What's
Your Quilting Style I.Q.?
by Dixie Haywood
Expand your quilting design repertoire.
 Dixie
used all of the styles of quilting in "Anniversary Star." Notice
the offset triangles quilted in the pieced borders. (Click on the image to
see the detailed quilting design.)
Have you made a study of quilting designs? If so, you know that there are many
effective ways to quilt the same pattern. If not, now is a good time to begin. You can
learn both what to do and what not to do from such a study, and your own quilts will be
better for it. I call the quilting design "the third choice" and believe it is
every bit as important as the first two - the quilt pattern and the fabrics. For more
background, see my article "Your Quilting Design - The
Third Choice" featured in a previous Quilting "How-To" Class.
Even though you may have a favorite style of quilting, you may not have
thought about what that style accomplishes or when using it is best. Let's explore three
quilting styles in depth so you can use them more effectively in your quilts.
In the ditch
- Quilting in the ditch is done by quilting very close to the seamlines. It can add
texture, but does not add design interest. This style of quilting is useful to prevent
"floating seams." These are caused when the quilting on each side of a seam
pushes it up. A line of quilting in the seam can control the problem. Quilting in the
ditch should be used to define border or block boundaries if quilting lines don't cross
them. It is also a good way to keep narrow borders straight and true. They can easily be
pulled out of alignment by the quilting in adjacent areas. Quilting in the ditch can also
prevent quilting lines from ending in mid-space where the unanchored line will be a
distraction by "poufing up" the spot where it ends.
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- Quilters often choose quilting in the ditch for highly graphic patterns such as the Log
Cabin. They may do this to avoid quilting through so many seams and because they think the
pattern has enough interest of its own. However, I believe that the more graphic the
pattern, the stronger the quilting design should be. Compare a Log Cabin quilted in the
ditch to one where the quilting follows the design of the setting to see what a difference
the choice of quilting can make.
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Within a patch
- Another popular style is quilting within each patch. This is especially good if you want
to avoid quilting across seams. In addition to quilting 1/4" inside each seamline,
you may also choose to repeat lines within a patch. Curved, circular or linear designs all
work well and are effective for large patches. Quilting within a patch can also flatten
areas in order to provide contrast to adjacent patches that are not as heavily quilted.
But remember, the eye will see less quilted areas first, so use this principle to
emphasize the dominant part of the block. When I choose to quilt within a patch, I like to
define each one by also quilting it in the ditch.
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- Cross-quilting is another possibility for quilting within a patch. Stitching diagonally
across squares and rectangles can create interesting interior designs. It can also divide
a large patch into spaces for additional quilting.
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- Another in-patch quilting scheme is to follow the design in a print fabric. This
provides texture, surface contract and may emphasize the fabric design. It is effective in
borders made using striped fabric because the quilting reinforces the framing effect.
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Consider over-quilting
- Over-quilting is the term I use to describe quilting that extends across patches or
blocks. It can be used to tie together patches that are separated by a seam yet visually
connected, such as Log Cabin blocks, Drunkard's Path designs or other patterns where
multiple blocks form secondary designs.
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- One of my favorite ways to over-quilt is to duplicate the shape of a patch by starting
in the middle of one patch and ending in the middle of the next, off-setting it. This
method is useful in pieced borders and other repeated shapes such as Flying Geese. You can
form interlocking designs when you also quilt the shapes in the ditch. I suggest doing
this only when quilting off-set design in large patches.
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- Over-quilting designs related to the pattern can earn your quilt a second look and a
smile from viewers. For example, quilt a bear over a Bear's Paw block or quilt a Bear's
Paw behind an appliquéd bear. Try quilting a single flower in a Grandmother's Flower
Garden rosette or quilt landscape details in an Attic Window. Be sure the size of the
design fits the space proportionately.
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- Consider over-quilting for a quilt with small patches or in one where elaborate won't be
visible such as those using print fabrics. Choose a traditional pattern such as fans or a
straight-line grid. These designs will add texture and complement the quilt top. They can
also unify a "busy" quilt top that has many design components.
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- Study the quilting styles illustrated in the blocks from my Friendship Sampler. My
approach to quilting them was to emphasize the graphics of each block, rather than quilt
them all the same. This was more interesting for me as I puzzled out the best way to quilt
each block and for the viewer as well. Because there were pairs of blocks, it was fun to
quilt them differently and them compare the effect of the quilting design. I combined all
of the styles discussed in this article. The blocks were quilted in the ditch to define
the patches except when over-quilting crossed the seams.
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- As you plan the designs for your next quilt, give some thought to the strategies for
quilting in the ditch, quilting within a patch and over-quilting. Rather than quilting to
fill in spaces, you'll have reasons for choosing your designs, adding to their
effectiveness.
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