Friday, March 26, 2010

What would you do?



How would you quilt it? Well, really what I am asking is what color thread would you use?

My first choice for actual quilting is an all over tight loopy design. And probably with light gray or white thread. That has me wondering how it would be over the brown, purple, dark blue and black block.

Suggestions?

-dana

71 comments:

Lesly said...

I would go with a medium gray. Gorgeous quilt!

Gene Black said...

Ha ha.... I would fret over it for a while then use my standard cream/ecru color.

grendelskin said...

White may be too stark but you have plenty of light even in the darker blocks so I'd use the gray or go with Gene's suggestion of a nice cream. It's lovely, BTW, you've got a nice mix of elegance and cheer going there.

beth said...

Maybe quilt each block with a different top color and keep the back color the same. Love it!

Anita in Florida said...

If you want the quilting sutle...maybe do one block at a time with the color that matches that one best. What will you use in your bobbin? How about a picture of the back??? Love the quilt.

Suzanne said...

Gorgeous quilt, I would go for a light to medium grey. That way it will show up all all the colours of each block and not be overpowering.

Liz Jimenez said...

I would do white. I think it will disappear more than you think on all the blocks. I always worry about it, but I think the quilting fades into the background more than I worry it will.

Marsel said...

I'd go daring and use a bright rainbow variegated thread!

dolores said...

I'm with Marsel....variegated rainbow thread!:) The other idea of using a different color in each block is good too since these are really big blocks and you would have no problem doing one at a time....thirdly I would use grey!:)
Who is the lucky person that gets this beauty?:)

Shorty said...

I like the idea of using that beautiful bright light blue color of the block you have in the middle bottom section. I think that would be a very cool contrast in both the lighter and darker colored blocks. Honestly, tho... no matter what color you choose that is one beautiful quilt!

Molly said...

Wow! That quilt top looks like a beautiful stained glass window. Just breathtaking! I'm sure whatever quilting you do will look fantastic.

Susan J Barker said...

I would go with the above suggestion, thread colour to match the block -- keeping the thread on the backing the same throughout. You have a facinating quilt there and the blocks each tell their own story. A black with white thread just would take away from the block itself -- well thats is just my thoughts. It will be a wonderful quilt when done whatever way you deside to go.

Elissa said...

obviously i have no place to give suggestions here, but i say a shade of gray. seems sort of consistent and soothing amidst the boldness of the squares. or, at least that's what it is in my head. i could be totally wrong there ;-)

Unknown said...

I have NO IDEA what color to quilt it, but I'm sure it will be wonderful, whichever way you choose.

Kelsi said...

oh that is just beautiful! no matter how you quilt it, it will be wonderful!!

Em said...

I am going to re-iterate the suggetion of a couple of previous posters. I would go with a rainbow thread that picks up many of the colors used in the quilt. Would be really fun!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely rainbow variegated!!! Beautiful.

D'Lyn said...

I Love Variegated thread!!! And I LOVE your quilt-along quilters!!! ALL the quilts are here -- and wait till ya'll hear about the adventure they're on right now. I hope to have the pictures for you to see by next week!

Deanna said...

I just finished a very bright multi-colored quilt and used varigated thread for the first time and was really happy with the results.

Danielle said...

Beautiful quilt, grey would be very pretty, BUT I think switching colors to match the block would be spectacular! It will be worth all of the extra work in the end. Can't wait to see what you choose!

Ginger said...

I love this quilt, very nice! When I'm trying to decide what to use I lay out some of the thread on my quilt and see what I like better. I do think the rainbow variegated would be neat or the medium tone gray for a subtler look. Any way you go it will be great.

RWL said...

i would use a soft gray and do gentle, wavy lines across the whole thing. love it!

Amy said...

Dana! This is so fun! I am glad I got to be part of it :)
I would probably go with grey thread.

Anne at Film and Thread said...

That is one beautiful top! I vote for gray thread and simple geometric stitching so as not to compete with the piecing. However you choose to do it, it will look fantastic.

Gena's Garden said...

I like the idea of using a coordinating color for each block (i.e. red for the red block) and using the same bobbin thread for all. I also like the idea of the variegated thread too. Since all of your blocks are different I would probably quilt them all differently as well. That is a gorgeous quilt! I cannot wait to see the finished pics! :)

Kimberly said...

