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Large unquilted areas

I am presently designing a quilt and have a problem, and since my mother has passed away recently, I need to ask someone else for help.

The quilt will have two areas that would look best if they had no visible quilting. I know that large areas without quilting will have tearing and bunching of the batting. The two areas would be 1.5 ft. x 1.5 ft., much larger than is usually acceptable.

The solution I have come up with is to add a very -thin- fabric on top of the backing and batting in those areas and quilting those areas with a simple grid-work to stabilize the batting. Then I will add the top and quilt those areas that will have visible quilting.

My question is will this work, or is there a better way to leave large un-quilted areas?

Thanks in advance.

Shorti

Reply to
shorti
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You could do some very discret tacking to attach the layers in that area. Or you could quilt the area (just quilt thru the backing and batting) and then attach what you want left unquilted- applique it in place or topstitch around the edges of the unquilted piece. Maybe a fusible batting would work, but I don't know how permanent the fusing would be or if it washes out at some point. If this is a bed or snuggle quilt it could pull out of square and get lumpy as you said and if it's a wallhanging it could sag. Are you really sure you need to do it be completely unquilted? Would it be possible to carefully outline quilt the area you don't want quilted? I understand you want what you want and that's great- I just don't want all your work to go to waste because of the unquilted area 'misbehaving'.

Hope you find the solution that works for you. ;-)

Leslie & The Furbabies > I am presently designing a quilt and have a problem,

Reply to
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Howdy!

Never! Oh, sorry, made me cringe, thinking of large unquilted areas; I just can't let it happen on my quilts. ;->

Warning about using thinner fabric in 2 spots on your quilt: warning! You'll be creating 2 weak spots, where the most wear will show up the quickest. In my experience, anyway.

How about using some fusible batting in those areas? Or a layer of fusible web? You'll be attaching the top to the batt & backing, without adding any stitches to the top. Try it on a smaller project to see if it works.

But, for me, I'd quilt it. Blending the thread color w/ the top fabric will help those stitches disappear. Your design will be the spotlight, not the quilting, & your entire quilt will have the same amount of support.

Good luck!

Ragmop/Sandy

Reply to
Sandy E

The quilt is more of a large wall hanging. It's going to be black and white and mostly applique. The design is from a photo of a loon on the lake with the photo changed to black and white, the contrast increased, and the result posterized to 2 tones. The areas in the corners on either side of the loon's head, and at the bottom on either side of the reflection will all be single color, either black or white. I think they'd look best if smooth and un-quilted. I have seen some quilts with water and sky quilted on solid tones to look like 'waves' or 'wind' and they have all looked, um, "off".

Shorti

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Never! Oh, sorry, made me cringe, thinking of large unquilted areas; I just can't let it happen on my quilts. ;->

Warning about using thinner fabric in 2 spots on your quilt: warning! You'll be creating 2 weak spots, where the most wear will show up the quickest. In my experience, anyway.

How about using some fusible batting in those areas? Or a layer of fusible web? You'll be attaching the top to the batt & backing, without adding any stitches to the top. Try it on a smaller project to see if it works.

But, for me, I'd quilt it. Blending the thread color w/ the top fabric will help those stitches disappear. Your design will be the spotlight, not the quilting, & your entire quilt will have the same amount of support.

Good luck!

Ragmop/Sandy

Reply to
shorti

Well, if you leave it unquilted and then hang it, the unquilted sections will start to bag and hang weird - even if the batting and backing underneath are quilted. It may look lovely for long enough and when it starts to bag you may be ready to make a new masterpiece and all will be fine.

You could try fusing with the full knowledge that eventually all fusibles do yellow. Some take a very long time. This may not be a quilt you plan to look at in 20 years so it may not matter; it's really up to you.

You might be happy with minimal quilting - rather than something so dense as waves or sky. Or not. Some battings only need to be secured every 6-8 inches so even a little quilting will go a long way. Of course, if you really don't like the look then a little might still be too much.

It always is a trade off. Which thing in the end will bother you the least? Go with that one and enjoy the quilt while you have it.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

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