Friday, April 5, 2013

Another Hand Dyed Quilt Top Finished

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I am pleased this top is done.

Working with my shibori dyed fabrics is interesting, fun and often a challenge  - as you are going where “No quilter has ever gone before”.

I know I couldn’t do this without a design wall and the ability to stand back many feet and look at it.

I usually keep my design wall in my great room as most house activity goes on in that room. This gives me the opportunity to study the piece and fine tune what I think might work.

I will put off quilting it for a few months (or more)!

Often I have to study a piece for a long time to decide how I want to quilt it.

There are two considerations as I am deciding how to quilt something:

1. The quilting must complement the design of the quilt

2. The quilting should be the simplest possible design that will do number 1.

In the quilt world there seems to be an emphasis to do as much quilting as possible in the most ornate way possible on many wonderful quilts.

That is not my style. No offense to those accomplished quilters who are doing that type of quilting meant.

I have quilted long enough to see styles of quilting, fabric, design, embellishment, etc. ebb and flow in popularity.

I also know that I need to be true to myself and not follow the pop trend of the day.

9 comments:

magicmoonmusings said...

It's lovely to see pieces by others who also prefer a minimalist approach. This quilt top is stunning!

Heavily quilted surfaces aren't my preference either. Yes, they can look amazing - but so can minimalism although that seems to be a dirty word in the traditional quilt world right now.

Nancy Bowron said...

Thanks for your insight on the quilting. I have only been quilting for 2 years, and I see all this amazing stitching, yet I know that is not where my forte lies. I appreciate knowing there is room under this tent for my simple ideas as well!

Shannon said...

This is a lovely top- the geometric nature of the circles and borders really complements the organic feel of the dyed fabric. I'm also glad to hear you let things incubate on your design wall before quilting. I have to force myself to do this sometimes- I'm often tempted to just push through and finish and that definitely doesn't always give best results. Thanks so much for sharing you process.

Nina Marie said...

wow this is striking! I love the rhythm of it - and the use of red is crazy! I'm a little in awe of people that can see the quilt line right away - I'm still not there - usually I have think and think and then second guess myself!

Anonymous said...

I love this quilt top- so lovely. I love the sense of movement the red pattern in the shibori dots have- and the layering of a different movement in the dot pattern itself. The quilting- this is where I pause and panic! I'd love to see what you decide.

Robin said...

I thought I was the only one who didn't like dense quilting! This top is beautiful, the red still gives me the creeps but the overall effect is great.

PAMELA said...

I really like the texture you created in this piece. Great too to see you also like to follow your own style (me too), but it can be lonely sometimes...but keep going. I will be back for a further look.

Regards, from an Aussie.
Pamela

Windy Hill Happenings said...

Your fabrics are so wonderful and interesting....too much ornate quilting would only detract from them...I love this most recent piece.

Cathy Perlmutter said...

I really like the way you expressed your restrained quilting philosophy. You've really given me something to think about.