Tuesday, 27 February 2018

AHIQ - share your improv #30

You would think, wouldn't you, that if I was setting a task for other people it might be one I found straightforward myself.  But no; this is causing me all sorts of headaches, though I'm not disputing that it may be good for me.

I've gone through countless iterations so far.  Some I like, some I don't.  I've added circles, taken them away, added them again, taken them away again.  I've made some coin strips but don't know if they get to stay either.  Since there's no rhyme or reason to all this yet I will punctuate the rest of this post with photos, but without commenting on them.
What I have been musing on though, as I crawled around the floor shuffling things about were some more general issues.  

The first thought that has occurred to me is that size really does matter.  I like the idea of circles, didn't mind making them, but was distinctly underwhelmed when I added them in.  Now that I've tried this repeatedly I have come to the conclusion that they are the wrong size rather than the wrong shape.  I think if they were just a tad bigger I would like them better.  Can't do that, though - nowhere near enough fabric.  Or maybe if they were small, but that would be extremely fiddly and is therefore most unlikely to happen!

Then I moved on to thinking about negative space.  I know it's got its uses and that every quilt needs little places for the eye to rest, but even when I can see it might be a good idea I just don't have it in me to leave well alone.  So this leads me to look for alternative ways of achieving this; the circles might have been one, now I am trying to mix in a few more triangles that are a single fabric rather than pieced.  More black would be another thing to try, I think.

I wonder whether negative space is better suited to modern trends in machine quilting?  I know people do/have always done wonderful whole cloth work by hand but most negative space I see is taken up by machining.  I can't quite imagine those very precise, clear lines on top of my wonky piecing rather than the more organic feel of hand quilting but have started to wonder about ways I would fill big areas of space if I had them.  For now though, I guess I'll just keep adding stuff in.  

(I wrote this post on Monday.  Last night Mr Sew Slowly felt the need to get up and make toast in the middle of the night.  This is not on the whole a habit to be encouraged, but as I lay there trying to get back to sleep I had a bright idea about my circles - maybe there's something I can do here).

I'm looking forward to seeing how other people have approached this, but of course you are welcome to link up any project you are working on.


16 comments:

patty a. said...

This quilt is a real stumper for you, but I like how you just keep playing with the pieces and parts. One of these days it will start coming together.

Marly said...

I see the dilemma, and think the large HSTs are giving a resting point. I had missed your post with the new theme, but really like the idea of experimenting with scale. Maybe I'll have something to post about next month.

Cathy said...

Maybe some of those toast points on the floor gave Mr. Slowly the urge!

Wendy Caton Reed said...

Well, it is looking good to me. Play is part of the fun, right?

julieQ said...

Gosh I love this...it has been super fun to watch you play with your pieces and parts! Onward! The circles are fun, too!

cspoonquilt said...

OOOH, I'm really liking that color scheme! The dark blue batik looking fab with the brown splashes is great! And the variation in the blocks makes it more interesting.

KrisR said...

Love your challenges! My challenge - which I had up on my design wall prior to reading about this challenge (how bizarre is that?) is to use larger pieces of fabric as they are so gorgeous I don't want to cut them up. I'd also like to do a 2nd challenge with this scale theme going much smaller than I usually work - but I'll use a different fabric palette for that one.

LA Paylor said...

oh my gosh, more is better. This looks like crystals, or icecicles
L.

Cheryl said...

what about diamonds of whole pieces and mixed randomly with diamonds of strip piecing? I don't know if that makes sense but could work as your not so negative space!

Janie said...

I agree with L., 'more is better'.
Thanks for hosting AHIQ Kaja.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I, too, struggle with vast amounts of negative space. I don't so much see it as a "modern" issue, but I prefer piecing, colors, and fabrics that draw my eyes around the quilt rather than the quilting itself. Keep playing with those pieces and parts - I know you'll find a good way to get it all together without running out of fabrics. I'm not sure about the circles - perhaps that is trying too hard? (I am SO guilty of not keeping things simple.)

audrey said...

Oh yes, I can see where the solid fabric triangles are going to work very hard in this quilt! And knowing you, the stitching is going to be amazing in those areas.:) I'm like you, too much negative space makes me feel a little confused about what to stitch, but really, it's a good challenge isn't it! Gonna to have to think more about that!

Mystic Quilter said...

Well this one is certainly keeping you on your toes!!! I think the addition of the single fabric triangles is looking good, negative space is not on my agenda, a little is just fine but not large areas, I prefer the focus to be on the fabric rather than the quilting. So, we shall see where you go with the circles!

Ann said...

The larger this becomes, the better I like it. Such an interesting fabric combination and quite different than your previous ones. Striking and quiet - a difficult combination to achieve. I read Audrey's post and wonder if you simply "curved" some strips to make a single large circle. It could even come and go within the open spaces you are creating here. Speaking of those... I quite agree. Open space seems to call for elaborate quilting. I don't do that as well plus and way more interested in prints.
Thanks for inviting us to play with scale. This looks to be an educational challenge to participate in and read about.

liniecat said...

Its growing into a beauty, all be it by a diversionary path lol

Sandy Panagos said...

Sometimes the more you play the more ideas you get. Sometimes, you need to step away from it for a while. The solid pieces you added look good. It's coming along!