This involved digging in the stash - deep. I have been able to mix some reproduction fabrics in with the brights, pastels and Kaffe prints. The oldest print I used in a yellow pin dot from 1985 - really!
I would love to have your opinions - fresh eyes please.
I will most likely machine quilt the blue dots, and want to use fabrics that compliment the appliqué. I am fairly certain I will add a busy print border, I did the appliqued border on the first two.
So, here we go....
I like the Kaffe print for the border, do you?
I am thinking of using the prints from the applique for the alternate blocks. Are they too much? Do prints help the applique detail pop?
What would Catherine think of her 1855 flowers?
Or, is keeping it all 'dotty' better?
There would be texture in the alternate block after quilting. Is it more soothing to the eye with the pastel Kaffe print?
I think I've decided, then looking this morning I changed my mind again.
Your thoughts please? TIA for taking time to leave a comment.
Month eleven blocks are posted HERE.
Have a great weekend!
Dawn
Oh, I don't know if I want to be the first to give my opinion. : )
ReplyDeleteI do like the Kaffe print for the border. Keeping the setting squares "dotty" makes a very soft, delicate looking quilt, IMHO. I don't know if that was your goal with these fabrics. I think it would add interest and make the blocks come alive a little more to have some color in the setting squares, but I wonder if having the different prints mixed in is too overpowering? Do you have enough of any one of them to just have one of the prints for all of the setting squares? Just me thinking out loud--feel free to disregard it all.
Personally, I think the dotty background shows off your applique much better--do love the Kaffe for the border though! Going to be a beauty!
ReplyDeleteI don't like Kaffe fabrics and I wouldn't ever use them. That said, the blue border one goes well with what you have used for the flowers. I like the same background as in-betweens all over and I really like the Pat Nickels fabric. Everyones different, did you want 'in your face' or pretty and bright?
ReplyDeleteThe dotty background: I like. A bright and pretty border: I like. Not sure about the setting square colors ....it depends on the look that you are after, I suppose. Dainty and soft, or bright and bold? They really do catch the eye and bring the flowers to life, though.
ReplyDeleteBeing no lover of Kaffe's fabrics at all, I however do think the border print fabrics adds to the applique blocks, so that would be a great choice. Using the color blocks between the applique blocks I certainly would not do, because it takes away the attention from your lovely applique, so I would go for the dots, if these were the only 2 possibilities. Maybe there is a 3rd option, and you can find a fabric for the blocks with the same background color as the applique blocks, but with some tiny, subtle amount of color in it? But ... after all, it is your quilt! Did I already tell you that you did another wonderfull job on this design? Love it!
ReplyDeletePersonally I would go for a light tone-on-tone in one of the colors of the border print for the setting triangles, and perhaps a very narrow darker solid coping border between the blocks and the larger print border. But that's just me. It will be beautiful whatever you finally decide. The applique blocks are so cheery.
ReplyDeleteI love the color prints from the appliqué as setting blocks they add a lot of visual interest to the quilt the other option is nice and suttle but kind of plain jane, for both I like the border fabric.
ReplyDeleteYou've given us all a challenge. Love the borders. It brings the quilt right to the 21st century. I like having more color in the quilt with the alternating blocks, but maybe too much variety. The same background as the blocks looks good but pretty mellow maybe until some quilting gets added but that will only add texture. Either way, it's what you like. But overall, I'd vote for more color.
ReplyDeleteI love your Kaffe fabric for the border!
ReplyDeleteQuilting is SO subjective that it's tough to give an opinion. But that said, I would consider picking one of the lightest colors in the border fabric - perhaps a very pale gray/blue color or very pale aqua. I would find/use one fabric in that shade and keep the alternate blocks consistent. What ever option you choose - I know your quilt will turn out stunning.
Hello! The border is perfect. i also like the pin dot alternate block if you are hand quilting. if not, i would choose just one brighter alternate block print, or use all prints and let longarmer do machine magic for a younger, more modern feel. i really think it depends on how quilting is planned.
ReplyDeleteI would put a different white ground print on the alternating squares, maybe a script or type print, or a shirting sprig---not too much or busy, just a bit more texture/contrast. I don't care for big busy print borders, I feel they detract from the center of any quilt. [tho the blue Kaffee print is very pretty] I'd do maybe a 1 1/2" blue and dot sawtooth border, then a narrow border of the squares print and the blue as binding. But I tend to be very traditional...
ReplyDeletelizzy
gone to the beach
PS If you must use the brights in the alternating squares, maybe break them up as a FourPatch, two and two [2 colors, but multi].
ReplyDeletelizzy again.
I have to say I think the bright alternate blocks rather overwhelms the pretty applique - a bit too much colour for me. And the applique is so lovely that I'd like it to feature. So, for me, I'd go for a quieter colour scheme in the alternate blocks. But it does need to suit your mood :)
ReplyDeleteI like the dotty it shows off the applique. Love the Kaffe border
ReplyDeleteIf it were my quilt, I would stick with the dotty fabric. It looks so light and airy and shows off the charm of the pretty blocks! Can't wait to see how you decide to finish this project!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, difficult decision. I love both ways, however, if I were going to hand quilt it I would use the dotty background, but where you will be machine quilting it I think the different (bolder) colors in the alternate blocks are fun. I guess that doesn't really help you does it? I love it either way.
ReplyDeleteYour applique blocks look so pretty with that border fabric. I think the bold colors as alternate blocks kind of take over. Maybe one softer color from the border? Looks like you got lots of opinions :0) I look forward to seeing what you decide!
ReplyDeleteI love the kaffe fabric for the border and the blue dot for the setting squares.
ReplyDeleteI love using those old fabrics!
I'm not sure how I missed this post! The Kaffe makes for a great border print and I love the idea of color between your blocks. Probably something a bit softer or only one print would be my choice. Love making all these decisions though. It's what makes each of our quilts so personal and unique! Your applique is simply wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI was noticing that you used a pink stripe and a blue plaid in some of the blocks. Nice. I do like the Kaffe print for the border. I find just dot fabric boring compared to the other choice you show. But then I find the mixed prints too busy for my taste. I like the aqua fabric and the blue as they are calmer. I like the idea of another background fabric for the alternating squares. Something close in shade to what you used for the applique background blocks but a different texture like maybe a check or a vine type background. Or a light color from the border print and only one color in a texture that is not dots. I look forward to what you choose and it is your taste it needs to suit. So what makes you happy.
ReplyDeleteI've only just discovered your blog! Love, love that Kaffe print for the border, perfect! And you've probably already made your decision, but I prefer the 'dotty' calmer look to this. Looking forward to seeing just what you decided to do!
ReplyDelete