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Quilting Design:
The Third
Choice
by Dixie Haywood Choose patterns to take your quilt from nice to notable!
 Dixie Haywood's "Olé" is heavily quilted in a
variety of designs. She gave the quilt definition by quilting in the ditch and added drama
in the border with fans and repeat diagonal lines. (Click on the image to see the
detailed quilting design.)
Did you know that you make three choices in the design of your quilt? The first is the
pattern and the second is the fabric colors. The third choice is as crucial to the success
of the quilt as the first two, but often does not receive the same attention and
creativity as they do. Quilting can and should do more than just hold three layers of the
quilt together. With planning, the third choice can make the difference between a nice
quilt and one that is notable.
The best way to make your third choice effective is to consider what you want your
quilt to convey. Then plan a quilting design that will cause viewers to see the quilt the
way you want them to, emphasizing what you think is important. It's not even necessary to
plan the entire quilting design before starting. At the risk of sounding mystical, I urge
you to listen to your quilt! When I begin quilting, I often don't know how I will quilt
the entire top, but I know how I want to quilt part of it. Once the part is done, the
quilt lets me know what to do next.
Truths about quilting
Before planning a quilting design, you should be aware of some important technical
truths. First, the quilting lines outline the spaces that form the design. While you see
the design lines in a plastic stencil or a pattern drawn on paper, when the design is
quilted you actually see the spaces. This has the following implications:
| 1. A design needs to fill an area so that the unquilted space around it
does not overpower or diminish it. |
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| 2. Most quilting motifs need a background grid with smaller spaces than
those in the motif. This allows the design to be highlighted and is especially important
in designs quilted on solid-color fabric. |
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| 3. Unquilted spaces must also be planned rather than accidental. Often, a
design formed by the negative space between quilting lines can be as interesting as the
one formed by the positive lines of quilting. |
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| The second truth relates to the direction of the quilting
stitch. It is important to quilt parallel lines in the same direction unless you
consistently insert the needle into the fabric at a 90° angle. Quilting up one line and
down the one next to it may be easier, but the subtle drag on the fabric by the needle can
cause the quilt to twist unattractively between the lines.
The third truth is that quilting is easier and lines appear more even when
stitching across the bias of the fabric rather than with the grain. This is because
stitches can be distorted by or "fall into" threads in the lengthwise or
crosswise weave. I suspect that many traditional quilting designs use curves and that much
background quilting is done on the diagonal for this reason. |
Consider the quilt
The first consideration in deciding on a quilting design is the style of the quilt. The
design chosen for an informal folk art quilt will differ greatly from those selected for
an elegant floral appliqué. Also consider the fabric used in the quilt. Areas of solid
fabric lend themselves to more elaborate motifs such as feather plumes or wreaths. While
areas where print fabrics are used need the texture that quilting adds, design details
such as crosshatching may be a better choice than fancier ones for such areas.
| There are two ways to choose a quilting design. The easiest is to select
one that complements or is related to the design of the quilt top. This approach
reinforces the quilt design. The logic of its use will be easy to understand, giving a
high comfort level to viewers. Or you may select a quilting design that contrasts with the
design of the quilt top. This can give an interesting overlay effect. The dissonance
created by this added dimension can intrigue a viewer and invite a second look at
the quilt. |
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| Both approaches have pitfalls, however. A complementary
design can seem dull, while a poorly conceived contrasting design may appear chaotic.
Whatever approach you take, be sure to think the design through for consistency, rather
than using a collection of unrelated motifs that just happen to fit in each area. Also,
keep the amount of quilting consistent throughout the quilt to avoid distortion. |
Background designs
| An important principle to remember is that unquilted areas come forward
and heavily quilted areas recede. Background quilting such as quilting a straight-line
grid can help you make use of this. Background quilting is especially important in
appliqué blocks, when quilting single motifs in alternating plain squares and in many
border designs. It not only flattens the background so the foreground stands out, but it
also provides simple contrast to an elaborate quilting motif. |
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| Don't make the mistake of using background quilting to make a motif fit a
space. I suggest enlarging the motif instead. |
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Quilting Borders
| Multiple borders often pose a dilemma. You may repeat the
same quilting design in different sizes to fit the borders. While this can be effective,
it is more often boring. Choosing three unrelated patterns just because they are the right
width for the borders can be distracting, shifting the focus to the edge of the quilt
rather than keeping it in the center. |
| To solve the problem in a three-border quilt, you might quilt the first
and third borders using the same pattern in appropriate sizes. Then quilt the middle
border with a design related to the other two, but changed slightly. |
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| Another effective solution for multiple borders is to treat them as a
single unit, selecting a design that spans the entire area. Depending on the style of the
quilt and the fabric used, this can be as simple as diagonal lines or as elaborate as a
floral vine. |
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Train your eye
The next time you visit a quilt show, focus on the quilting designs as well as quilt
patterns and colors. Learning to see other quilters' choices will help you think more
about your own. You'll begin to realize that there are myriad quilting styles you can
choose from.
Back to Current Quilting "How-To" Class.
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