1. As much as possible, don't repeat the same print in the same row or column as itself.
2. Absolutely do NOT have them next to each other. Diagonal neighbors are OK, adjacent ones are not.
3. Don't have all the light ones clumped together, and don't have the dark ones clumped together. (This ought to be obvious.) Likewise, contrast organic shapes with hard edged ones; sparsely filled ones with densely filled ones, etc.
4. Distribute the prints all over the quilt. In the middle, along the edges, etc. Don't limit one print to the edges.
5. It's not a bad idea to alternate, light, dark, light diamonds in rows and columns. You can tell they are light and dark by walking across the room and taking off your glasses. The values will show up and you won't be distracted by the pattern of the print. If you can see clearly across the room without glasses, then squint when you do this exercise.
6. When you cut out your big diamonds from giant prints, fussy cut them so you end up with a beautiful block. When I was in art school I brought in a painting of milkweed pods. My professor took one look at it and said, "In real life these are beautiful, you made them look ugly. Don't do that."
7. When you have a directional print, and you cut a diamond with a pattern facing one way, MAKE SURE YOU FLIP AT LEAST ONE BLOCK. Yes, that means making a bouquet of flowers point down.
8. Don't be too matchy-matchy. Ever. Just because you can buy eight fabrics in a designer's "line" DON'T DO IT. That's a recipe for a boring quilt.
9. Have some fun, dammit. All quilts tell a story, even if you're not aware of it. This is a pinkish quilt, so fun pink pigs work. And it's a quilt of flowers, so bugs work too.
10. Don't worry about being too perfect. There's nothing worse than a quilt that is "overworked." You don't want your quilt to look like a machine made it.
11. Relax. It's only a quilt. And though it kills me to admit it, most people will never notice the little details you put into it. So leave them some surprises to find later.
The same rules apply to the medium sized diamonds.
You can click all the photos to supersize them so you can check out the little details.
7 comments:
this will probably be quite different when we see it all finished. Those fabrics, to my eyes, all ok so wonderful together.
I've loved all the quilts you've been making with the diamonds.I didn't think this one would appeal to me but I love it!!! I'm more into the bright colors but the softness and the florals are just soooo pretty. Thanks for the inspiration you always provide.
I think I should print out today's blog for future guidelines on how to make successful scrappy quilts. Most of the information I knew, but a printed reminder can't hurt! I know I have a tendency to overthink things, so I especially liked the comments about having fun and putting in some little surprises (like the pink pigs, and the bra fabric).
Thanks! I've learned so much from you!
All good points to consider, but my favourites are # 8 and #9!!
I absolutely love ALL of the points that you make. I’m a retired nurse following a 53 year career so no formal art background. But, I have learned most of these principles the hard way. I kinda of like it that way because it sure makes it easier to Not repeat any of my earlier mistakes. Being a nurse, I happen to tend to be fairly analytical. So that definitely slowed me down a bit when it came to quilting. But now, happy to say that I have learned how to ask myself: “what do I want this quilt to say?”. I made a baby quilt 2 years ago for someone special. Her mother was undergoing difficult chemotherapy at the time..... her mother is one of those special people who everyone loves. So, I chose the Grandmother block in a salute to the new grandma. And I chose the happy 30’s types of fabrics another nod to the new grandma. As I laid out each block, I would ask myself.”does this make me happy?” Wow, I was thrilled with the end result of the quilt. And, to continue with the happy theme, I chose to quilt it with random daisy’s in the white border and leaves in the white lattice. Reading this post is very meaningful to me. And I continue to learn these valuable nuggets that you have defined so well. Thanks for the post.
Love to know size of diamonds and how they are sewed down. Great look!
Very beautiful ! I also would like to know diamond sizes and how to assemble the quilt .
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