Machine Quilting Density?
#21
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,257
I have two handquilted whole cloth bed quilts-not done by me/acquired thru estate sales-and they are quite densely quilted, but do drape easily....I think dense machine quilting may have a more stiff drape because stitches are two threaded and one after another.......just a thought......
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: in the sticks of PA
Posts: 2,312
I am with wannabe, I like to see the design details of the quilt. Sometimes quilts are so densely quilted that it seems to change the design of the quilt. I have seen some quilts that I have had to almost do a double take to determine the design. So for me personally I like a medium density quilting, especially for the drape.
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,334
My dilemma is that my personal preference is for less dense quilting but now that I am working on my free motion I tend to do it more densely. I think because I am practicing. Maybe when I evolve I will do less dense again.
#26
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: California
Posts: 177
I like light to medium quilting density as I stitch in the ditch, simple FMQ, or use my embroidery machine to quilt. That said, most of my quilts are NOT frequently washed, so maybe as time goes on I will find the downside of light quilting. I prefer to have the piecing and design be the focal point rather than the quilting. But maybe that is a differnce between someone who likes to make the tops, and someone who likes to quilt. I very much enjoy and appreciate high density quilting, and the beautiful designs I see from quilters. Just not something I can do. I have never sent a quilt out to be quilted either.
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,334
My dilemma is that my personal preference is for less dense quilting but now that I am working on my free motion I tend to do it more densely. I think because I am practicing. Maybe when I evolve I will do less dense again.
#28
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I have found that both the type of thread used and the type of batting used affect drape a lot.
For example, Warm n Natural batting is considerably stiffer in drape than other cotton battings, undoubtedly because it is needle-punched through scrim. It softens up a little with each washing, but probably will always have a stiffer drape than other cotton battings. Older cotton battings had no permanent bonding in the fibers, were not needlepunched, and had no scrim. Years ago I hand quilted a baby quilt using Mountain Mist premium 100% cotton (what would be considered a vintage type of batting - I do not recommend it because it was difficult to hand quilt!) that was much used over the years. After 10 years of machine washing/drying regularly, I had an opportunity to handle that quilt and could not believe how soft it was. It felt like a cloud! All cotton battings will soften up with washings, but those old style cotton battings soften up a lot more than Warm n Natural would.
I have also found that dense quilting on its own does not necessarily stiffen a quilt, independent of the batting. I once stipple-quilted by machine a small doll quilt using 50wt cotton thread. It came out stiff as a board! Cotton thread is stiffer than polyester thread. If I were to have used a 60wt Bottom Line polyester thread and quilted as densely, the doll quilt would have remained soft. Aside from the looks, I think the 100wt silk thread used by show quilters for dense quilting probably has a similar effect, although I have not handled a quilt like that to know for sure.
I agree that hand quilting, even when dense, allows a quilt to remain soft. Compared to machine quilting, only half as much thread is used. This is probably why cotton thread when used in hand quilting does not stiffen a quilt the same way machine quilting with the same thread would.
In other words, density of quilting is only one of the factors affecting how a quilt feels and drapes. I would guess that batting type and thread type/size play just as much a role.
For example, Warm n Natural batting is considerably stiffer in drape than other cotton battings, undoubtedly because it is needle-punched through scrim. It softens up a little with each washing, but probably will always have a stiffer drape than other cotton battings. Older cotton battings had no permanent bonding in the fibers, were not needlepunched, and had no scrim. Years ago I hand quilted a baby quilt using Mountain Mist premium 100% cotton (what would be considered a vintage type of batting - I do not recommend it because it was difficult to hand quilt!) that was much used over the years. After 10 years of machine washing/drying regularly, I had an opportunity to handle that quilt and could not believe how soft it was. It felt like a cloud! All cotton battings will soften up with washings, but those old style cotton battings soften up a lot more than Warm n Natural would.
I have also found that dense quilting on its own does not necessarily stiffen a quilt, independent of the batting. I once stipple-quilted by machine a small doll quilt using 50wt cotton thread. It came out stiff as a board! Cotton thread is stiffer than polyester thread. If I were to have used a 60wt Bottom Line polyester thread and quilted as densely, the doll quilt would have remained soft. Aside from the looks, I think the 100wt silk thread used by show quilters for dense quilting probably has a similar effect, although I have not handled a quilt like that to know for sure.
I agree that hand quilting, even when dense, allows a quilt to remain soft. Compared to machine quilting, only half as much thread is used. This is probably why cotton thread when used in hand quilting does not stiffen a quilt the same way machine quilting with the same thread would.
In other words, density of quilting is only one of the factors affecting how a quilt feels and drapes. I would guess that batting type and thread type/size play just as much a role.
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,867
I would call mine medium/large. My lines must average at least two inches apart. I would call an area the size of the palm of my hand a little large - but I have very long hands, so that's may not be a good measure. I have done a tight stipple - it's what my daughter wanted on a wallhanging, but I didn't like it. No, it was my wallhanging, but she wanted it when I couldn't stand the close quilting.
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