The Art of Quilting Embellishments: Adding Flair to Your Creations
While patchwork and quilting stitches alone create beautiful works, embellishments take quilts to new heights of visual richness. Decorative accents applied by hand provide enticing details, add dimensionality, convey meanings, and make each piece feel truly one-of-a-kind. Mastering techniques from intricate beading to fabric manipulation empowers quilters to enhance their artistry. A knowledge of complimentary materials and optimal placement transforms quilts into embellished treasures.
Selecting Meaningful Embellishments
Choosing accents that contribute to a quilt’s theme or emotional impact:
- Metallic threads, gold leaf and sparkling beads exude celebration on special occasion quilts.
- Vintage jewelry pieces sewn onto memory quilts enhance their sentimental nature.
- Muted shells and sand from a loved one’s hometown beach evoke wistful remembrance on a bereavement quilt.
- Shiny silks, buttons and lace make whimsical accent quilts feel luxurious.
- Found object charms like sea glass and watch parts contribute intriguing details to eclectic mixed media quilts.
Complimentary Fabrics
Picking accents harmonizing with the existing palette:
- Tiny dot prints provide subtle visual texture without competing with pieced patterns.
- Sheers softly diffuse and tint backgrounds underneath detailed appliques.
- Metallic solids enhance focal motifs without overwhelming.
- Fussy cut storybook or conversation print scraps matching quilt themes.
- Contrasting black or white fabrics make vibrant colors pop surrounding them.
Dimension-Building Techniques
Textural accents make quilts tactile:
Ruching and Ruffling
Gathering and stitching long fabric lengths adds rippling contours.
Trapunto
Stuffing batting through quilt layers raises surface design elements.
Fabric Manipulation
Pleating, crumpling, ironing and stitching down adds permanent 3D shaping.
Dense Overstitching
Heavily stitched textures like zigzags or swirls raise dimensional patterns.
Mixed Media Embellishments
Diverse materials allow personalized creativity:
- Found objects with relevance – game pieces on a sports fan quilt, sheet music on a music quilt.
-photos and photo transfers of meaningful people or places.
-Ribbons, lace, doilies add delicate details. Vintage trims have charm.
-Incorporate embroidery, painting, writing and printing for original effects.
Judiciously placed custom touches make quilts feel like interactive art emphasizing their comforting handmade uniqueness.
Selecting Meaningful Embellishments
Choosing accents that contribute to a quilt’s theme or emotional impact:
- Metallic threads, gold leaf and sparkling beads exude celebration on special occasion quilts.
- Vintage jewelry pieces sewn onto memory quilts enhance their sentimental nature.
- Muted shells and sand from a loved one’s hometown beach evoke wistful remembrance on a bereavement quilt.
- Shiny silks, buttons and lace make whimsical accent quilts feel luxurious.
- Found object charms like sea glass and watch parts contribute intriguing details to eclectic mixed media quilts.
Complimentary Fabrics
Picking accents harmonizing with the existing palette:
- Tiny dot prints provide subtle visual texture without competing with pieced patterns.
- Sheers softly diffuse and tint backgrounds underneath detailed appliques.
- Metallic solids enhance focal motifs without overwhelming.
- Fussy cut storybook or conversation print scraps matching quilt themes.
- Contrasting black or white fabrics make vibrant colors pop surrounding them.
Dimension-Building Techniques
Textural accents make quilts tactile:
Ruching and Ruffling
Gathering and stitching long fabric lengths adds rippling contours.
Trapunto
Stuffing batting through quilt layers raises surface design elements.
Fabric Manipulation
Pleating, crumpling, ironing and stitching down adds permanent 3D shaping.
Dense Overstitching
Heavily stitched textures like zigzags or swirls raise dimensional patterns.
Mixed Media Embellishments
Diverse materials allow personalized creativity:
- Found objects with relevance – game pieces on a sports fan quilt, sheet music on a music quilt.
-photos and photo transfers of meaningful people or places.
