Straight Lines
I think the next most popular fill design is simple straight lines. These create great contrast with anything curvy and it is easy to get the right size contrast with straight lines by their spacing. This quilt by Claudia Scheja uses straight lines in multiple places for a great effect of contrast with the circular applique and curved piecing. In the border:
Spring Thing – by Claudia Scheja – of Werne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
And within the piecing:
detail Spring Thinng – by Claudia Scheja – of Werne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Congratulations!
Varied spacing of straight lines can create some quite interesting texture.
detail Sheer Joy – by Shirley Gisi – of Colorado Springs, CO
Sheer Joy – by Shirley Gisi – of Colorado Springs, CO
Straight lines create a beautiful contrast and make the trapuntoed quilting motifs really pop.
detail Paradise of Flowers and Fountains – by Naomi Ootomo – of Todashi, Saitama, Japan
detail Paradise of Flowers and Fountains – by Naomi Ootomo – of Todashi, Saitama, Japan
Paradise of Flowers and Fountains – by Naomi Ootomo – of Todashi, Saitama, Japan
Congratulations!
Hatch
Straight lines can also create hatch fill designs. Hatch fills are a classic fill. Think of all the Sun Bonnet Sue quilts you have seen. What is quilted behind Sue? Cross hatch. This triptych quilt is much more modern but uses hatch fills to great advantage.
detail Respite – by Sandy Curran – of Newport News, VA
Respite – by Sandy Curran – of Newport News, VA
The double lines of this hatch fill makes for nice texture.
Chocolate Fantasy – by Linda Fleschner – of North Fon du Lac, WI
Chocolate Fantasy – by Linda Fleschner – of North Fon du Lac, WI
You saw this quilt by Marilyn Badger last week. It has some nice cross hatching that follows the lines of the plaid fabric. A very nice quiet design choice for a kind of loud fabric. There’s contrast!
detail Christmas in St Andrews – by Marilyn Badger – of St George, UT
Christmas in St Andrews – by Marilyn Badger – of St George, UT
Basket Weave
A bit of a take-off on hatch designs are basket weave fill designs. Basket weave can create interest in an otherwise dull part of a quilt. This is another gorgeous Marilyn Badger quilt.
detail Midnight in Morocco – by Marilyn Badger – of St George, UT
Midnight in Morocco – by Marilyn Badger – of St George, UT
Congratulations Again!
This design looks kind of like a basket weave to me. Maybe a “modern” basket weave? This quilt was one of my favorites of the whole show. I love how Cindy used circles to create her self-portrait.
detail My Big Face – by Cindy Stohn – of Chandler, AZ
My Big Face – by Cindy Stohn – of Chandler, AZ
detail My Big Face – by Cindy Stohn – of Chandler, AZ
Geometric Grids
Some of my favorite fill designs are grid designs. I love the symmetry and the texture. This one creates an almost optical illusion.
detail Venus – by Rosani Ganc – of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Venus – by Rosani Ganc – of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
A unique combination of grid design and stipple. Love! I’m sorry to say I do not know the name of this quilt nor the maker. My apologies!
maker unknown
The diamond geometric grid fill pattern has the spaces filled with radiator fill. A fill in a fill, how about that?
detail Dangerous Liaisons – by Cristina Arcenegui Bono – of Alcala de Guadaira, Spain
Dangerous Liaisons – by Cristina Arcenegui Bono – of Alcala de Guadaira, Spain
Random Geometric
The variegated thread color and random geometric fill adds so much to the background of this fun quilt.
detail 15 Warthogs – by Marilyn Smith – of Columbia, MO
15 Warthogs – by Marilyn Smith – of Columbia, MO
Margaret Solomon Gunn is the master of fill designs. She combines them artistically to create her wonderful quilts.
The Value of Violet – by Margaret Solomon Gunn – of Gorham, ME
detail The Value of Violet – by Margaret Solomon Gunn – of Gorham, ME
detail The Value of Violet – by Margaret Solomon Gunn – of Gorham, ME
detail The Value of Violet – by Margaret Solomon Gunn – of Gorham, ME
Congratulations Again!
Which fill design is your favorite? There are so many to choose from! by Mary Beth Krapil
Great article. The quilts and fills are awesome inspirations!