Blue Collar, Store Window, or Prom Quilt?

Blue Collar Quilt ~ Hard working, tough, and dependable

Store Window Quilt ~Just for show and visual enjoyment

Prom Quilt ~ Best dressed but still functional like a prom dress or tuxedo

Once we get a quilt top pieced, we have invested a considerable amount of planning, time, energy and money. All those trips to the fabric store(s) just to find just the right shade or combinations of fabrics for the quilt, the decision on pattern, and most of all the enjoyment we have experienced with the creation of a piece of art..

When we set out to conquer a pattern or a group of blocks we like, we have a picture in our minds about how we think this should look at the end of the process.  When you do have such a vision, let your long arm quilter know and see if it is indeed something that can be accomplished. For example, maybe you see nothing but feathers, or shamrocks in an overall pattern, geometric designs in rows, circles, etc.  Your long arm quilter will be happy to plan the quilting with you and give you options to choose from.

It’s a good thing to consider how the quilt will be used and then put it in a category to help with the decision about the quilting phase of your project.  If it is to be a baby quilt, TV throw for cold winter evenings, or just a heavily used quilt, then you have a Blue Collar Quilt.  One of the best treatments for this type of quilt is a basic overall pattern. This will hold the quilt together during its life of use and love, hold up better with frequent laundering and is the most reasonable cost wise.

If you have made a beauty to be used on the guest bed, more for show than use, you have the Prom Quilt.  For this type of quilt a more custom-quilting job may be just the thing, perhaps with a different treatment on the borders to show off the center or to accent the beauty you have made.  On the other hand, if your quilt is a wall hanging or a show quilt, you have the Store Window Quilt.  This should have the best quilting and most times this requires total custom quilting approach.  This will be more expensive, but the outcome will be more rewarding.

Another huge consideration is how much of the quilting will show and add to the look of the quilt.  If a quilt is very busy and without open areas, which will show the stitching, don’t pay for a custom job.  The quilting won’t show!  A texture will appear and add to the appeal of the quilt, but actual designs will be lost in the busy fabrics.

If the quilting is to be an important component of your quilt, learn to think about quilting as soon as you are picking out fabrics, try to “see” if stitching will show on the fabrics or not.  Looking at quilt projects this way will help you decide on fabrics to use and it will help your choice of what fabrics to use in the more open areas which may show quilting.  Most of all enjoy your project and be proud of every completed one!! 

Finding the right balance of cost vs. use of each quilt is rewarding and practical. Let the proposed use of the quilt help guide you in decisions about style of quilting and how much to invest for quilting.