-Ribbons, lace, doilies add delicate details. Vintage trims have charm.
-Incorporate embroidery, painting, writing and printing for original effects.
Judiciously placed custom touches make quilts feel like interactive art emphasizing their comforting handmade uniqueness.
Selecting Meaningful Embellishments
Choosing accents that contribute to a quilt’s theme or emotional impact:
- Metallic threads, gold leaf and sparkling beads exude celebration on special occasion quilts.
- Vintage jewelry pieces sewn onto memory quilts enhance their sentimental nature.
- Muted shells and sand from a loved one’s hometown beach evoke wistful remembrance on a bereavement quilt.
- Shiny silks, buttons and lace make whimsical accent quilts feel luxurious.
- Found object charms like sea glass and watch parts contribute intriguing details to eclectic mixed media quilts.
Complimentary Fabrics
Picking accents harmonizing with the existing palette:
- Tiny dot prints provide subtle visual texture without competing with pieced patterns.
- Sheers softly diffuse and tint backgrounds underneath detailed appliques.
- Metallic solids enhance focal motifs without overwhelming.
- Fussy cut storybook or conversation print scraps matching quilt themes.
- Contrasting black or white fabrics make vibrant colors pop surrounding them.
Dimension-Building Techniques
Textural accents make quilts tactile:
Ruching and Ruffling
Gathering and stitching long fabric lengths adds rippling contours.
Trapunto
Stuffing batting through quilt layers raises surface design elements.
Fabric Manipulation
Pleating, crumpling, ironing and stitching down adds permanent 3D shaping.
Dense Overstitching
Heavily stitched textures like zigzags or swirls raise dimensional patterns.
Mixed Media Embellishments
Diverse materials allow personalized creativity:
- Found objects with relevance – game pieces on a sports fan quilt, sheet music on a music quilt.
-photos and photo transfers of meaningful people or places.
-Ribbons, lace, doilies add delicate details. Vintage trims have charm.
-Incorporate embroidery, painting, writing and printing for original effects.
Judiciously placed custom touches make quilts feel like interactive art emphasizing their comforting handmade uniqueness.
Selecting Meaningful Embellishments
Choosing accents that contribute to a quilt’s theme or emotional impact:
- Metallic threads, gold leaf and sparkling beads exude celebration on special occasion quilts.
- Vintage jewelry pieces sewn onto memory quilts enhance their sentimental nature.
- Muted shells and sand from a loved one’s hometown beach evoke wistful remembrance on a bereavement quilt.
- Shiny silks, buttons and lace make whimsical accent quilts feel luxurious.
- Found object charms like sea glass and watch parts contribute intriguing details to eclectic mixed media quilts.
Complimentary Fabrics
Picking accents harmonizing with the existing palette:
- Tiny dot prints provide subtle visual texture without competing with pieced patterns.
- Sheers softly diffuse and tint backgrounds underneath detailed appliques.
- Metallic solids enhance focal motifs without overwhelming.
- Fussy cut storybook or conversation print scraps matching quilt themes.
- Contrasting black or white fabrics make vibrant colors pop surrounding them.
Dimension-Building Techniques
Textural accents make quilts tactile:
Ruching and Ruffling
Gathering and stitching long fabric lengths adds rippling contours.
Trapunto
Stuffing batting through quilt layers raises surface design elements.
Fabric Manipulation
Pleating, crumpling, ironing and stitching down adds permanent 3D shaping.
Dense Overstitching
Heavily stitched textures like zigzags or swirls raise dimensional patterns.
Mixed Media Embellishments
Diverse materials allow personalized creativity:
- Found objects with relevance – game pieces on a sports fan quilt, sheet music on a music quilt.
-photos and photo transfers of meaningful people or places.
-Ribbons, lace, doilies add delicate details. Vintage trims have charm.
-Incorporate embroidery, painting, writing and printing for original effects.
Judiciously placed custom touches make quilts feel like interactive art emphasizing their comforting handmade uniqueness.