Cynthia St. Charles Store

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Quilting Dilemma


Quilting Dilemma - Which of these looks better to your eye?Oftentimes, it is easy to decide on a plan for quilting. The quilting should enhance the image and complete it. Usually, the quilting plan is something I decide early on. Other times, the quilting evolves as I go along.
I have a very large piece similar to these two smaller ones that I am debating the quilting plan for.
I decided to kill two birds with one stone by creating two 12" pieces that can serve as my trial pieces, but also can be donated to the SAQA 12" auction. Or some other worthy cause, since 12" squares seem to be popular for various shows and events.

Which is your favorite? I will start on the large piece soon.

12 comments:

Amy in Austin said...

I love the second one! It pops!

SandyQuilts said...

#2 definitely #2. Love it.

Cathie said...

Don't get me wrong, I like what you did with the quilting on number 2, HOWEVER I think the graphic nature and vivid colors of number 1 stand out so much more. Perhaps a compromise would be to quilt the "doors" with the fancier quilting but leave the houses as they are in number one.

Vicki W said...

#2 for me!

Candied Fabrics said...

Yup, it's a dilemma - do you want the piece to be about the fabric, or the quilting? Especially when the variegate thread contrasts with the color behind it (like the yellow sections) the piece becomes more about the quilting. So, you could keep switching colors of thread to make the quilting less noticeable...but then, why do it in the 1st place?

I myself have gone to the less is more side of the quilting fence, and really only use fancy free motion quilting when that's the point...if not, I keep it simple so that the color and texture I try to achieve with my hand dyed fabrics takes center stage.

Hope this is somehow helpful!

Candy

Mary said...

I like #2 much better. You said the quilting should complete the piece, and I think it really add something. If you are going to keep it as simple as the first design, the threads should be more evident.

Judy Alexander said...

This is a tough one....I usually do a lot of quilting so I like the second one but I might use less variegated threads and change some of the quilting patterns. I think even when the thread matches the quilted areas show a subtle texture.

Anonymous said...

For overall BANG, I like the second one. While reading other comments, I was surprised that the first one was doors. They looked like robots to me... I am also a lover of binding, so the second one fills that need.
Cheers,
Lunachance

Joyce said...

I like the second one but on a large piece it might look very busy. Matching the thread to the area being quilted would help. I hope you enjoy changing thread in your machine though.

Cate Rose said...

Definitely #2 Cynthia. The detail makes the design pop out. The first one looks incomplete.

Anonymous said...

#2 !!!!!

sion said...

I'm late to the party, but I vote for #2 too, with the same caveats regarding thread choices as others have mentioned.