Saturday, July 30, 2011

How Should I Quilt This?

Man oh man, does Summer do a number on my desire to sew or what? Very low productivity happening in these parts.

I managed to get this top together tonight and couldn't wait until the daytime to take a photo and ask your advice. It's the playmat for donation to a fundraiser for CanPKU. I love to make baby quilts using black, white and red - it is a stimulating colour combo that is great for the wee ones and it's wonderfully unisex to boot. Everyone wins!

playmat

So. How would you quilt this? Off the top of my head I can think of about a half-dozen options. I'd love to hear what you think, and of course I'm open to suggestions that I haven't mentioned/thought of. My initial ideas are, in no particular order: 

1. straight vertical lines; 2. straight horizontal lines; 3. wavy vertical lines; 4. wavy horizontal lines; 5. crosshatch on the diagonal; 6. all-over meander/stipple; 7. different motif in each strip.

To assist you, I offer the following additional information: 

1. I plan to use red thread; 2. I like a quick finish; 3. I am rather lazy.

Okay, have at 'er. Whaddaya think, dear readers?

20 comments:

  1. IMHO 3. wavy vertical lines. Not 7. different motif in each strip if you'd like a quick finish.

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  2. Very cool! I like the wavy lines idea. Or crosshatch.

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  3. I would do a loopy squiggle all over - wonderful quilt

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  4. Another quick option is to do random diagonal straight lines all over it. I think I would do the diagonal cross hatch, maybe with different amounts of space between some of the lines to make it a little more funky. I love the quilt!

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  5. How about interlocking square of different sizes or just interlocking lines that make up squares and rectangles in different sizes as the cross. You can then make it scale or small scale.

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  6. Oops that last line is supposed to say large scale or small scale.

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  7. You make me laugh..."I'm lazy." I'd be scared off right away by the red thread, too afraid that all my imperfections would show, so you'd better listen to the others!

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  8. I am so with you on points 2 and 3. The first thing that jumped to mind is a crosshatch with diagnol lines. I think that would look fantastic. You can't go wrong with the other options either. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

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  9. The first thing I thought of was a crosshatch on the diagonal. I love the idea of that in red.

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  10. nice! I love it's simplicity (and that's not code for anything insulting - I really do! lol...)

    I would probably go for "organic" vertical lines. Organic being key for wavyish/intentionally wonky...

    xx

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  11. wavy horizontal lines with the walking foot... easy peasy. :)

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  12. I was thinking stippling until you said red thread! In that case I would go with even zig zags along the widths of the strips. Enjoy it whatever you decide! Jxo

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  13. I'm quite fond of random straight line quilting lately. I use masking tape, and here's how I do it: lay the quilt out on a table or the floor. Take a long piece of tape and randomly place it down on the quilt. Try to keep the take straight-ish, but a little curve isn't noticeable. Then quilt using the tape as a guide-the easiest way to do this is to use the tape as a guide next to your pressed foot. Also, you can get double the quilting out of 1 taping if you sew on either side of the tape! After you've quilted your 1 or 2 lines, peel the tape up and lay it down in a new position. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but I've found that it takes fewer quilting lines than you'd think, and since it's not too densely quilted, it is super cuddly after a washing!

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  14. wavy horizontal lines for a quick finish. Otherwise I would do something different in each band. Actually you could do something different, but generally horizontal in each band. One band is straight horizontal lines, another wavy, another random diagonals, another cross hatches.

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  15. What about vertical zig-zag, zig on one stripe and zag on the next stripe, top to bottom?

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  16. What about random diagonal lines running across the quilt in various angles? Easy to mark with a hera marker and no one knows if you make mistakes. :)

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  17. Am I too late? I'd go with the Bernina wave stitch vertically about 1" apart. Love red thread. This is really fun and a great way to use up some B&W graphics! Will have to file this idea away for next school auction!

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  18. I was going to say wavy 'organic' lines, but, if you have the bernina wavy stitch then I say go with it! Can't wait to see what you decide!

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  19. Yes, my son the optometrist would definitely agree with the black, white and red color comb for babies. So other than confirming the color choice, I have nothing to offer. Helpful. As usual.

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  20. Since you're using RED thread on a black and white quilt, I can't wait to see it. I am considering doing the same thing with a B&W Bargello. I am also considering yellow and red thread for the quilting.

    For this quilt, I would quilt opposite of the strips (so if those strips pictured are horizontal, I would quilt vertical). I would use a straight line quilting, but every 8 - 10 inches, stick in a loop. I would do this randomly, with some loops above the line and some below. It will be quick, simple and the loops will add a little more POP than just straight lines.

    Paul
    www.OutnumberedQuilter.com

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