These blocks were bugging me, and not in a good way. I made them to use up the leftovers from my Grey Havens quilt, and then they refused to co-operate when I tried to put them together. Those madder squares in the corners kept forming a secondary pattern when I tried to sash them with 2" sashing and cornerstones, and I didn't like the effect. I tried dozens of settings and different fabrics and nothing clicked. I din't mind the green and navy setting I showed a couple of posts ago, but Meredith obligingly pointed out that my Square-in-a square blocks have that setting too. And I didn't want to duplicate it. So thanks Meredith, the delay was all your doing.
I finally tried this dirty browny-grey print that I adore, and it worked. I wanted the quilt to have that ancient,
multi-patterned look of 18th Century quilts, kind of like a faded carpet. I had just enough to make the sashings, so that is another metre and a half of fabric gone from the stash for good. And seeing it was a piece that I've been hoarding it counts for Judy's challenge.As a bonus, one of the fabrics that didn't work for this quilt proved to be perfect for another set of blocks, so that will be my next project. It's a simple one, so I should be able to whip it up in a few days. Famous last words. It took great resolve and determination to get this latest top finished, and I had to ignore a few chores this afternoon so that I could get it in one piece. I kept repeating to myself 'I'm going to blog about this tonight, I AM
going to blog about this...'
I stuck to another resolve and kept this small, only 20 blocks. It will be a nice wall quilt, or one for the couch. The colours are very subtle and muted, and look much nicer in natural light than in the photo. I do like muddy combinations though. I'm not much into brights; love what other people do, but I don't buy bright material myself.
I'm going to pull out all my orphan blocks tomorrow and see if I can make a top from them. Just about every top I made last year had leftover blocks, so I will play around and see if I can be as creative as Bonnie....
I'm glad I pointed out your duplication, because I adore this setting choice. It's a colour combination you'd probably never come up with in your head, but it looks exactly as you wanted, old and faded and comfortable.Sometimes I hate all the laying out and trying this one and that one, but it pays off when you get that unusual pairing that just 'clicks'.
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect! Truly has an "old, faded and comfortable" look.
ReplyDeleteI love the old faded look. I work a lot with brights myself but love these colors in other people's quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely PERFECT 'antique' quilt!! I LOVE it!!
ReplyDeleteI am in love.... what a beautiful quilt . I love the purple accents.. it is such a surprise
ReplyDeleteIt is looking really lovely
ReplyDeleteMuddy colors are "in" and I love them too. You made a beautiful antique looking quilt and the purples are just perfect in it.
ReplyDeleteKeryn, thanks for your comments on my Half Square Strings. It's funny because this quilt of yours is the type I love but because I make so many donation quilts - brights have taken over my stash!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you wrote because it's been a while since I'd visited your blog and I love the scrap quilts you make. Now I've got your site on my bloglines list and will be back.
This is a great quilt. I like to make bright quilts, especially in the winter, but when it comes to using and owning, I like looking at the old fashioned quilts. So I have made some more muddy quilts - but most of them are still UFOs.
ReplyDelete