I don’t know why I am struggling with this challenge so much…. I have the letters fused and stitched in place and now have to figure out how to quilt it. Do I go with invisible thread or use actual thread…I do have some bottom line threads that are gray and are very thin.
Usually I don’t have too much trouble figuring out how to quilt a quilt. I have this one on my design wall and plan on looking at it for a while to decide what to do.
Here are my thoughts and options so far.
- Stitch around the letters. Stitch around the outside of the moon. Continue to stitch circles around the moon maybe 1/2 inch or 1 inch apart in the sky area being careful not to stitch through the letters. Then how to stitch the area of the moon? Circles?
- Stitch vertical and horizontal lines running right through the piece with invisible thread or bottom line. This pays no attention to what’s on the quilt at all.
- Stitch nothing but concentric circles centered on the moon. Small circle at the center of the moon and getting larger and larger stitching right over the letters. Or not stitching over the letters and outlining them?
- Stitch around the letters, stitch around the moon, stitch the patterns that look like craters on the moon, stitch around what seem to be individual pieces in the sky. Not my top choice.
- Stitch around the letters, stitch around the moon, stitch circles on the moon, and stitch rays coming out of the moon rather than circles.
- Stitch rays starting at the center of the moon and come out from there and stitch around the letters or run the stitching right though the letters.
- YIKES!
What would you do? Maybe you thought of something that has not come to me.
Chris
I like the idea of concentric circles starting with outlining the moon. I might try something like a Sulky opalescent sliver thread - it would not show up much but give some hint of sparkle here and there. I think it would be a mistake to quilt around the letters (plus we might have to check you into a mental ward for a bit afterwards). You've toned the letters down such that they are subtle background which I think is good. Whatever you decide, I would say just quilt right over them, but with a thread that would not contrast and obscure them more. As for the moon, I think quilting in craters makes sense, and again, I think I would go for something that doesn't show much like an invisible thread.
ReplyDeleteThis really is a tough one - as you've created a very complex and beautiful top. These are the times when I think, maybe I should ditch the quilting and just mount it on canvas. But if I persevere, I usually find that whatever quilting I end up doing has really enhanced my design. Ponder ponder and maybe do some overlays - clear plastic over the top that allows you to "sketch" and audition possible quilting lines. Sometimes that helps, sometimes not.
I really like what you have done with this. My thought would be # 3. That is my idea of the moon's influence....circles spreading out. I think of rays as coming from the sun, so I wouldn't go with that. I think outlining each letter or word would be too busy and distracting. Now, you know these are only my thoughts. Even though you are seeming to have many questions on how to finish it...it is your creation and I know you will end up with another awesome work of art. This may be my favorite of your recent ones so far!
ReplyDeleteNancyB in AZ
Nancy and Sheila, Thanks for you input. I think I will follow your advise and quilt concentric circles from the moon outward and then quilt the craters on the moon sorta following the cratering on the fabric. I will have to look up that thread to see if I have something similar.
ReplyDeleteThis link will take you to a page that describes the thread and has a color chart. Opalescent has subtle shimmers of greens and purples a bit like an opal. I noticed a "clear white" which I'd forgotten about but think I also have. At any rate, this is a flat strip metallic as opposed to a metallic wrapped around a core. I really like them because whatever color, they always come across much more subtle than an equivalent metallic thread.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sulky.com/thread/thread_sliver.php