LET YOUR FABRIC COLLAGE TAKE CENTRE STAGE

When working on a fabric collage, the quilting is the finishing touch that brings everything together. However, it is important to remember that the figure itself should remain the focal point of your work, not the quilting. Unlike traditional quilts where the quilting design can be an important decorative element, fabric collage is all about the shapes, colours, textures and details that create your subject. The quilting should enhance these elements rather than compete with them.

KEEP YOUR QUILTING DESIGN SIMPLE

It is tempting to use elaborate quilting designs but sometimes less really is more! A simple quilting design allows the fabric collage to shine without distracting the viewer from the image. Choose a design that complements your subject and adds texture and dimension where needed. Your quilting can help define shapes, emphasise certain areas and hold the layers together but it should not overpower the carefully chosen fabrics or the details you have worked so hard to create.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT THREAD COLOUR

Thread colour is just as important as the quilting design itself. The wrong colour can draw attention to every stitch, while the right one allows the quilting to blend beautifully into the background. If you are a bit hesitant about your quilting abilities, choose a thread colour that blends with the fabric you are quilting. If you are quilting across several different colours, a neutral or carefully selected blending thread may be your best option. Remember that a thread that looks subtle on the spool can appear surprisingly prominent once stitched onto your quilt!

Of course, there are times when you may deliberately want the quilting to stand out. This should be a conscious design decision rather than an afterthought and when you have worked hard to achieve your fabric collage picture, you do not want to use this last option!

THE FINISHING TOUCH

Before you start quilting, take a step back and look at your fabric collage as a whole. Ask yourself whether your chosen design and thread colour will enhance the image or compete with it. I let the fabric collage tell the story and allow the quilting and thread to support that story, adding depth, texture and definition without stealing the show.

Sometimes, the most successful quilting is the quilting you barely notice!