This is Friday's work. By the time I got this far I had decided that I was NOT going to do anything wild and crazy, that I LIKED THIS. I had to remind myself that what I like about quilts is their graphic quality, the abstract shapes and color. That doesn't mean what you might think it means.
Graphic quality and abstract shapes mean things are reduced down to the bare essentials. A triangle is an abstract shape. A design that lies on a flat picture plane is considered graphic. I have no interest in creating the sense of three dimensions (or "punching a hole" in the picture plane) to make you think you can see into the distance.
I will rearrange the fabrics so I like them better (remember I do not "do" random) and then I will fill in with the really light lights.
Some of the combinations just seem tailor-made for each other, like this one, above...
and this one. You'll notice that neither of these lights was in my fabric purchase for this quilt.
AND BY THE WAY... (You'll have to forgive me. Julie says that when I post late at night I can be really snarky. It's late at night...) ANYBODY WHO THINKS that sewing the raw edges of newly purchased fabric together before running it through the washer and dryer and then ripping those seams out, is a time saving way of reducing raveling from washing the fabric has rocks in their head. Yes. I said that. I showed you 22 pieces of fabric that I bought the other day. If anybody thinks sewing 44 seams, washing the fabric, drying it, and then RIPPING OUT THOSE SEAMS really reduces time spent dealing with the raveling from the washing process is delusional. Some fabric ravels, and there's not a damned thing you can do to prevent it. Sure you can screw around with that gunk you brush on it, iron on it, or whatever the hell, but to me that is simply adding time to a process that is unnecessary. OR somebody has way too much time on their hands and nothing better to do. It is not, as they say in the business world, a value-added process. If it adds no value, there is no point in doing it. 'Nuff said.
12 comments:
LOL is all I could do reading the end of your post. I get accused of being "snarky" or abrasive all the time when I think I am just stating a fact or someone this past week said HE didn't like My tone Good God do you think I can hear myself the reaction is the issue, I was instantly seeing red instead of say a calm aqua. at 63 I don't know that I can totally change this. and you are right about some fabrics, they just ravel and there is nothing to do. I seldom wash any of them anymore. Happy Sewing from Iowa
Haha, I too have had a few moments this past week where I was "nasty" . When someone asks you a question and they don't pay attention to the answer and then say "what?" and make me repeat myself while I am doing tasks at the same time this is all going down and then says "your nasty" well to darned bad. Who has time for this? I love the mix of fabrics you have chosen.
You have much more experience in washing fabric than I do, so your opinion stands tall! Surely we can each make our own choices when it comes to fabric. My personal peeve is "What pattern is that?" when Anyone can see how to put that "pattern" together. Where is the creativity if all a person does is hunt for quilt patterns to follow? Are they trying not to think, to use their brains? Are they afraid to have their own experience with fabric they like, making something for someone they love, or is useful to others? Maybe it's a form of, "I like that, but not enough to think about it..."
Your triangles remind me of the little "jingle" shells you can find on a beach, the little triangles still joined together but laying flat on the sand. Very pretty.
Snarky or not, I'd rather use scissors and trim the knotty threads than stitch and unstitch - glad I'd never heard that option before.
Snark, like many things is in the eye (or ear ) of the beholder.
Sparky. I think not. You are making your quilt. To suggest that you do something is one thing but you get to make your own decisions. Count me out on the seaming,washing and seam ripping routine also.
I love how you let the fabric do the work and you arrange and design with that in mind. I don't like anything random, maybe someone gets lucky, but mostly get a mess or blah.
Your process is Nate resting to watch - the way you work with color and pattern ina one block quilt. And the results are beautifully sophisticated. Good idea to keep scissors by the washer. Thanks.
No offense taken! I've been releasing the snarken lately, and don't even have the excuse of it being late at night. Yes, I have serged the ends of fabrics, but certainly not 22 fabrics at once. Also, I think I was looking to get more familiar with my then new-to-me serger (ack! that was in 1994?!?!) and play with settings. What better way than run the ends that would probably get trimmed off anyway if they frayed or were cut crooked? I haven't done it in years though, as I found most *good* fabrics don't seem to ravel that much. Besides, I'd rather find out a fabric ravels like crazy in the wash, not after it's in the quilt and find the seam allowances are disappearing.
Never hear of this long, long method of reaching the end goal of a nice piece of washed and dried fabric, love what you had to say about the process!!!
LoL. “Nuff” said! Too funny..you go, girl,
When I purchased a LONG piece of fabric and prepared to wash it, I pinned it many places so it would not twist into knots in the washer. That worked great! Never mind those who try to give suggestions that are in no way satisfying to you. You are right, there is time for this but that...no way!
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