Any Advice?

[Jess1377]

Hi out there!
I was wondering if you might have any pointers or critique on this cat tree quilt. I am mostly wondering how you might decide on how to quilt this? I did a table runner already but with that i did stitch in the ditch method. But I dont know where to begin on this. I got purple thread, orange thread, of course black. I was thinking of doing stippling in the orange areas with the orange thread, purple stippling in the purple area, etc... but do you think it matters about the back of the quilt? The fabric in the back is the black fabric with the moons on it. So far what I have quilted shows up on the back all over the moons. Is it anything to really be concerned over? I am not sure if I should just worry about the front more than the back or should I get a solid black fabric and just use black thread in the bobbin?

I appreciate your input! I am sorry if it dosnt make sense, I am really new at this

[mrswindy4]

I dont have any advice for you, other than to tell you that its your quilt...do what you want! Myself, I like the look of the quilting, so I'd want to use a thread that stands out, but thats me. What do YOU like??

Its very pretty...I love Halloween!

[rebeccas-sewing]

If I were doing it, I'd just use my walking foot with the dark clear thread in the needle and whatever thread matches the back in my bobbin. A diamond grid in the middle would compliment the diamonds in the border. I might divide the inner border and sew a few straight parallel lines. For the diamond border I might do a meander or stipple stitch on there. Or super simple would be to outline each diamond to make them stand out. Just doing an all-over meander, loop-de-loop, or stipple would work also.

[SummerK]

I'll second what the other ladies have said in that it's all about what you like, but I'll add that I would not worry about any quilting showing through on the back with your different colors. I like the look of the back of the quilt when you can see all the different patterns and such of the front. If it bothers you, I'd put black in the bobbin but leave the fabric the same.

[suzette58]

It's a great quilt!! I like to have my quilting stitches show. What about some of the glow in the dark thread? Just remember what someone reminded me of, there are no quilt police. You can do what you want.

[Sewbee]

Hi Jess. Really cute Halloween cat quilt! I have a similar project I have been trying to quilt and have the same issues you are running into. Mine is a Fall Harvest quilt with a black fabric backing. I started out my quilting by outlining all the primary shapes and border seams with black thread using my walking foot where I could. This helped to stabilze the quilt and then I started working on trying to outline the smaller shapes in the panel and borders like the leaves, trees, acorns, pumpkins etc. I had to do those smaller shapes by FMQ so it was good practice for me. I still need to decide how to quilt the large open spaces I have left like the grass, sky and larger border strips. I have put this project on hold until I get more time to practice FMQ using free hand patterns.

I would suggest you think about starting your quilting with straight stitching the border seamlines and diamond shapes using your walking foot. Then you might try a little FMQ outline stitching around the cats, tree, pumpkins etc. You could do some stipple or slightly wavy lines through the grass area. It might be cool to try outlining the stars in the treetop and then do an echo quilt pattern around the stars in the purple sky area or just do a simple stipple or breezy lines through the sky. It really is whatever appeals to you and makes it fun.

I have mostly used black thread on my project but did switch to a golden thread for outlining the leaves in the border which shows up nicely on the black backing. I started out using a bright orange to outline the pumpkins but am thinking I may take that out and redo it with the black. I think it stands out a little too much on the backing. Just experiment and have fun with it!

[Loonwatcher]

Jess, love your cat tree quilt.

Sewbee, love your autumn one. The quilting is fabulous.

[Lola2Ace]

Jess, cute quilt. Is it a panel or is all of that applique? I agree with the other gals, do what looks right to you. I wouldn't worry about the stitching showing so much on the back.
Lola

[janluna]

Looks really nice. Such a fun quilt. Whatever you decide will be perfect! Hugs, Jan L

[Jess1377]

OMG! You ladies are so inspirational and motivational. I was sort of in a rut with this one and now dont feel so unsure any longer. For some reason I felt constricted by some "rules" about the quilting part of it. Thank you ladies, I feel like getting more quilting done on this today because of your help!!

This actually just a panel by the way. and i did the diamonds and cut out the cat that are in the top and bottom corners from a second panel i bought as well, i also added the outer border with the moons.