Friday 14 July 2017

Unpicking

It's going to take me a while to figure this quilt out, I think.

Here's what I've been doing.  First I made enough hourglass blocks to make a block of 9 and a few extras, then I started to play around, 'what if-ing'.  I'm happy for some parts to be kind of blurry, which is to say that the soft colours run into each other a bit, but also need some definition.  So I tried the floral (which I had been pretty sure was out of contention) and that darker blue stripe.


It didn't blow me away, but I thought I'd keep going for a bit, so added the extra row at the bottom and the strip down the right hand side.  You may notice I've added in that mucky yellow colour.  It looks a bit out of place now, but once there's more of it I'm pretty sure it will work.


I liked the yellow, but after a cup of tea and a think I didn't like the floral and blue strips at all, so out they came and I tried again, this time using striped shirting instead.


And got to here.  You can see a tiny strip of the floral sneaked back in.  This was largely because I wanted to make the original group of 9 just a smidge longer, so that things would fit together nicely.   It's only about 1/2 wide and I think if I keep to skinny bits like this it might do the job.


This is where I stopped, after my two steps forward, three steps back kind of a morning, but I'm feeling okay about it. I am thinking about possibly making some larger hourglasses (the ones here are probably 5"-ish); adding something to the top of this chunk; maybe making several bits like this and floating them on a more simple background, though I'll probably end up complicating things.  This is  literally just a brain dump though, so anything could happen next.  

15 comments:

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

I think the floral looks great with the maroon floral in the HSTs.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Keeping the floral as a smaller insert does work nicely, and I think incorporating the more bold color choices frequently in small(ish) doses is going to really draw your eye around the quilt top.

patty a. said...

I definitely like the change to the lighter shirting fabric for the insert strips. With the darker fabrics it was looking a bit controlled and orderly, but with the bit of gold and the variations in the last picture it is looked more soulful and warm.

Ann said...

Thanks for sharing so many process photos. It's a joy (and also educational) to see how each artist works. I like that you moved the green stripe to the bottom. Somehow it looks better there. The floral is so narrow those bits of red and blue flowers almost look like your tiny triangles of again. What a clever way to keep that option open.

Mego said...

I gotta say I love your 'thought' process! Thanks for sharing!

Mystic Quilter said...

I think the narrow strip of fabric looks perfect, a case of less is more I guess. I enjoy following your moving around of parts to get the feel and look that you're after.

Janie said...

There are so many possibilities with HSTs,
Lovely adventure!

Anonymous said...

Oh, the smiles you gave me this afternoon.

I just love the way you share your thoughts as you design.

I love the floral strip!

Thanks again for sharing.

Hunter

JanineMarie said...

I'm fascinated by how you can get such a different color scheme and feel from quilt to quilt given the limitations that shirts present. I really like the addition of the floral in this one along with the delicate colors. And I do like the addition of the yellow, too. I think this quilt will look lovely with the sprinkling of the darker floral for a little definition and contrast without overwhelming the other fabrics.

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

Very different to your recent quilts . It will be interesting to see how this comes together

Lesley Gilbert said...

I can't give you any advice, just that I enjoy reading/looking at your thought processes & I look forward to each days progress :)

Kathleen said...

I'm glad you put that floral strip back in. I liked that part.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Loving your colour combo, the skinny mini darker floral bits, and I'm loving reading your posts! It's so interesting to follow your progress and hear about your reasoning for changes, etc. It also gives me encouragement to explore? to play? what do you call it? And what happens when it just doesn't work?

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

I love how you play with the pieces and slowly they grow into a beautiful quilt as you continue to play. Amazing! This one is off to a great start. I like the idea of the soft colours running into each other. I love seeing your improv piecing, Kaja, such an inspiration!

-Soma

Mary Marcotte said...

The floral works as a skinny divider and helps to move the eye across the quilt. If you strategically place a few throughout the top, you have a way of controlling movement. The soft colors are interesting and could work as a background of sorts if you choose to float blocks with shaded squares in the same hues. Oh, and I like the unexpected yellow.