8/09/2006

BQ = Before Quilting


I asked Amy what BQ meant on her blog and the answer just happens to be the Most Suitable Title for this post. Please people, please help me. I don't want to ruin this quilt top (had a near miss with that vine thing lol). I pieced a back for it from some ancient brown fabric in my stash that I love very much. Got the print in several different colors at the time (is anybody else old enough to remember this fabric???).

Was about to sandwich it with fusible batting. Then stopped. I don't know if quilting will help or hurt this top. Not sure if I want to quilt it at all, but could it be finished w/o quilting? The blocks look pretty all nice and flat. What would you do?

14 comments:

Patti said...

I would most definitely quilt it - absolutely! It will give so much more definition to the piece. But I think I might quilt it with big stitch in a thread heavier than quilting thread. I'll have to think on that one awhile and get back to you.

Juliann in WA said...

I agree with Patti - a nice big stitch with pearl cotton - that is what I would do but then that has become my favorite way to quilt anything

Gail said...

beatuiful top, yes, quilt it simply

Hanne said...

I have never seen a quilt that did not gain from quilting - definitively - quilt it :-)
If you don't want much quilting you should outline the designs.
If you don't quilt the quilt it will stretch - and you do not want that !

The Calico Cat said...

I would quilt it if only outlining the appliques....

The vine can be quiltd in on the border...

Libby said...

I agree that a simple design of echoing the applique. You'll get just that touch of added dimension to make your quilt sing.

Anonymous said...

That is absolutely gorgeous

Anonymous said...

I don't have any quilting suggestions, but that top is stunning!

Laura said...

I would definately quilt it using a black thread. That way the quilting will had definition to the blocks and also not take anything away from them.

Anonymous said...

I would hand quilt with a size 12 perle cotton, thinner thread, in black only around the motifs. The vine might be easier to applique if you hand appliqued, after quilting with with perle cotton.
Nancy

Tonya Ricucci said...

You don't have to quilt it if you don't want to - just leave out the batting. That's a summer spread and is a perfectly valid option. Personally, I think that would be a better option than machine quilting.

Judy said...

I would definitely NOT use the fusible batting! I think it will ruin the applique.

I agree on the black perle cotton or thinner thread just around the applique.

Judy said...

Oh and make sure you use BLACK batting!! Otherwise you are goin to see little dots of white or creme all over it, and bearding like you wouldn't believe. BLACK batt for sure!!

Shelina said...

That is such a beautiful quilt. Looks like you've spent lots of time on it. I would definitely give it first class treatment and quilt it. Since I don't trust my quilting, I would use a black thread and black batting, and probably outline the applique and crosshatch between the applique. That would make the applique pop out more and keep the attention away from the quilting.

It deserves hand quilting, but machine would work too. I personally haven't handquilted anything yet, although I am looking on making a quilt that does deserve hand quilting.

A quilt like that, I might even splurge and send to a quilter who knows what she is doing!