Understanding Quilting Styles & Designs + Their Impact on Longarm Methods

Welcome!

You know, quilters tell me how busy their summer is, but I think fall tops it on my calendar … at least this year!

September kicked off with The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. And last week was our Customer Appreciation Day in Appleton, but that led right into this week’s Handi Quilter Van Event in both Elkhorn and Appleton plus a quilt show this weekend in Sheboygan! Running shoes on!

Customer Appreciation with Going to Pieces Quilt Shop (Appleton)

 

Handi Quilter Van Event (Elkhorn)

With all that going on, I wanted to take this opportunity to just wrap things up a bit before moving on to another skill-building topic.

I’ve spent the last four posts covering the methods of longarm quilting: free-motion, ruler-work, pantograph and computerized. But there are some additional quilting concepts that could use clarification, especially for newer longarm quilters.

So today, let’s look at the concepts of style and design that come into play when you’re longarm quilting.

Style Concepts

When I talk about the style of quilting, I’m talking about the overall approach or “look” of the finished quilting. Terms describing the style of quilting include edge-to-edge, custom, heirloom, modern and traditional. Let’s explore the characteristics of each of these styles.

Edge-to-edge (or allover) quilting uses one continuous design stitched from left to right and top to bottom across the entire quilt top. Quilting doesn’t change to distinguish individual blocks or borders. This gives the quilt an overall cohesive look and texture.

Custom quilting uses designs tailored to fit specific parts of the quilt top including blocks, sashing and borders. Each section is generally quilted differently. Custom quilting highlights the piecing and applique work of the quilt top, adding depth and texture.

Heirloom quilting is a particular type of custom quilting. Basically, it takes custom quilting to an elevated, highly detailed level. Heirloom quilting is dense and often layers multiple motifs or uses fine fills, trapunto or micro-stippling.

The result is show-quality or museum-quality design detail. An heirloom quilt has a stiffer texture and feel but the quilting is more decorative due to the increased amount of stitching.

Modern quilting is characterized by bold geometric piecing, solid fabrics and high-contrast colors. The quilting often uses straight-lines, grids or large-scale designs that emphasize simplicity and structure. The quilting supports the quilt’s overall graphic design versus adding embellishment.

Traditional quilting embraces classic motifs and historic patterns. The quilting frequently features feathers, wreaths, clam shells, Baptist fans or cables. It emphasizes symmetry, works well with reproduction fabrics and adds a timeless element to your quilt.

While I’ve described five distinctive styles of quilting, your finished quilt may be a combination of more than one. In fact, part of the fun and creativity of longarm quilting is combining not only styles but also methods and design concepts. So next, let’s see how design factors in.

Design Concepts

Quilting design concepts encompass the specific elements and techniques used to support the overall style of quilting. So, let’s talk about motifs, fillers, negative space, density and scale.

Motifs are the main recognizable shapes used throughout your quilting. Examples include swirls, leaves, hearts, stars, flowers and feathers.

Motifs are the main recognizable shapes used throughout your quilting. Examples include swirls, leaves, hearts, stars, flowers and feathers.

Negative space refers to open, unpieced areas of the quilt top. Negative space lets your quilting stand out! Modern quilting frequently incorporates the use of this design element.

Density refers to how tight your design is … how close the stitches are to each other.

A quilt with open or light density will have a softer, more snuggly finish because there is less stitching … less thread. And a design that is more open will stitch out faster.

A quilt with a tighter or heavy density will feel heavier because more thread is used in the quilting. It will be stiffer, less cuddly. Tighter density can add durability to your finished quilt, but it will take longer to stitch out.

Scale refers to the size of the quilt design. Generally, the scale of the design complements the size of the quilt blocks, the quilt top design and the overall size of the quilt.

For example, a small-scale design is often used on a table runner or wall quilt. The design not only adds to the look of the quilt, but it also adds texture, stability and stiffness to the project. Medium to large-scale designs result in soft, cuddly baby, lap or larger quilts.

Quilting methods, styles and design elements give you a lot to think about when it comes to planning the quilting for your quilt, but it also provides you with an opportunity to explore your creative side!

Have you ever considered combining quilting methods? For example, you may use computerized designs to quilt your blocks, then use free-motion or ruler-work in your sashing and borders.

Or what about combining quilting methods and quilting styles? For example, start with a basic pantograph or computerized edge-to-edge design to give your quilt top consistent, overall coverage. Then customize your quilting by adding free-motion or ruler-work designs to fill or accent specific motifs.

The combinations are endless! Have fun! Challenge yourself to try something new!

The Quilting Central Podcast Update

Have you had a chance to catch the latest episode of The Quilting Central Podcast?