Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wah on my Wow day

It is going to be back to basics for me!  This quilt is very ripply and I'm kinda puzzled as to why.  It is probably due to sloppiness; a loosening of the all the details that are necessary for quality control!  It isn't terrible but it is a wake up call.
I approached this quilt with a desire to work in a less controlling manner. That's okay except I am seeing some problems. I like it overall but it has caused much angst!  ;^)  So here is my critique:



First I could have thought out the fabrics better.  The more colours the more skill needed to get it right.  I had a palette but the proportions of colours should have been adjusted. I might have been better to fore go the blue which is not so prominent in the theme fabric.   The blue border ties in with the tiny bit of blue in the sashing. which is purposely offset and made sense when I did it.  LOL


Then I used stash fabric for the backing which was great except I never thought about the binding.  Not good.  Pink seemed the best but I went to sleep last night with an uneasy feeling.
In the morning I dragged out more fabric.  aha!  My theme fabric.


This also solved another problem. It added bits of red which I spent considerable time trying to spread all around the edges but particularly where there seemed to be a  serious lack.  Another accent gone amuck. I seem to like accents so much they start to assume a secondary position.  :{



I did go back and applique a pink bud in the centre of the lower left green block. The dark was a coordinating fabric that wanted to be another accent.  sheesh!  (I'm assessing as I type and I'm learning lots!)

I like asymmetrical and hence the wonky sashing.  It solved a fabric deficiency for the final border and I'm cool with that.  But I should have been measuring the sides, not sewing and cutting which seems to be what I must have done.  Bad!  Dock 20 points!  The machine quilting is fairly evenly spaced.  First thread I used was very linty, a variegated Wonderfil.  Nina coughed at one point.  I tried some Invisafil from the same store and all I can say is I'm anxiously waiting a Machine Quilting Sampler of threads from Superior Threads.  I used some scarlet cotton threads and the thread has bled some. grrr

So this is not an award winning quilt but I feel okay about my kids giving it as a gift.  It'll be used and loved.

I have another quilt up for MQing. But for me!  No pressure and no pressing deadline.  I'm set up to do it and I'll work on it at a more relaxed pace.


But I also have some little projects cluttering the worktable.  I need to make some stamps.  And I need to do my snippets challenge.  Until next week...

11 comments:

HollyM said...

Boy, we really are our own worst critic! I can see some of what you're saying, but it is a sampler and it is pretty.
I got so excited a couple of times with sewing on the borders and getting the quilt finished that I forgot to square it all up first and it had the same result as yours.
I think it will still be used and well loved just the same.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Elle; little ripples will quilt down....don't be so hard on yourself...It is very pretty; really.

Lesly said...

I hear you about getting the right proportion of colours in the quilt - I struggle with that too, when I find at the end of all that work that, while I still like the colours, they don't come together to match the vision that I mad at the beginning. Still working on that one. Yours is lovely and bright and will keep some lucky folks warm and cozy!

Karin Millson said...

Well I think it is lovely - and the blue really gives accent. Don't leave out blue!
K

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Thanks for stopping by Elle....I appreciate you input

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I think it's terrific. I am in awe, even if you aren't so much so. Besides, as you said, the kids who are giving it as a gift will love it, as will the recipient. That's all that matters. And once it is folded and in a box or bag, no one else will see the ripples.

Carving your own stamps? Wish I could find my carving tools.

Createology said...

Elle I see your quilt as beautiful and a labor of love. I do not see the flaws you are seeing. This quilt is a wonderful gift. Be proud my dear...

Michelle in Saskatoon said...

I quite like the quilt, and find it very cheery. I agree though that sometimes we need to stop and look at what we've done in order to figure out where to go next, I think that whoever gets the quilt will love it

felicity said...

I clicked on this photo first out of all the ones in the TNATN linky because it was so bright and cheerful. We are most certainly our own worst critics. If you learn from the (so-called) mistakes in this quilt and go on to make many more that make you happy, that's great. But enjoy this one too - it really is lovely!

Sheila said...

I also think it is a lovely bright and cheery quilt , you really should not be so hard on yourself it will definitely be loved!

M-R Charbonneau said...

Elle, I found your critique so interesting and I learned a lot, especially your comments about accent colours. I do find your quilt beautiful though! :)