In My Mind's Eye
You get excited about the 'next' project once you've selected the fabrics and pattern. It looks fabulous in 'your mind's eye' and you sew full of anticipation. And, then it happens - suddenly it doesn't look so fabulous and you start experiencing doubt and disappointment. You come close to scrapping the whole project, walking out of your sewing room and slamming the door. Dejected and done!!!!! Instead you persevere and hope that it will work out just fine in the end.
I've just described exactly what happened to me on Friday.
A few weeks ago I found a wonderful Log Cabin quilt pattern on Debi's blog (you'll find the tutorial in the left column of her blog). I wanted to make this log cabin quilt - I just needed a Moda Layer Cake (Mill House Inn was my choice) and 2 yards of a background fabric for the light side of the log cabins. The clotted cream dots arrived from Kelly's Cotton Charm Shop last week and I cut and sewed all 80 blocks full of anticipation. Sigh!
What's my problem? Well, I'm not sure I like the super dark eggplant color in the quilt - they seem to stick out way too much. I'm not as unhappy with the quilt as I was initially because I think if I use an inner border and dark eggplant colored outer border then it'll look just fine. I've chatted with Debi a bit and she doesn't always use a border when she makes this quilt - now I'm wondering if I should quilt it the way it is and bind it with the darker eggplant color.
What do you think???
Wow, I just spotted a problem - guess I'll have to call on my friend Jack the Ripper. The last two rows are in need of his assistance. It's amazing what you spot when you take a picture. LOLLeave me your thoughts and ideas, please!
I appreciate your visit - come again soon.
In Friendship!
51 comments:
I like it Darlene. The eggplant is scattered throughout the quilt so it looks balanced. I think you should do a skinny inner border with the eggplant color. Then do a second border with one of your favorite fabrics from the Mill House Inn collection. It's beautiful.
I think it is beautiful!! I never like the quilt a lot until it is quilted...the texture adds so much. I really like yours!
I agree with Carol. Inner border eggplant and outer lighter. I had a jacobs ladder quilt that I started in 1995. I didn't like my fabric choices, but continued. I finished the queen size top and I put one border one. Cut the other three borders and then put it away until this past month! I dug it out as part of a vow to finish all my UFO's this year. Put the three borders on. Still didn't like it. Then I layed it out on the bed! Love it! It looks warm and cozy. Who knew??!!
I'd add a border. I see what you mean about the eggplant. It's not really bad but they do seem to jump out a bit more. The eggplant binding would help too.
I absolutely love it! I agree with Carol that you should use the eggplant in the border to tie in the color. A second border would also bring it to life.
Oh Darlene it's really beautiful I can see what you mean with the eggplant but I still love it, and yup I think a border will just help to pull it altogether!
I had the same problem with that color in my quilt too. I fiddled with it for days before I was satisfied.
Darlene---I am with the majority---I love it!!!!! If you want to add size I would think about Carol's suggestion, but if you decide you want to leave as is---that would be okay as well. I also agree iwth JulieQ---it is amazing what a little quilting, washing and drying does to a quilt. The added dimension totally changes the look of a quilt!
I like it... the dark just makes the soft colors more pronounced and if you use the eggplant in the borders... it is going to be gorgeous.
Well, I know that feeling of not being that happy with what I come up with. I made a huge quilt for our bed and didn't exactly realize that I didn't really like it till it was all done. The fabric was good, the quilt pattern wasn't. I love Courthouse steps but used a pattern with light cornerstones added and it didn't turn out interesting at all. Oh well...
I do think your dark strips will be well placed after you re-do the rows and the dark in a border or perhaps that extra wide binding might add some balance.
Well I'll be the odd one out and say just quilt it and bind it in the eggplant. I love it, and not every quilt needs a border.
I LOVE the eggplant. I think if you want to quit now an eggplant binding would be super but so would the eggplant border. I love it! Nancy in WI
I love your quilt ... and I love borders on a quilt and one of my favourite colors in a quilt is eggplant... so my thinking is your quilt will have a totally different look but one that would be my appealing for the log cabin pattern.
I'm going to agree with Carol. A few small borders will frame the quilt and cause the eggplant color to "play nice" with the other fabrics. Like you, I often question my choices until the final product is finished. Your quilt really is lovely. Be sure to post a photo when you are finished with the quilting:)
I love it!! I think you should add borders. I like the eggplant in the quilt. It is well balanced through out the quilt. Adding a bit of eggplant in the border would really tie it all together.
I wouldn't add a border, IMHO. It looks wonderful just the way it is and the eggplant, although pronounced, is balanced throughout the quilt. If you do the binding in the same eggplant color, it will act as a frame and marry all the colors together.
I think the eggplant border will balance it out and it will look just fine.
I've seen a quilt like this where one color just seemed to stand out...or at least my eye went right to it. I do think either a skinny border with eggplant and then a lighter colored border or just an eggplant binding will do the trick. You'll love it in the end.
It is so gorgeous. I have had that problem many times. I love the eggplant in it and agree that a border or binding in the eggplant would tie it all together.
