But how to quilt it?

I have pieced the Oakshott shot cottons 12 trees quilt top. But how to quilt it?  Aurifil 50, 40 or 28? Many colours? One colour? Variegated? Straight line? FMQ? I need to channel my inner Angela Walters to find out the answers to this conundrum. In the meantime, perhaps you have some suggestions.  And if you are swooning over the colours of the shot cottons in this quilt, don't miss out on my mega giveaway in this post.

Oakshott 12 trees quilt top pieced by Lynne @ Lilys Quilts

Comments

  1. I visited Oakshott yesterday and put in an order for a bundle & some samples. Within 5 minutes someone from the company phoned to thank me for the order and confirm when it would be mailed. Now that's customer service! Can't wait to see the fabric. Beautiful quilt. How about free motion quilting in a random leaf pattern.

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  2. I don't know why but it popped in my head to use variegated thread and to quilt swirls and loops with occasional leaves in it. Not sure it's what I would end up doing if it were me but it was the first thought I had!

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  3. It’s stunningly beautiful! I advice you to make a little sandwich with shot cotton on top and to try what thicker threads will look like. Maybe the 28 is too thick for the shot cottons.
    A variegated thread will look beautiful and I’m a fond lover of straight line quilting.
    Good luck!

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  4. I think I would use wavy lines (only one direction-same as the tree trunks) and variegated thread since there are lots of colours in the quilt. As for the weight, arrrgh..probably the thinnest one.

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  5. I have a confession to make. When you first showed the tree blocks I wasn't quite sure how I felt about them. But seeing your quilt top now...it's awesome!

    As to your questions...thread weight? Haven't a clue. Color? Keep it simple. Stick with one. Quilting? Something with curves. Small Baptist fans would look really good I think.

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  6. I'm going to have to recommend straight line quilting at an angle through the quilt. I love the design and use of solids.

    Allover busyness would look too whimsical for such a modern piece.

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  7. Oh tricky - I think I would be tempted to stitch in the ditch almost - but then variegated FMQ might look pretty good in the background around the trees....... Not much help I know! looking forward to seeing what you decide.

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  8. OLá, vim conhecer seu blog e adorei. Achei muito lindo. Parabéns

    Já estou te seguindo, se quiser me conhecer

    www.samicosturinhas.blogspot.com

    Beijinhos

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  9. I would keep it simple and let the blocks be the stars. Beautiful.

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  10. I am terrible at quilting ideas, but I have to tell you, I love this quilt. I even went to the Oakshott web page and wanted to order the kit and it is sold out! This is so pretty. I can only imagine it in person with the lovely sheen to the fabrics.

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  11. That turned out great! I would stitch a 1/4 around each tree..branches and all, that would help those trees really stand out...thats where you want your focus to be. Then a filler background..you could change with each block or do all the same. Anyway..have fun! What ever you do will look amazing!

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  12. two thoughts come to mind - straight line quilting for a modern look (densely spaced) or "bark" on the trees and just stitch in the ditch around them and the sashing to hold it all together. Whatever you choose will be gorgeous though!!

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  13. Personally I think this quilt begs for straight line quilting. It's so stark and clear in it's lines. I think curves and shapes would muddle it. As for color? I have no idea. I love variegated, but honestly this quilt stands so proudly on it's own that I think you wouldn't want to draw more attention to how it was quilted than to the design of the quilt itself. I would consider a clear thread if it was my quilt.

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  14. It's beautiful. I would keep it simple. Stitch in the ditch around the trees. Simple curves in the plain areas for texture with movement. If it was mine I would be tempted to match the thread to the block colours, but that is a lot of colour changes:)
    Looking forward to seeing what you decide.

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  15. This is a glorious wee quilt - your mum will surely love it.
    Not going to throw in my quilting tuppenceworth, you'll come up with a great plan.

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  16. I'd do closely spaced straight line quilting that follows the angle of the tree trunks. I'd also use thread that blends with the background of each block, probably 40 weight. Just my 2 cents :)

    Whatever you do, I'm sure it will be fantastic!

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  17. I wouldn`t dare try to advise you. I`m just going to stare at it and wait for you to have your lightbulb moment. I love it!!

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  18. It is lovely. Beautiful job! How about incorporating some leaf shapes into the "background" areas. Oak leaf shapes, maple shapes, etc. might be very pretty.

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  19. It's stunning, Lynne! I can only imagine how good it really looks and feels :)
    Probably a silly question, but have you checked out on Oakshotts website how the kit was quilted? It looks like a variegated thread and I quite like how it's been done. If anything, it might help you define what you don't want, lol.

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  20. I refuse to say...LOL...I know you will come up with something fabulous! I just wanted to pop in and say that the top is really beautiful!!

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  21. these are just beautiful!

    I am suffering the 'I wants'. :-(

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  22. Oooh, this looks fab! I have plans for an order after pay day :oD

    For quilting, maybe variegated, and a free motioned leaf shape? Perhaps with some swirls as if they were falling from the trees?

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  23. You've gotten some great ideas. I'd stick with one color thread and keep the quilting modern. I really like Kath Garvey's ideas best.

