Playing with Borders
Shoo Fly Quilt (See also: 20 January 2010)
This quit motif was designed using a number of Shoo Fly block variations.
It still needs a border. I'm going to see what I can do about that.
What if I try a plain black border?
It's Ok, I suppose. But the black border feels heavy and confining. Even if I use a lighter color I think it will still feel confining.
What if I add black squares to the ends of all the black lines instead?
This is less confining. But is it a border? In any case, it's a good start.
What if I forget about the idea of a border?
I'll put some white space around the ouside and add a red binding.
I'm happy with this. All this design needed was a background to rest on.
Wedding Fans OP 59, 60
5 hours ago
Wayne,
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing looks a bit like a piece of loose weaving.
I have to concentrate to see the basic block.
Great work.
Judy B
Judy
ReplyDeleteI try very hard to make my quilts a combination of blocks rather than a collection of blocks. I want my blocks to join up and create something larger, to make a unified whole.
So when you say that it's difficult to see the basic block, you couldn't say anything better calculated to please me.
Thanks
I really like how you don't just repeat the same colors on every different block you have and are not afraid to play around with the colors. I do particuarly like these quilt ideas. I am drawn more to the one with the entire black border, although I'd be considering doing a red and black double border there maybe. I'd be willing to complete that quilt sometime to "add it to my list" eventually.
ReplyDeleteDarla
ReplyDeleteColor is interesting. It is the first thing you notice about any quilt. It does as much, if not more, to create a pattern than shape does. It does this by drawing attention to specific aspects of a design.
Let me explain this by drawing a comparison with language. When we speak the emphasis we put on words creates meaning just as much as the words do. Imagine for a second that you are a meat lover to whom a meal isn't a meal without meat. And your favorite meat is steak. Now say the words, "Nothing is better than steak." Imagine you are a strict vegetarian who would rather starve than eat meat Now say the words, "Nothing is better than steak." The emphasis you put on the words changes their meaning.
Similarly the colors you give to shapes in a design create the pattern. We have all experienced this when we've seen a quilt done in different colors from the original. We are amazed at how different the quilt is. The change in color has changed the emphasis and so has changed the pattern.
In the Shoo Fly Quilt above I was able to create several blocks out of one block by changing the color. That for me is the joy of playing with color.
Playing with borders is a lot of fun too. I think it would be great if you made this quilt and changed the borders. I also think it would be great if you e-mailed me a picture of it.