I dearly love to use red in a quilt. I would say that the majority of the quilts I have made have red in them. So, when I finally cut into my Morris Workshop and Morris Garden fabrics, I happily used the red that was in those groups.
I do not know what it is about those Morris fabric collections. I love the fabrics, love the colors, but was having a terrible time combining them all in a pleasing manner. First, I left out the yellow and the gold. Then I left out the peach. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out at all how to use the purple, at least in this project. I am never one to give up on red however, so I included it in my blocks. I let the rust stay as well.
The pattern is one by Kim Bracket (Magnolia Bay Quilts) called Kitchen Sink, from her book Scrap Basket Surprises. (Wonderful pattern–extremely fun blocks to make).
Anyway, I fussed around laying out the blocks on my design wall, agonizing over the placement of every single red and rust block. I was refusing to admit that there was an "Meh" factor in the back of my mind. I even sewed together the first three diagonal rows.
Seriously, aren't those little buzz saw shapes cute?
But overall, I wasn't happy.
So, I got out my ripper and started taking the red and rust blocks apart and resewing them without those two colors. I let just a few of the reds stay and removed all of the rust. Now the quilt is predominently green, blue, brown, and a pinky mauve.
When I placed my border fabric up against the design wall and the blocks, I thought things worked much better.
I had to face the fact that there is not one speck of red or rust in those border fabrics. It just didn't serve any design or asthetic purpose to use those colors.
I think the effect is better without the red and the rust. And the blocks now make complete sense up against the colors in my border fabric.
The quilt is going to be a housewarming gift for Ahren and Mary Ann for their new townhouse in Dublin. They love red, and I was afraid that my decision to leave most of it out would disappoint them, but Ahren says he likes the more tied in look of the quilt top with the borders.
Speaking of Ahren, he is defending his thesis in front of all of his professors on Tuesday, has a birthday on Sunday, and is flying to Dublin on Monday, a week from today! Big changes for him! A certain lovely Irish woman is going to be awfully happy to see him.
64 responses to “What? Take the Red Out?”
Love this pattern of Kim’s. One of my favorites and man… you’re so right about the red. Painful because red is special. 😉 But it’s truly a much better quilt without it and your border fabric is luscious. Great job.
Love this pattern of Kim’s. One of my favorites and man… you’re so right about the red. Painful because red is special. 😉 But it’s truly a much better quilt without it and your border fabric is luscious. Great job.
New version of the quilt looks great – do prefer without red. Now you’ll just have to make another quilt for Ahren and Mary Ann that has red!
Best of luck to Ahren as he defends his thesis – such a great accomplishment!
New version of the quilt looks great – do prefer without red. Now you’ll just have to make another quilt for Ahren and Mary Ann that has red!
Best of luck to Ahren as he defends his thesis – such a great accomplishment!
Beautiful colors and fabrics – yes the red needed to go – maybe another pattern and it would have popped and added to – Judy C sends her best.
Beautiful colors and fabrics – yes the red needed to go – maybe another pattern and it would have popped and added to – Judy C sends her best.
I agree. The red was not working. Looks good now and blends well with the border. This pattern in the book is on my list to make. Now I know why!
Mary
I agree. The red was not working. Looks good now and blends well with the border. This pattern in the book is on my list to make. Now I know why!
Mary
Yes, these colors are perfect with that lovely border fabric. Good decisions! The next quilt you make for the happy couple can have red in it. A holiday quilt would be just the ticket…
All the best to Ahren as he defends his thesis and a Happy Birthday, too! How exciting the next week with be!
Hugs!
Yes, these colors are perfect with that lovely border fabric. Good decisions! The next quilt you make for the happy couple can have red in it. A holiday quilt would be just the ticket…
All the best to Ahren as he defends his thesis and a Happy Birthday, too! How exciting the next week with be!
Hugs!
At first I thought the red was just fine but after you put the border fabric up I agree – no red or rusts! This is going to be a beautiful quilt and can’t wait to see it done and quilted!! I just love the William Morris fabrics but sometimes it is hard to put them in a quilt. Don’t know who Ahren is but congrats to anyone who can accomplish what he has done. Well done.
At first I thought the red was just fine but after you put the border fabric up I agree – no red or rusts! This is going to be a beautiful quilt and can’t wait to see it done and quilted!! I just love the William Morris fabrics but sometimes it is hard to put them in a quilt. Don’t know who Ahren is but congrats to anyone who can accomplish what he has done. Well done.
Congrats to Ahren!! What an exciting time!! At first I thought the reds looked nice, but I agree with on taking them out after seeing the border fabric, which is gorgeous by the way! Love the look now without the reds. It’s going to be such a beautiful quilt.
Congrats to Ahren!! What an exciting time!! At first I thought the reds looked nice, but I agree with on taking them out after seeing the border fabric, which is gorgeous by the way! Love the look now without the reds. It’s going to be such a beautiful quilt.
Much as I love red, I think you were right to take it out. I also have a lot of William Morris fabrics. They are gorgeous, but I find almost possible to use – funny that! What a lovely gift for the lovebirds to take to Ireland with them. I hope they will be very happy!
Much as I love red, I think you were right to take it out. I also have a lot of William Morris fabrics. They are gorgeous, but I find almost possible to use – funny that! What a lovely gift for the lovebirds to take to Ireland with them. I hope they will be very happy!
Haven’t seen this pattern before. I like it. It reminds me of a pinwheel pattern.
Haven’t seen this pattern before. I like it. It reminds me of a pinwheel pattern.
