the fabric direction.
Let me know what you all think about the thread color! In the meantime I'll check around You Tube for quilting techniques!
12 comments:
Girl cave-love it! I don't quilt so can't give you any suggestions there other than I have seen expert quilters put their pattern on with chalk right on to the fabric. Some day I'll tell you my sad sad sewing story! LOL Good luck!
Hi Kathy, I made a small sampler to hang on my wall. It was done in hunter green,pink and off white print hearts. The back was solid green. I had the same dilemma and everyone said use the off white thread. I didn't like it. Unless you are an advanced quilter and can quilt perfect lines the lighter thread shows every little flaw. I would use the black if I were you. On the top it will outline the other colors and on the back it won't be so obvious. My two cents.~Ames
Thanks Ames! I really think the black will be the choice.
Trudy- Oh yes, girl cave. It's the bonus room over the garage and even has its own bathroom. When my daughter and granddaughter lived here it was their room. Now that everyone is gone, I turned it into the girl cave. Taylor, my granddaughter, visits every other weekend for some country fun. She has my son's old room. The poor guy didn't even get his room back when he flew in for Christmas!!! Mom had the guest room so it was the girl cave for him, surrounded by fabric. LOL.
This top turned out lovely Kathy. If it was my first large quilting job, I would quilt it allover black, borders too. I'd use an allover meander, something like clamshells or cabbage roses. They'd contrast nicely, and no straight stitching = less chance for puckering. I lock my stitches and pull tails between the layers at the end. if you are worried about steadiness, try this- draw your design repeatedly on a dry erase board until you feel steady with it. Then get to work. You'll do great! I am excited to see your quilting. p.s.- To draw out a design, there's a new quilting pen that really does iron out every time. Check for it at your local quilt shop.
Your quilt top is just beautiful, great job!! I'm looking foward to hearing about your adventures in quilting you brave girl!!
Your top looks great. First quilt I quilted I did free hand swirls. That way I didn't have worry about puckering or matching a pattern. Black thread would be my choose. Can't wait to see it done. I know it will be beautiful.
I'm new at quilting too, but my teacher told me to use a disapearing ink pen, it is great! It's a marker and you draw the design on with it and after almost a day the ink disappears. I'm not really sure how long it stays on, it was long enough for me to quilt my wall hanging though. This way you don't have to wash it before you can use the quilt.
Thanks. I am going to have to stop by the quilt shop and see what she has. Now I have suggestions to use Black, dark green or grey thread. The quilt shop will be the tie breaker!
Your quilt top is very pretty, I love to quilt too, just very seldom have the time.I myself would also use black , It sure is pretty what ever you use.
Nice quilt, you might look for a black verigated and use it top and bottom. Have fun.
Bunny
That's look so great! Good luck with your work of quilting! A hug!
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