Red Autumn ~ Finished

Changing winds… changing threads!  This is how Red Autumn finished out:

 The re-hashing thread choices also inspired me to add trapunto to each leaf. Once that decision was made, I was ready to start.  I first started by ‘edging’ each leaf with a couching technique, using the #39 foot.  Then each leaf was quilted in the vein lines once the entire quilt sandwich was put together.  I like the dimension the leaves have.

 I left the tan border deliberately unquilted.  I like the puffy look, which seems to fit with the trapunto on the leaves, and it gives the eye a place to rest, visually. Each seam however, was couched with a Razzle Dazzle thread in the purple tone with a hint of green in it.   I also added a hand-dyed yarn to the binding seam, which has tones of pink, purple, and a tad bit of turquoise to give the overall fall theme I was looking for.

 I switched background thread colors between blocks.  I had a purple tri-lobal polyester in the dense swirl quilting on the center block that punches the fabric down, and the leaves pop up and stand out, like the way I wanted. And the purple enhances the leaves on either side of the green leaf.

 The other two blocks on the left and right had a tri-lobal variegated green polyester, which also helps add interest, and ties in with the green paintstik colors on the center leaf.  I think it’s important to realize there is no rule, here!  You can switch things out as you please… no need to stick to one thread throughout the entire quilting process!  Andnotice the border quilting is soft, and not too detailed, as the fabric has most of the visual ‘come hither’ look, so the threadplay is just there as an added color to tie in with the purple-red-blue of the piece.

 The small leaves have red Glitter thread quilted through all layers… it was not that much fun, truthfully!  I kept at it, being tenacious.  So I’m content with the added glittery accent.  Glitter does NOT like hanging tough, going through the Steam-a-Seam fusible I used on the leaves. Next time I will try a different brand like Wonder Under, or Misty Fuse, and see if I can’t up the ‘fun factor’ for quilting these.

 I really love the heavy thread outlining each leaf.   It added just the hint of glow and glitz I really was hoping to achieve in the overall piece.  Harmony, color, depth and lots of visual texture.  Love that handy-dandy Bernina #39 foot for this technique. 

Close-up of Gliter thread on the smaller leave

So what do you think of the trapunto effect?  Do you like to mix things up with thread choices?  Do you think it’s worth the extra time and effort to do so?

Future post coming showing the details for trapunto, and some of the steps I went through in creating this piece. 

EnJOY your week!
XO
Leslie