Quilting and Cording

When quilting my latest piece I decided to mimic the swirls/curves in the background.

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

In addition to machine quilting, I also added some hand stitching around several of the curved shapes.

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

My main reason for doing so was to add contrast to the white curves in the light areas. I intended to stitch around all the curved shapes, but the effect was so subtle I changed my mind and used it only in the lightest areas.

Next, I turned my attention to the main motif.  I thought it needed to be set off from the background somewhat.  I considered:
– Lightening the background around the motif with colored pencils, chalk, etc.
– Using tulle to add a dark shadow around parts of the motif.
– Adding a dark line around the motif, by adding cording.

I was leaning toward the cording idea, since I had used it previously. I did some auditioning and started in.  I hand stitched a black cord in place.  That is, I used a cording stitch to capture the cord and secure it to the top of the quilt.  I did not pierce the fabric with the cord.

Here you can see the effect before and after the cording.

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I think it set it off perfectly.

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

And here’s the entire quilt, ready for facing.  Almost finished!

Quilting and Cording. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Have you got any suggestions for a name?  I’ve got one in mind, but am still slightly undecided.

Ellen Lindner
P.S. Here’s what a hard/precise tulle shadow looks like.  It’s very effective in adding definition, but only if you want to show the top element just slightly above the background.  I wanted this motif to float, so it wasn’t appropriate here.

, , ,

12 Responses to Quilting and Cording

  1. Suzanne December 19, 2017 at 8:03 am #

    It reminds me of a dandelion. So joyous!

    • Ellen Lindner December 19, 2017 at 10:03 am #

      Oh, it DOES look like a dandelion! That takes me in a whole new direction as I think about potential titles. Thanks.

  2. Laura Gottlieb December 19, 2017 at 9:32 am #

    Wonderful!

    • Ellen Lindner December 19, 2017 at 10:04 am #

      Thanks, Laura!

  3. Doreen Kinkade December 19, 2017 at 10:26 am #

    Love how that came out. I saw Jubilee or Happy New Year as a name.

    • Ellen Lindner December 21, 2017 at 9:40 am #

      Thanks, Doreen. Jubilee is in line with what I was thinking. Maybe something about joy or delight.

  4. Diane Bessette December 19, 2017 at 10:40 am #

    Hurricane Irma or Maria.

    • Ellen Lindner December 19, 2017 at 11:17 am #

      Hmm, yes, the swirling does resemble that of a hurricane. I hadn’t thought of that.

      Thanks for the suggestion!

  5. Lif Strand December 19, 2017 at 12:53 pm #

    That cording makes such a difference! Now I want to try that! But then I always want to try the techniques you share here. Thanks!

    • Ellen Lindner December 19, 2017 at 4:27 pm #

      Hi Lif,

      Yes, I was happy with it. It created just the right amount of pop. Let me know if you try it.

  6. Andrea Luliak January 3, 2018 at 11:44 am #

    Ellen, I was wondering how you started and ended the cording? Was there the possibility of it raveling? When I have added cording I usually did it before the quilt was sandwiched, so I threaded the cord on a large needle and sewed it to the back of the batting, then added the back layer of fabric. You added yours after the quilt was done, so how did you start and stop the cord?

    • Ellen Lindner January 3, 2018 at 9:37 pm #

      Hi Andrea,

      The trick is that I faced this quilt. So, although it was quilted when I added the cording, there was no backing yet. The cording started and stopped with a knot on the back side of the batting, which was later covered by the facing.

Leave a Reply