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  24. This is absolutely stunning! I'm giving in and ordering these shot cottons for sure!

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  25. how about some lighter same colour as the tree FMQ wonky lines as tree bark ...
    not sure about the rest, but I think doing some sort of "leave chain" would be overdoing the tree theme - well mabye not if it's big maple leaves or oak leaves instead of just standard abstract-ish leaves...
    I don't want to be in your place having to make the decision.

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  26. I am inspired by the solid colors - something that I have never considered. I would quilt swirls at the top of the trees (like the wind) and falling leaves on the lower portion of each tree - using variegated thread.

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  27. How large are the trees? I am trying to get an idea of scale. It's beautiful. BTW did you ever make the dollhouse quilt?

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  28. I have no idea, sorry! But, if inspiration deigns to visit I'll pop back! Whatever you decide will be fabulous though!

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  29. Oooh its turned out beautifully, really gorgeous. If it were me I would use variegated thread and straight line quilt all of the sashings, quite densely and I would echo quilt the trees, 1/4" around each. Im sure whatever you choose will look amazing, look forward to seeing it

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  30. This has turned out so lovely! I'd be echo quilting the lines of the trees within each block, with straight lines about half an inch apart. It would be a big job though.

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  31. It is stunning just as it is so keep it simple, straight lines, modern.

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  32. wow! that is gorgeous! i LOVE it! as for quilting it, the only thing that comes to mind for me is straight lines at various angles to mimic the tree branches.

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  33. I love it! So my thought would be to quilt the trees and leave the background unquilted. I would do the trees very densely, 1/8" apart lines and use a colour of thread that went with the tree colour but not necessarily the exact colour of the tree (like dark blue on a light blue tree). Just my thought. And then maybe do the same in the sashing but not so densely. Just my thoughts, whatever you decide will be wonderful.

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  34. Wow, that was quick. I love it. Personally, I would just stitch in the ditch and let the trees shine. That way the quilting will make the trees POP.

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  35. You've done a great job up til now, I'm sure you will finish this in the same manner!

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  36. Since this is a wall quilt, you can get away with more creative quilting. It doesn't have to cover the entire quilt evenly. I like the idea of a heavier thread in the same color family as each tree but a bit lighter or darker on each one. Quilt only the trunks using roughly vertical lines, mimicking the look of bark. You could do a finer thread in a medium neutral, maybe olive?, 1/8" inside the edges of the sashing.

    Whatever you decide, the quilt is beautiful.

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  37. Hi! Just signed up to follow you on yahoo. Thanks again for your help with my grandson,s birdie quilt!

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  38. Oh Lynne. This is stunning! I am feeling what Leanne suggested - quilting to mimic bark on the trees. Then in the ditch around each block - and have fun in the sashing.

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  39. I wouldn\t want to choose in case I ruined such a beautiful quilt. But I sit with mine on my knee for a couple of hours while I watch tv and i usually come up with something that feels right. I get in touch with the inner quilt!

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  40. Personally I'd keep it super simple - each block around the tree I'd do straight line quilting, not ultra straight, ever so slightly wavy and reasonably close together - enhance the trees, don't conflict with them - something like Deborah O'Hare's work - Quilting Routes and though I'd love to use variegated threads I think I'd stick with tonal matching colours for each background in 50 weight thread to keep it light
    Then I'd do something different in the sashings - don't know what yet but I'd leave it until the rest was quilted then see what inspiration came to me.

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  41. Sorry, I can't advise you, but I love your blocks. I hardly use solids, but these trees are stunning.
    I'm wayyyyy behind reading blogs, but couldn't just skip them, and I'm glad I didn't. Thanls for the inspiration.

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  42. Squirrels...LOL...just kidding.

    You've gotten several good suggestions.

    My first thought is soemthing that looks like wind blowing through the empty branches. To keep it simple, and your attention on the trees, I would go with a netrual-ish color. Just about anything you pick is going to show somewhere, so pick a color that your mind can overlook....like shades of grey or beigh. A tone on tone thread, rather than veriagated would help give some depth without adding too much.

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  43. I love love the quilt. Have you tried using the invisible threads? Whatever you do I know it's going to be awesome and can't wait to see the finished product.

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  44. I did not like the blocks as single blocks, when put together, it looks amazing!!

    If you still need some divine Angela Walters inspiration she is currently writing a Monday series on how she gets her ideas and suggestions of how to quilt quilts from her readers - MY QUILT IS NEXT, and I cannot wait :))) Just sayin' !

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  45. No idea but it is gorgeous!! Good luck with the quilting :)

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  46. Very pretty, how to quilt it will come to you I'm sure.

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  47. I thought of white thread and a snowflake pattern...When I first saw it.

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  48. To add my tuppeny ha'penny's worth, I agree with whackywoman (am I really saying that?) that the sewing should be simple and the qult be the star. It's totally beautiful and I wish it were mine.

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  49. Gorgeous! I had two ideas - one with white thread and snow (bubbly looking)on the backgroud or verigated and only use in wavy lines for the trunks and branches. I'm sure it'll be great whatever you decide.

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  50. 28 wt please. Something simple. Your piecing is just beauty on this quilt, Lynne. Amazing!

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