Do borders only if you need them to make it bigger. If you do, I would do and small border, I'm talking 2 inches, of the eggplant and then something else for a final border. But I like the quilt as is myself. I think the eggplant color makes your eyes dance around the quilt and gives it movement. If it was mine I would be done, after fixing the rows, quilt it, and bind it with the eggplant. Good luck.
I just had a similar dilemma with my Sunday Best. It wasn't the quilt but the Quilting . As I was quilting it, I truly disliked what was happening. BUT now that It's done and bound, I feel totally opposite...l love it SO much. So whatever you decide, I'll lay odds you end up being happy. Or atleast I hope you will be.
I really like it! It took me a long time to find what you were talking about. LOL!
I think that a dark outer border would be pretty...but I. LOVE. that eggplant color! Can't wait to see what you decide!
Hi Darlene!!
Love the quilt!! Had to laugh when you mentioned how you see the errors after you take the picture!! But it is true!! What's with that anyways? My BFF is named Jack the Ripper too...Take care and have a good one!!
Paulette
I LOVE this Darlene. I agree with Carol [and everyone else, lol] on the eggplant border followed by a lighter border. I think it will really pull it together. I love the way the eggplant pops.
Yep, I'm also in the dark inner border and light outer border. I just finished up a quilt from this line, and that's how mine is. It looks good.
Remember what my dad always said, "We're not building a piano here!" When you're done with it and pull it out again in a few months later to look at it, you'll love it like we all do now!
I would quilt it up just as it is and bind in eggplant. I like the eggplant color pops. Just so you know...have no doubts, this really is a pretty quilt, I'm not just being nice, lol.
I think it looks great. I like the idea of a border or 2 with one being eggplant.
Since everyone has given you plenty of options, I'll just say~ beautiful!! ;-)
I love it. I wouldn't do a border, but use the darker color for binding!
I'm going to write this before I read what others say - I think a small inner border and then an eggplant large border would be beautiful - I love the fabric you used Darlene!
I think it is lovely..I would go for the darker bind....
I think it is lovely..I would go for the darker bind....
I think that the darker eggplant adds interest to the eye... it is scattered randomly and helps the eye to move across the quilt....
I would definitely frame it with the eggplant, either border or binding. Would help tie it all together, hm?
SO pretty!
SheilaC
It looks wonderful Darlene and I like the aubergine so much, it stops the quilt from being flat. A bit moer of the same would be a perfect finish.
I would add a narrow stop border of the eggplant, then a wider one in one of the other colours and then bind it with the eggplant. It is beautiful I think, but somehow I always like at least 2 borders on quilts. Perhaps that's cos then I can have a bigger quilt without making extra blocks. Hey, who was that who just said I'm lazy?
LOL Do I need to repeat what every one else said.
Your quilt looks beautiful.
I like it...I like it a lot! I like the eggplant in there...it's the happy surprise. Makes me look at the whole quilt. I say, if you don't need it to be bigger,quilt it up, bind it in eggplant, put it in the washer and dryer and curl up on the couch with it. I looks old and comfy! My favorite kind of quilt.
I wouldn't have seen the oops if you hadn't mentioned it. It looks like you got a lot of advice so I'm sure whatever you decide about the border will be great. (or not border)
Hi Darlene,
I'll say two things. First the picture is probably not the way it looks in person. Pulling the eggplant into a small (1/2 to 1") inner border or the binding would probably be enough. But if the eggplant bothers you now, it will probably always bother you. I learned that it's better to rip, than to regret. Maybe even just taking out 4 or 5 strips would be enough. Cover them with another strip and see what you think. Trust your instincts!
I know exactly what you mean. I just finished making "Carolina Christmas" from quitville.com blog and loved every block as I was making it, then when it was all together I wasn't so sure. Like you I had a dark fabric I wasn't so sure about, but I added it as a 2"border and now I really like it.
I think it will look great with a dark inter-border and a light outer border. When it's all quilted it will be gorgeous, I love the Mill House fabrics you used in this one.
The eggplant draws my eye around the quilt. One thing I was taught in making a scrappy quilt was that you need some resting spots for the eye and some fabrics that draw your eye around the quilt. I think the eggplant does this.
The eggplant is a nice counterpoint to all the mediums and lights in the quilt. I vote to keep it.
I like it! I keep going back and looking 'cause I don't know which way I'd go. Typically I would add borders....but the more I picture just the eggplant binding the more I lean that way! I don't think you'll go wrong either way :)
I love the quilt!...and I love the eggplant!
Good job...:0)
I LOVE that quilt Darlene. It's wonderful. Love the colors too.
I love this quilt...and I think the darker colors just give it more shine and contrast...makes everything really stand out!
We are so similar, Darlene. I threw those dark plum prints out in the last quilt I made with Mill House Inn, but I REALLY like the way your quilt turned out, and am thinking I might try using the dark prints after all. I think it would look great with the borders or if you bound it in the dark! It's really cute!
Hi Darlene,
I am new to your blog and am already giving you advise...,LOL
I have had the same problem a few times and appliqued a few, in your case, eggplant, flowers. Very long stem and one large flower.
So there is my 2 cents.
Frummie
I really like it! I vote for a thin eggplant border and then a wide border of your favorite fabric.
I sure know what you mean about what happens when you get discouraged with a project not turning out the way it looked in your mind! Goes directly to the UFO pile!
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