Detail of White-on-white quilt showing stippling which embosses the designs it surrounds

Bettye Kimbrell made a number of white-on-white quilts which showcase her extraordinary skill at hand-stitching.  With a pencil she drew patterns on white fabric—sometimes original motifs, sometimes traditional designs using commercial stencils—then stitched over them with white thread, each stitch going through the top, batting, and back of the quilt. Designs emerged from the  richly textured background. Bettye enhanced many of her white-on-white quilts with stippling.  Stippling is a technique in which stitches are placed as close to each other as possible without touching. The designs that are surrounded by stippling become embossed, though they have not been stuffed.

Detail of white-on-white quilt