I’m making a Christmas tree skirt and stuck on the quilt stitching design. I plan to stitch a snowflake “collar” around the opening (marked in purple pen) and a feather border around the still-to-be-cut scallops. I plan to outline the major embroidery elements, and I have added extra batting shapes beneath those so they are a little puffier. I’m stuck on the rest. With the embroidered snowflakes between the train cars and the reindeer/tree there isn’t a lot of negative space to quilt.
The quilting objective is to make the embroidery elements stand out (dimensionally), so I’m considering an all-over-stipple. Or should I forego the stipple and just stitch the wedge perimeters? Or something else completely different?
Online examples were all created from embroidery design packages and not independently quilted so they don’t offer much inspiration.
I am competent enough to do a fairly complicated stitch-out if that’s the answer.
Greetings John_Marlow
Beautiful tree skirt. re: Quilting stitch pattern. I have found that part of the project to be as difficult as the design part of the top, because it is again DESIGN with the additional burden of being capable of detracting (messing up) the whole thing after you have already put in so much work.
Practical input: since this will be used essentially as an art piece (on the floor), you don’t need to put much actual quilting into it, as opposed to a quilt on the bed or for children.
I personally prefer to use the minimum amount necessary to accomplish the goal, whatever that goal is, and let the fabric/overall design do the talking. But personal preference is the key point to any handmade project.
I make most of my quilts with a focal point in the center with all the rest as supporting elements. So stitch pattern for that focal point is more important. With the California Wildfire Quilt (pictures on show & tell) there were a total of 9 focal panels, and 8 different quilters with different levels of skill and different points of view. So each chose a different stitch pattern for their panel.
What helped them was to have a picture of their panel printed on paper, inserted into a document protector, and then draw out a stitch pattern and decide if they liked it. That way it was easy to erase and try something different until they were happy with the plan. We used a thread color that blended in well so there was no shocking/loud imprint to detract or compete with the other panels.
So to summarize this novel, your project is much more complicated than the usual and my humble advise is to use the picture/document protector/draw your pattern method on one section, then superimpose it all around. That will show you the finished project, but yet allow alterations before the fact.
Also there is an online store “online stencils” that has a catalog of stencils that might give you some inspiration. I hope you post pictures of the finished project. I know it will be stellar.
My primary objective isn’t durability, but creating a stitch pattern that suppresses the negative space and allows the major elements to (dimensionally) rise up.
I have been fiddling with it in Photoshop/Illustrator (since I have a full scale rendering) but lack suitable inspiration.
As you point out, this isn’t a project where the quilting is intended to be the focal point. I suppose I can stitch the items I know I’m going to do - major element outlines - and then see what else it needs, if anything.
What are your thoughts about stitching the lines between the wedges? I’m mixed on that. If I don’t do a stipple or other pattern then I need to define the wedges. If I stipple then it might be better to skip the wedge lines and stipple all over (through the lines). Your personal preference?
For me Christmas evokes memories and traditions, so I would vote for the traditional outline stitch-in-the-ditch for each wedge. That has tradition going for it, but it also makes each wedge an individual piece that you could do an individual design. The snowflakes around the center smaller hole, and the scallops around the bottom will ensure a cohesive effect. But if you want to treat the skirt as one whole picture, then a continuous in-the-round design will unite everybody. You might want to research round quilts, or quilting in the round on Pinterest. Stitch patterns are not as numerous as piecing patterns, but the places I have found help are Leah Day’s 365 days of quilting, Pinterest, and (surprisingly) google.
If you are just wanting to fill negative space, randomly scattered small (or assorted sizes) snowflakes could echo the more elaborate ones you have designed and certainly fit in with the fabric without fighting with your stand out elements.
One key part of quilting is the spacing of quilting lines recommended/required by the batting used in the quilt. Some will require no more than 4 inches separation, those with scrim will allow up to 10 inches. So that consideration also comes into play. But I am thinking that if you outline the wedges, the stand out elements, and stitch the snowflakes at the central opening, you will fulfill the density requirements. I am going to attempt to send pictures from one of the classes (I was a student) from a previous quilt expo that might give you a few ideas on “fill” stitches.
@John_Marlow and @Eltici55. I am just beginning quilting and this is a question I have not even found a way to begin to attack. Thank you both for your extensive discussion and ideas. This will definitely open my thoughts for future quilts.
I did a (non-geometric) meandering stipple (in addition to the feathers and the snowflake collar). It nicely tightened up the look without competing with the main elements.
Greetings. That is just lovely! The stipple is absolutely perfect to unite everything without overpowering. I love the snowflakes! But then I love all the other elements, too. Beautiful design and gorgeous execution.