Invisible...?

Anonymous said...

I would switch colors for each block, too. OR, go wild with a variegated thread. I hope you post photos of it all finished! Absolutely lovely quilt.

Rafael's Mum said...

It's a lovely quilt! I think to pull it all together I probably would be thinking of doing each square separately with the appropriate pattern for that square. Then tie it all together by doing a sort of pattern on the sashing but have the same pattern on all the sashing and the same colour. On the pattern I am thinking something as difficult as a feather or as easy as the loopy quilting. As long as it is the same on all the sashing. On colour I too would go variegated thread but seeing the enormous colour variation of the blocks go for something neutral like the sand colour that King Tut do.

Hear me go! You'd think I could really do all this myself lol!!

Love the quilt though. Go girl Go!

Amy said...

use a different color in each block. But I would use white on the pink, pink on the red, red on the orange, orange on the yellow, yelow on te green...so on and so on.

Morgan said...

I would say light gray or white. I love that quilt! What a great way to use up scraps!

Artfulife said...

Call me crazy Dana but the "aqua vintagy blue" stars to the right of your quilt looks like it would go really well with all your colors. It would be fun and funky. Go for it!

Meg said...

I'd probably use something like a medium slate blue or tan, so that it wouldn't be too huge a POP against any one block. Good luck--it looks great!

imquilternity said...

I would use either a variegated orange/red/pink thread or a solid of one of those three colors!

Dena said...

Go with your first thought. I think it will be great. very fun quilt.

Rossie said...

I would check out Sulky's blendables and use one of the bolder ones. : )

Ashley Ann said...

I have no suggestion, but please stop it with the rainbow. It kills me!

What a beautiful quilt top!

Charlene said...

Varigated black/grey/white, if such a thing exists - or just a basic cream - not too stark, not too bright.

Fun stuff!

Leila said...

Beautiful! I am feeling inspired. I think I would go with light gray.

Kelly O. said...

i think turquoise. Yes. I realize that would be a bold choice but each of those blocks has turquoise in it and if you're going to do fun quilting--well it's a fun quilt!
however a nice dark gray would be more demure and socially acceptable so--ummm yeah--I'll say dark gray--
but if you go with turquoise and it looks fabulous and everyone that sees it says they just never would have thought it would work bit it soooo does?
then I'd be happy to take the credit.
then again, if you try turquoise and then rip it out all the while exclaiming it's horribleness and how could anyone think this was a good idea?
then--we didn't have this conversation.
and I will deny that I ever had a hand in it.
and yes.
you should have gone with dark gray :P
have a good day!

Deb Robertson Writes said...

I would use a multi, not rainbow, there are heaps of multi's out there, but one in some muted colours would be stunning. I've had several quilts done in multi by my friend (the long-armed quilter!) and it works a treat.

Jantine said...

I would use either a gray or a variegated thread with lots of different bright colors!

Trudi said...

I use a beautiful brown/golden variegated that looks fantastic over everything! Whatever you are thinking unravel enough of it over each area on the quilt to see how it looks, sometimes it's a surprise what looks great! As for quilting, go with your instincts, something swirly always looks great with geometric piecing!

Em said...

I would probably quilt each block individually. I would choose either matching or contrasting.
Have fun! I'm sure it will look beautiful whatever you choose!

amylouwhosews said...

your instinct is good - I think gray would be good - i'm sure whatever you choose will look excellent! It's a really cool quilt! I don't know if I saw all of those blocks on flickr. Can't wait to see it finished!

ksrunt said...

Light gray looks great with a lot of different colors. That would be my choice.

CitricSugar said...

Gray would be my pick on this one. Or if you're insane - go with that invisible thread and learn some new swear words. :-)

Anonymous said...

Lay a jumble of threads across the blocks. I would try..... a turquoise, or a mid-green----kinda like a dill pickle, or even a mustard yellow, or maybe a mid range mauve. Something in the middle range, cause a light will scream on those dark blocks on the bottom.

Karen S in Edmonton

Terri said...

I think I would have to go with turquoise, too, but I have an extreme guilt complex, so if you hated it I would have to start a savings account and save up enough money to buy the quilt, because I would feel terrible if you had to rip the quilting out. Which, actually, means I'd get a really cool quilt, ultimately, so yeah - turquiose! :)

momawake said...

