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The peaceful rhythm of quilting

Three or four hundred upper thread and bobbin changes over the past four weeks. There's a textural effect I'm trying to create with the quilting - that compliments the imperfect shapes of the pieced fabrics. Something akin to wabi, sabi and shibui. The infinite ways that dense, linear quilting can be used to create story are coming to life, one piece at a time. Sometimes barely visible, sometimes contrasting. There is an uneven fullness in the seams that help create miniscule bumps at the end of each line. There are also the seamless directional changes absorbed into the looser weave of some fabrics.  Every change and every bobbin. Testing tensions, adjusting for the different threads as each shape submits to the process. It is a peace-filled activity, permanently set up so I can work for several minutes at a time. Never wasting moments.  I get immersed in the meditative quality of the quilting and thinking only about the stitch. Some of the combinations I use:
  • using the same thread top and bobbin (generally the go to combination for this kind of quilting)
  • using different threads top and bobbin (contrasting, complimentary,  variegated, and different types of threads)
  • using palest mustard or purple in the bobbin - using Bottom Line or Glide as it can be used for multiple top thread changes and is hard to detect on the top of the quilt
  • using pale lilac and /or mustard Bottom Line or Glide as the top thread - tends to disappear into the quilt top like magic
  • using a different coloured thread in the bobbin and normal tension  - can create little bobbles at the end of rows or lines, adds a textural feel to the quilting, especially if several stitches are taken on the spot / turn point
  • using the additional tension available on the bobbin case finger (if there is one) to slightly increase the bobbin tension if you don't want turning points showing on the top - they'll get pulled into the quilt - same as for satin stitch or making button holes
  • okay, the experiment of using the BSR after a few glasses of champagne was probably not a good idea but overall, experiment, document and have fun.



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