I counted fourteen fabrics which are used more than once. One fabric has four blocks on the quilt. There are three or four prints that are represented in different colorways. Originally I had a fair number of "blenders" in there, but as Wanda pointed out, when they sat next to a "busy" print, they looked like flat holes. So I went through my stash and replaced them. This may be a "color" quilt, but it is the prints that carry the color from one area to the next, and they move your eye around.
If you want to learn about how color works in quilts, you should take Wanda's class. I haven't encountered ANY better way of teaching or learning color in fabric. I am really good with color. Very good. And I struggled mightily, pissing and moaning for two weeks over this. Once I got over the fact that I didn't want to be a "mini Wanda" I was able to relax and go for it.
It took about three hours to get the fabrics up on the wall for a starting point. I spent close to 40 hours "tweaking," often working four hour stretches until midnight. Then I'd get up at 6:30 the next morning, look at it before I took a shower to get ready for work, and invariably I'd move two or three pieces around.
And yes, I sewed those 400 squares together without using one damned pin. You know me, the Pin Queen. Never would have thought THAT was possible, but I'm telling you this, I'll never go back to the old way of sewing blocks together.
Years ago I showed a photograph of blue painter's tape on the linoleum floor in my dining room outlining the size of a quilt I wanted to make. (Hey, I got sick of measuring every five minutes.) One reader commented thusly ("I'm banging my head on my worktable. So. Freaking. Brilliant.") That's how I feel about assembling the quilt this way. Never going back THERE again.
Wanda, thou art brilliant!
6 comments:
Wow...looks great and fabulous recommendation
I agree with everything about Wanda and the class.
I do have another valuable hint I learned in a lecture last year by David Taylor that really helped my colorwash. Using Polyester (not cotton) 1/4" twill tape on the edges before binding. The edges will lay flat and straight. He does this on all his applique quilts. I cut two strips, same lenghth for the sides, pinning center and ends in between. Small zig zag on. Then repeat the other two sides. The polyester has no give and will make the quilt lay flat. The binding gets sewn over the twill tape. The sides are now stabilized and will not ripple or warp.
One word - GLORIOUS! Love the size of this colourwash and as I'm just taking part in the 'refresher' course
I to agree with your comments about Wan da and the class.The 40 hours tweaking has me more than a little worried! though!!
Your colorwash is stunning! Well worth the hours of tweaking. Can you please elaborate on your comments about pins? Are you saying you will never use pins. I ask because I am a pinner and I am interested in what exactly was the "no pin" method you used to sew your colorwash together and how that is going to impact your future pinning life. Haha. Thank you!
About the pinning--I just saw your post about the method you used to sew your colorwash together. Somehow I missed that post. It has helped fill in the blanks for me a little! Thanks.
To MH - Take Wanda's class - you'll learn the no-pin and no-mix-up method for sewing and SO much more. Totally worth every penny.
To Lynne - it's FABULOUS and I'm laughing so hard about your no-pin comments. I've been waiting for this ever since you told me you were signing up for the class. Priceless for me.
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