One of the most challenging things to do is choosing a quilting pattern that fits the style and mood of your quilt. I myself have this problem at times. Sometimes I know exactly what I want and other times I struggle. There are over 3000 edge-to-edge quilting patterns on PattenCloud.com alone (which is where most of my patterns for the Gammill Statler machine come from). There are thousands more from different designers. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with choices. You have put a lot of work into creating your quilt. How do you choose the quilting pattern that will be the icing on top? Here are some of my thoughts on this:
1. Every quilt has its own personality and the personality of its creator.
2. What is your vision for the quilt? Who is it made for (baby, toddler, teen, man, woman, couple, elderly)? How will it be used (for sleeping baby or just display)?
3. Will it be washed a lot? If so it may require more stitching (a tighter, denser pattern)
4. Is the quilt top fabric a busy design? Symbols and picture patterns may not show up.
5. Is the quilt top fabric more of a plain design (one or two colors, or solid fabrics)? Symbols and picture patterns will show up well depending on thread color chosen.
6. How does your backing fabric color compare to the quilt top? If you have a dark color back and a light color top will the stitching show up well on both sides? Thread color choice may matter.
7. What is the style (modern, traditional, masculine, feminine, baby, pet)? Do you want florals, hearts, geometrics, symbols, circles, swirls, or straight lines?
8. What is the quilt scale? A 14-inch pattern may not fit well on a baby blanket. An 8-inch pattern might work better. What is the scale of the quilt blocks compared to the quilting pattern (not real important but worth considering)?
9. Does the pattern you are choosing have blank areas that won't be covered by stitching? If you want a dense pattern you should avoid patterns that do not fill the entire stitch area.
10. Does the quilt have a lot of straight lines? If so, a straight-line pattern may not always line up correctly. So, a curvy pattern may be better.
11. Discuss what you want and more importantly what you don’t want with your longarm quilting provider. Most quilters have a list of favorite patterns. They are favorites because they know they work well.
These are just a few thoughts to get started. I will be happy to discuss selections with you. In the end it is your quilt and you get to decide. Hope these points help you in your decision.
Sherrie