The pattern is created by lines of quilting stitches. Quilting adds more than stitches to hold the three layers of the quilt together; it adds light and shadow, texture, and dimension. Whole-cloth quilting demands an experienced, skilled quilter. 

The quilter draws the design on the cloth. A pencil is used on light-color cloth. Chalk is used on dark cloth. The quilting stitches should be small and even, to make visually strong lines that form the pattern. The outlined shapes throw a shadow when light shines on the quilt. 

Stitching white threads on a white fabric is called White Work. If a quilter wants to make these outlined shapes show up even more, she stuffs the quilted shapes with extra batting to make them puff out. This is called trapunto. 

Trapunto was more popular in the nineteenth century than it is today. Here we feature a baby's crib quilt in white and a large bed quilt in the popular shade of red.