Because I enjoy the quilting process as much or more than the piecing, I always look at it when I look at quilts. I look for good design choices and motifs that "work" with the quilt. There are allover patterns that work, but I'm usually drawn to the seriously custom work -- it's inspirational to see how people approach design differently. A bigger show (in this case, World Quilt in New Hampshire) helps fill the creative "tank"...
Here's an example (please click for bigger image):
So what's so great about the quilting? Take a closer look -- there is a really neat "ring" of quilting around each of the smaller stars that gives them equal visual impact to the bigger stars. That ring is composed of 6 concentric circles, arranged in pairs to create depth and definition. McTavishing and other kinds of swirly bits make up the background/filler quilting. The stars themselves are very lightly quilted -- enough to accent them, but not enough to flatten them into oblivion.
This is a great quilting solution, and one I know I wouldn't have thought of independently. Of course, I don't have the skills -- or the longarm! -- to do this myself, but nonetheless, it's quilts like these that make me happy I went to the show.
5 comments:
Call me names, but I really DON'T like McTavishing in most situations. It may require skill and time and talent, but to me, it's as much of a cop-out as the all-over meander. I'd have loved to see those circles complete, irrespective of the stars they were covering, and then something more angular or geometric instead of the McTavishing. Even pebbles or bubbles would have made me smile more.
But I do agree, the quilting does add so much to a quilt. Settling for an allover meander or SITD when so much effort goes into the piecing just seems like a disservice to the artistry of a quilt. Ya know?
Hmmm I have to admit to doing a lot of all over meandering recently on my PURPLE LOL quilts, but I am new to the quilting of the quilts, for me the meander is a stretch. Someday I'll be able to do something more intricate and in pace with the quilt. I did like the quilting on your example quilt though, I've not seen anything like the circles. Colene :)
@Dorothy: It seems like one or two quilting ideas permeate through the world at a time, and something like McTavishing (which I generally don't dislike) becomes so ubiquitous that it's boring. I'm always looking for a new and different approach, I guess.
@Colene: Don't get me wrong -- there are times when an allover meander is completely appropriate and well-suited to the quilt. I generally like it more when the top is a more "blended" style, with lower contrast in the fabrics. Plus, knowing how to meander seems kind of like a prerequisite for some of the more intricate patterns.
I agree, and since I'm in the pre-requisite learning stage, I don't feel bad doing a meander once in a while. But, I can't do them forever, so I keep trying new things and s t r e t c h i n g myself a bit.
Colene
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