Free Motion Quilting on Patterned Fabrics

April 18, 2014
Mini Log Cabin Quilt, Purple

OPEN LINE FRIDAYS

As I mentioned earlier in the week, judging by comments and letters I receive, YOUR favorite days of the week here at The Inbox Jaunt are Tuesday (Tutorials) and (Silent) Sundays. I love Tuesdays and Sundays, but MY FAVORITE day is (Open Line) Fridays.  I absolutely love the “Newbie” advice you provided last week…HERE and thought the discussion on quilt abbreviations HERE was hysterical!  YOU are all so creative–and not just with your stitching!

Mini Log Cabin Quilt, Purple

QUESTIONS ABOUT PATTERNED FABRIC

I’ve received several questions about using the quilt motifs on patterned fabric.  (Find more than 75 free motion quilt tutorials HERE.)   I do all the tutorials on solid fabric so that you can see them best, but all of the motifs look great on printed fabrics as well.  Mini Log Cabin Quilt, Purple

The effect is more subtle on printed fabrics, but at different angles of light, you will see the patterns and you will see the nice textured effect.  That being said, I would save the most intricate free motion quilting for areas of the quilt that have low contrast patterns.

Mini Log Cabin Quilt, Purple

In this miniature quilt, the quilting is very subtle-more texture than anything.  The highly patterned, multi-colored purple fabric hides the quilting.  (The low-contrast gray fabric would have revealed more quilting–however, I wanted the more subtle effect.)

Mini Log Cabin Quilt, Purple

The following images were sent in by a reader–thank you, Peggy!

Peggy R. Free Motion Quilting.
Peggy R. Free Motion Quilting.

The quilting looks great on all fabric types…depending on the angle of the light.

Peggy R. Free Motion Quilting.
Peggy R. Free Motion Quilting.

FOCUS ON FREE MOTION QUILTING

When you really want to showcase a free motion quilt motif:

  • Choose solid or low contrast prints.
  • Use  contrasting thread.
  • Use  heavier thread.
  • Add unpieced, solid or low-contrast fabric blocks to your design 
  • Stitch samples of different thread:  fiber, weight and color.

Mini Log Cabin Quilt, Purple

Whether your fabric is solid or patterned, the quilt motifs found HERE will look great.  The best way to judge the quilting effect:   STITCH SAMPLES!  I know it takes a few extra minutes….think NIKE–Just Do It!

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR READERS  (or me) TODAY?

Love to hear…

Lori

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