Using Thread to Tell a Story in Art Quilts
Let’s talk about thread use in art quilts!
For the beginner art quilter, understanding how to use threads in quilting to enhance your art can be confusing and overwhelming. How do different weights of thread (40 wt, 50 wt, etc.), colors, sheen (matte vs. shiny), and type (cotton, rayon, polyester, etc.), look on quilts?
There are so many answers to these questions and they all vary so much that sometimes they can seem to contradict one another! As I said, it can be overwhelming…
This blog post is about how to just get started on the artistic side of thread use in art quilts, rather than the technical side. I won’t be answering all the possible questions, nor even most of them. But this is a good place to start.
One of the first lessons I learned when I was a beginner was: BE PATIENT. This is probably the number one lesson to learn and I return to it often.
Hand in hand with patience is taking the time to sit quietly and to listen to the art quilt you are making. This is no surprise of course, but sometimes it is more difficult than it sounds!
When building an art quilt, it’s important to know what you want the quilt to say, what story you want it to tell, what expression you want to illustrate. The quilting and use of thread is just as important as the piecing, fabric choice, or other imagery.
In some art quilts you may want the fabric to stand out. Take the time to select a thread's color, shine, and weight that both blends into the fabric as well as enhances it. Remember that the higher the number of thread, the thinner it is (so it “disappears” into the quilt more easily). Higher numbered threads can be a great way to create shape and outline images printed in fabric without bringing attention to the thread itself. Be sure to have a swatch of fabric with you when making thread selections if you’re buying them at the store. (See image #1: “Sharp Tongue, Soft Heart” detail.)
In other quilts you may prefer the quilting design to stand out against the fabric, but still don't want the attention on the thread. In that case, you have a few options. If the fabric you’re quilting on is a solid color, you may consider using a lower number thread (such as 40 wt) in the same - or close to same - color as the quilt. That way you can see the quilting design and pattern rather than the fabric. If the fabric is printed, even heavily designed, you might consider using a color a shade or two lighter or darker than the primary colors in the fabric. You may also consider using a 12, 28, or 30 wt thread; however, keep in mind that the heavier the weight, the more the thread will appear as though it is “laying on top of” the quilt. This will appear more prominent if the thread color contrasts prominently with the fabric. (See image #2: “Desert Wind: Circles” detail.)
In yet other quilts, you may want the thread to be an integral part of the story of the quilt. This can be referred to as “thread-painting.” Use of color, weight, and shine of the thread used to draw on the fabric or quilt will help to bring the story to life. (See image #3 “Connections” detail, & image #4 Cat by a Koi Pond” detail.)
Click on the images below to see more information.
