Wednesday 1 February 2023

Shuffling

Although I have decided I am going down the route of wilder rather than more structured, I find I am still laying my pieces out like this when I start to sew.  They come out of the box in a different order each time but that's okay.  I am aiming to make four long strips before I worry too much about which way round they go together.  

Maybe, once I've got that far, I will need a fifth strip.  I will almost certainly need to add something border-y to to the top and bottom to get to a length I like.  

In the meantime, each piece is having its own little internal conversations.  The one thing I am paying most attention to is how many of the horizontal red plaid strips I use.  As Doris said on my last post that fabric is rather shouting for attention.  So far, I feel that's okay; it helps to stop all the blues and darker tones from mushing too much.  But I don't want it to be the only thing you notice when you look at the completed top.


Every so often, I shuffle everything back together, just to make sure I don't lose sight of where I am going.  This is one iteration. The second vertical row in this next photo has been sewn together.  Apart from that, nothing is finally decided.  Each bauble is stitched to the rows below it, but they don't have final places yet, though I am pretty sure I'll be sewing the left hand row up soon too. 

On a practical note, I am running low on the dark blue plaid and also the batik shirt but overall it still seems like I have a fair amount of fabric.  The last bits may be dictated simply by what's left, but so far, so good.
 

10 comments:

Julierose said...

I like the way the red plaid draws your eyes around the whole piece; and those border strips are really a nice calming factor too...this is coming together really well--hugs, Julierose

Gail N said...

I agree with Julierose. I think you might want to put a bit more of the red plaid in that upper right corner. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of that solid red (pink?) either, if you have it.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I think you are doing a great job keeping the red plaid moving around the quilt top and it helps lead the eye across the piecing. I really like the conversations that are happening in each strip, but I really love the magic that happens when it all comes together like in your last photo.

Cathy said...

Oh gosh I really like what you are doing here. So delightful and also fascinating since the way you work would not be in my comfort zone.

patty a. said...

Looking good! So much too look at and take in. The beige does calm the quilt down. I could see a corner of the quilt fading into a block that is mostly beige or light colors as if that all the fabric you had left.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I like the columns individually but I LOVE the vibe/composition when the blocks all touch each other. Baubles is definitely going to be something wonderful!!

Doris said...

It looks all very balanced I think. Love how the beige calmes it down and the red striped pushes me to look around. The dark blue makes it even more shining. Beautiful. Love it.

Mystic Quilter said...

I love your composition in your last photo, beautiful mix and the triangles coming into the outer fabric look as if they could be a border. Love that the pieces are having their own internal conversations, they obviously know just where they're going!

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Your colours work so well together, love the red plaid bits!

Janie said...

Good contrast and 'conversation' going on. The blocks look to be enjoying themselves!