Custom quilt or custom quilting

When people discover I quilt, they often have questions about what it all means. Sometimes they don't know what a quilt is (a top, middle, back all stitched together with machine or hand stitching, or ties) because they are all just blankets to them. 

The technical definition of a blanket is "a large piece of woolen or similar material used as a bed covering or other covering for warmth."

A quilt is "a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching, typically applied in a decorative design."

The quilting is the stitching that holds the layers together. 

If I'm quilting, though, it means I'm anywhere in the process of making a quilt. I could be cutting, piecing, shopping for fabric, basting, seam ripping, quilting, binding. All you really need to know is I'm busy.

The next question I hear is what's the difference between a custom quilt and custom quilting?

A custom quilt is a quilt made from scratch to the specification of the client.

Custom quilting is a unique stitch pattern used to secure all of the layers of a finished quilt.

A woman asked me to make her a custom quilt without custom quilting. She asked for a bison quilt that was not brown. After we found a pattern and fabric she loved, I got to work.

It was unique to her specifications. She wanted an overall stitching pattern.  This is called edge to edge quilting. It is a repetitive design covering the width and length of the quilt.

 

Custom quilting has a unique quilt pattern that is used to highlight quilt piecing or just add an extra element to the look of the quilt while still being functional.

   

The custom quilting on this baby quilt highlights the blocks and borders of the quilt. It adds some fun texture to the top as well as the minky back. The quilting draws the eye to the center of the quilt with angled lines and curves. 

It emphasizes the shaping and piecing of the quilt.

It also creates a dynamic  pattern on the back. No matter how you fold this quilt, your hands and eyes will be drawn to it.

Whether you choose an overall stitch or custom quilting, a quilt made by you or for you is a labor of love meant to bring comfort and warmth to the world.