I have read, sewn and quilted a growing number of projects. I have visited quilt shows, watched tutorials, and practiced free motion quilting, walking foot, and hand quilting. But I have never really understood what the instruction “quilt as desired” means.
Quilt to grow my skills? Free motion or traditional motifs? Machine or hand?
Quilt to complement the piecing? Applique? The blocks? Background?
Quilt to complement the design, or complicate the piece as a whole?
How to choose colors? Thread type? Stitch? Spacing ?
But the question that usually leads me to focus is “What does this quilt want to say?” Is it speaking of warmth and tradition? Is the message to help the eye travel? Is it a quiet or loud statement? AND how will my stitching make the quilt’s voice seen?
So when you are puzzled as to how one “quilts as desired”, examine your questions, and listen to the quilt top.