I don't know. I just don't know whether I like this top on not. The goals for this quilt were to: 1) Use up scraps, 2) Provide an interesting block for my Don't Worry {Bee} Happy beemates last year, 3) Learn how to use neutrals more effectively, and 4) Do some improv piecing. I think I achieved the goals, but I'm just not sure how I feel with the resulting top.I asked my bee mates last November to try to get the block to 16" square with the fabric I sent them. They did a wonderful job -- thanks bee mates! I ended up adding to the blocks to make them 18.5" by 18.5" or 18.5" by 20.5" so I could make a twin-sized quilt and made a number of other ones to complete the rainbow spectrum.
One of my bee mates added in some natural Essex Linen to her block and I quite liked it so I got some more and added some to the other blocks. It's the first time I used Essex Linen so I'm really, really glad I saw this post before I started using it.
I was all excited to use the Essex Linen at first, but now I'm not so sure. I'm also not sold on the darker tan. Too much contrast in the neutrals?
So far, the top measures 59" by 92". Maybe more neutral strips along the edges?
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I like it! I think it has a very graphic feel to it. I would probably quilt it with spirals, swirls, curves as opposed to straight lines in order to play down the colors. It’s very fresh and dimensional. You can lost in those centre colors - they pull your eye in.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of these blocks but if I'm honest I don't think the darker tan works, it distracts from the colours. I wonder if a darker coloured border would work? Maybe strips of greys and black? I love Essex Linen and have never had problems with it - I used it in DP blocks for my retro flowers, which has been washed a few times and is absolutely fine!
ReplyDeleteI personally find that the neutrals overpower the pops of color. I'd maybe add colored borders to split up the rows (but not columns), like red, orange, green blue, going from top to bottom. Or use very bright thread for the quilting over the neutral parts with a color corresponding to each block centre but not quilt the color sections.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm a fairly new quilter, so what I see in my head might not really work out.
I love this quilt, but then I love most everything you create!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the 'outside the box' look of this quilt. I'd maybe add the dark tan for the side panels to balance it a bit and give it more 'weight'. Otherwise, I think it's a totally fun quilt!
ReplyDeleteI totally love it. I use essex linen all the time, it is in many of my quilts and I have never had a problem. It's more work but why not take off one row from the bottom, make one more block and call it a lovely lap quilt? Have fun with the quilting, it will be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThere's something almost uncomfortable about it. It certainly drew my eye but I think maybe you're right that the darker tan overpowers things just a touch.
ReplyDeleteOh I really like this. If you decide you don't want it, I could give it a lovely home.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! The colours seem to give it such depth. Love the use of neutrals for the background. Well done
ReplyDeleteI love these blocks. I think maybe Lucy is right about a darker border to balance things out.
ReplyDeleteThis is so nice, I am not able to leave the site.
ReplyDeleteI think this is looking great, although, after reading the Stitched in Color post, I'm thinking maybe some fairly dense quilting over the linen to hold it down well might be a good idea. I also think some neutral strips in the border would be nice and maybe an linen binding. I'm sure it's going to come together and look fab :)
ReplyDeleteI would agree that the dark tan is taking over the blocks a bit and would also consider a darker border to see if that balances it out a bit.
ReplyDeleteI love it. I even like those darker neutrals. It adds interest to me. I would add some more neutral strips to to bottom and to the right side to make it off center. Just wider than you used on the blocks.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit worried too about Essex Linen since I read the post by Rachel Hauser. All the negative space in the quilt I'm working on is Essex Linen (http://www.thecharmingneedle.com/2013/09/shoo-fly-cutting.html). I'm still unsure how I'll quilt it. I'll probably go with an all-over design to make sure everything will hold in place. What about you? I love your quilt. Maybe the tan is a little dark, but there is still contrast of neutral vs. color.
ReplyDeleteI like how it looks! We all know a lot of work goes into making a quilt top. Not any right or wrong. It is mostly about personal preferences. Always valuable!
ReplyDeleteI think the darker tan gives it a bit of a Gee's Bend feel, love it! An asymmetrical border treatment would be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think this looks great and that you achieved your goals but this is definitely a top that only hints at how great it will be once it's quilted because that's when it'll really come together. Love it.
ReplyDeleteBonjour, j'ai découvert ton travail aujourd'hui et j'aime beaucoup. Peux tu me dire où as tu trouvé le modèle des blocs?
ReplyDeleteBonne journée.
So curious....what did you end up doing with this. I found this pic in my Pinterest feed this AM and I gotta say ILOVEIT. Please say you finished it, had it quilted (or quilted it yourself) and its one of your most prized possessions.
ReplyDelete