I am taking my time getting started piecing Cloudy Night Sky this week. I have been documenting my decision making process on Instagram, but nothing really feels “official” until I record it here on my website. So today, I’m going to share how I thought through and selected the thread I am going to use to piece my two color Cloudy Night Sky quilt.
Cloudy Night Sky – Design and Quilting Plan
Before I dig in, I want to mention that I’m taking the extra time and effort here because I’m hoping this will be a “show quilt”. My goal is to get Cloudy Night Sky pieced and completed in time to submit it for consideration to QuiltCon 2024. Depending on whether it is accepted into QuiltCon or not, I will then evaluate other quilt show opportunities.
Cloudy Night Sky Thread Evaluation
I have pieced stark, two color, modern, minimal quilts full of lots of negative space before, and because I like to press my seams open, the piecing thread that I chose to use has stood out to me in the finished quilts. To hopefully avoid having the seams distract me this time, I auditioned matching 50wt Aurifil Thread in 2785 (very dark navy), 2311 (muslin), and my handy standby piecing favorite: 2600 (dove).
Cloudy Night Sky Thread Evaluation
Before I dig into the results of my test, do you have an idea of what thread you would gravitate toward trying or using?
I made a series of videos that I shared via Instagram, and I’ve collated them together into a video on my YouTube channel:
I’m curious if the result surprised you. Again, this is what is going to work best given that I will be pressing my seams open. You may find that a different thread color works best for your fabrics / machine / pressing direction preferences. I’m glad I tested it out before committing to sewing my blocks, and I’m ready to dive in and start piecing.
Linking up with Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd.
This was an interesting test and I was surprised by your results. My go to thread colour is Dove.
Dove would be my choice.
Maybe try using white in the bobbin and navy top thread. When stitching place the white fabric on the bottom. Or vice versa.
I love the quilt! My first thought is the Dove, but that would probably show up on the blue. Final guess is the Navy. Maybe the Dove though. I don’t know ♀️
I always test now. Years ago I just stitched away using what I thought was a neutral colored thread and it created dark shadows in the seams of the light colored fabric. Lesson learned!
Looks like it was good you tested it out. I’m surprised by the results but good to know!
Great way to test the threads. I was going for the grey from the pictures. I think pressing open always makes a bit of difference. Thanks for reminding me about tips and tutorials!
I’m not surprised that the navy worked better. I routinely use dove colored thread for my piecing/ The only time it doesn’t work well is if I’m using a lot of black. Thank you for running the test, I’m going to order some black thread for those projects. Based on what you demonstrated I’d be much happier that for those darker backgrounds.
This was fascinating to me because my friend told me when choosing colors for EPP, to match the darker fabric. That seemed counterintuitive, but it sure works.