I think invisible would work.

yarnivorous said...

I have no idea what colour to use but I am loving the quilt and the ideas you and the commenters are giving me :-)
When I finally do my wonky block, I'm going to try a greek key sort of pattern to quilt it with (or get a long arm quilter to do that for me).

Trisha said...

I would quilt each block in a coordinating color. Then the back would look so cool!

tara said...

The individual color on each block is an interesting idea. It would make the back interesting too. The thread would be the block.
The top turned out great. What a thrill seeing my block there. This virtual quilting bee stuff is great.
I dont think I got to see some of these blocks on the flickr site.

WhiteStone said...

Because of the straight seams, I would go with the loopy quilting. And because of and even in spite of the color! I would go with a variegated color thread. Add yet even more pizazz and this will be a beautiful quilt.

WhiteStone said...

You asked for advice and got lots of it! giggle

AllyB said...

I'd use gold thread with a bit of shine. It would be a nice accent on most of the blocks. A variegated yarn would also work well. Good luck and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished project.

Jodie said...

Wow - lots of comments! I love this quilt...... very inspiring idea!

I'd vote for quilting each block with a coordinating thread. It'd be a lot of work, but the result will be so neat to look at - especially the back!

sallgood said...

I've had good luck with a medium range varigated thread- with an overall loopy pattern, once it's all puckery from your first wash/dry spin, you won't notice the thread so much as the overall texture. (Nice quilt!!)

Unknown said...

Well you certainly have options here. But it all depends on the look that you are going for here. You could use a beautiful variegated thread. If you chose to and you want it to show more, use a heavier weight. If you want it to blend more use a lighter weight. A pale yellow is also a beautiful choice. But what I like to do when quilting a customer's quilt, is to string the thread across the top and all the colors. This really helps to make the right decision.

julie (jane's apron) said...

I'm not a quilter but I do love color...I think a dark brown thread would look pretty (not as stark as black but a little more bold than grey).

Kim said...

I would use a variegated gray with some shine on it like the rainbow series from Superior threads ..........whatever you use its gonna be a beauty......Nice job Dana :0)

Happy Sewing

sewtakeahike said...

my oh my Dana. that's one cool quilt. I'm not sure how I'd quilt it or what color of thread, but I just had to say that.

Karen said...

What a gorgeous work of art! I think I would go with a medium gray. Make sure to post a picture when it's finished!

yahaira said...

I would pick a light grey that would read as white on some squares without screaming "WHITE THREAD!" and it would just pop off the other squares

jabeybaby said...

I love this quilt! I think I would use invisible thread. I bought the sulky brand last time I used invisible thread and didn't have any problems, it didn't break once!! But a light gray would look nice too.

Dianne said...

I would probably match the color of each block as best I could. Gorgeous quilt!

Amanda said...

Looking at your newest post with the beautiful thread boxes, I now think that you should keep one for yourself and quilt each block in a coordinating thread color! It will be gorgeous no matter how you quilt it, though.

sarah, rsm said...

What would I do? Me? Well, I would put that foot thing on your machine - you know, the one that lets you move the materials around underneath without bunching up on the metal teeth below? Yeah, THAT one! Then I would thread the machine with something that goes with everything ... maybe ecru or vanilla or off-white-sand-like something. Then I would do that machine quilting thing that all you good quilters know how to do and make it look all comfy and cozy and stuff. Then I'd do the binding thing all around the outside and wash it til it feels soft and smells good and loved. Then I'd send it off to commenter #67 who thinks you ROCK and wants to be just like you when she finally learns how to quilt good!!! YEP, I'm pretty sure that's just what I'd do! :-)

Cindy A. T. said...

I believe a variegated thread would be nice. Something with at least three of the colors in it. I have been in the same situation and having a hard time deciding and ended up with a variegated thread which worked out perfectly. Good luck.!. Either way, it will come out beautiful. I love the colors and the how they were used. Cindy

Rachel said...

Awesome quilt. I don't have time to read all of the responses right now, so I really hope I am not stating an opinion someone has already used :-) I would go with a varigated. Maybe greens? From this monitor it looks like a green might show up in every block?

Karen said...

What about Aqua? with a black backing?

Tine said...

Gorgeous quilt!! I would use a mousey grey/medium grey to quilt it.
I am sure you will do great.