Red…blah…blah…rust…blah…blah…border fabric…blah…blah…Ahren & Mary Ann!!!!!! YEAH!!!! THAT’S what I wanted to read about!!!! New townhouse in Dublin, defending thesis, birthday–now there’s a lot of information I’m thinking we’ve been waiting to hear!! Whoo-hooooo and congratulations to Ahren & Mary Ann on all of it!!!!
Oh, and the quilt on your design wall looks so pretty! What a lot of ripping and resewing to make it the way you wanted it! They’ll love it because it’s from you!
Red…blah…blah…rust…blah…blah…border fabric…blah…blah…Ahren & Mary Ann!!!!!! YEAH!!!! THAT’S what I wanted to read about!!!! New townhouse in Dublin, defending thesis, birthday–now there’s a lot of information I’m thinking we’ve been waiting to hear!! Whoo-hooooo and congratulations to Ahren & Mary Ann on all of it!!!!
Oh, and the quilt on your design wall looks so pretty! What a lot of ripping and resewing to make it the way you wanted it! They’ll love it because it’s from you!
NO ONE loves Bill more than I do, but I confess to having the same problem when trying to combine his elements. I wonder what that’s about. And WAY TO GO Ahren!!!
NO ONE loves Bill more than I do, but I confess to having the same problem when trying to combine his elements. I wonder what that’s about. And WAY TO GO Ahren!!!
I was just wondering about Ahren and Mary Ann the other day. I’ll be in the definite minority…I like the red and probably would have left it. Though that is not to say that what you did is okay, too.
I was just wondering about Ahren and Mary Ann the other day. I’ll be in the definite minority…I like the red and probably would have left it. Though that is not to say that what you did is okay, too.
The revised color combination looks wonderful. You can always make another quilt for the both of them with more red in it. Didn’t you already make the “Love” quilt with lots of red for MaryAnn when she came over last year? Anyway, congratulations on Ahren finally able to defend his thesis and be able to cap off all his hard work! With a happy birthday too, thrown in for good measure. And the most exciting news of ALL is that he will finally be able to move to Ireland to be with his special Irish lass!
The revised color combination looks wonderful. You can always make another quilt for the both of them with more red in it. Didn’t you already make the “Love” quilt with lots of red for MaryAnn when she came over last year? Anyway, congratulations on Ahren finally able to defend his thesis and be able to cap off all his hard work! With a happy birthday too, thrown in for good measure. And the most exciting news of ALL is that he will finally be able to move to Ireland to be with his special Irish lass!
That’s a beautiful combination! Oh, and the quilt is lovely as well 🙂 Thanks for the updates on Ahren and MaryAnn, and sharing your color story. Ahren is a busy man!
That’s a beautiful combination! Oh, and the quilt is lovely as well 🙂 Thanks for the updates on Ahren and MaryAnn, and sharing your color story. Ahren is a busy man!
LOVE this quilt good job
LOVE this quilt good job
I love that narrow stripe border with the larger floral border. It adds a little of the unexpected!!
I love that narrow stripe border with the larger floral border. It adds a little of the unexpected!!
I loved the little pops of red in the quilt…but I’m thinking the border print you chose might look better without them.
Congratulations to Ahren! A LOT of wonderful happenings in his life. Lots of blessings in your family right now. Life is good!
I loved the little pops of red in the quilt…but I’m thinking the border print you chose might look better without them.
Congratulations to Ahren! A LOT of wonderful happenings in his life. Lots of blessings in your family right now. Life is good!
You have such a good eye for fabric decisions, Nicole, and I think you really made the correct decision here! If you look at a lot of houses wallpapered with in William Morris, I think you’ll see more greens, browns, blues and naturals than you will red – which is why your final combination is so right! And….you can always make another quilt for the two lovebirds! Congratulations to Ahren – what an exciting time for him!
Cheers!
You have such a good eye for fabric decisions, Nicole, and I think you really made the correct decision here! If you look at a lot of houses wallpapered with in William Morris, I think you’ll see more greens, browns, blues and naturals than you will red – which is why your final combination is so right! And….you can always make another quilt for the two lovebirds! Congratulations to Ahren – what an exciting time for him!
Cheers!
First of all… do you ever sleep? Second, you are right… it works without the red very well! You must just be holding your breath in excitement for your son, defending his thesis! That is so awesome. And then he finishes off the week by starting an amazing journey. Thirdly, how can you contain yourself?!?
First of all… do you ever sleep? Second, you are right… it works without the red very well! You must just be holding your breath in excitement for your son, defending his thesis! That is so awesome. And then he finishes off the week by starting an amazing journey. Thirdly, how can you contain yourself?!?
This quilt top is oh-so-beautiful without the reds. You have an amazing eye for colour! Good luck to your son on his thesis defence, and may he and Mary Ann spend many happy years together — probably under a series of quilts made by you!
Debbie R.
This quilt top is oh-so-beautiful without the reds. You have an amazing eye for colour! Good luck to your son on his thesis defence, and may he and Mary Ann spend many happy years together — probably under a series of quilts made by you!
Debbie R.
Hi Nicole, I tried sending an e-mail but for some reason it wouldn’t go through.
For my birthday this year my hubby took me to San Jose to 3 quilt stores. You have said on your blog many times how you love Prarie Queens Quilt Shop and I finally got there. It was the best shop by far, and my credit card proves it. I let them know that I was there because of your blogs, and they were pleased to hear that.
I read your blogs everyday without fail and love the quilts and colors you choose to make. I love the red and white quilt on your header -and it is scrappy.
Thanks for all you do and for the wonderful blog.
Julie R.
Hi Nicole, I tried sending an e-mail but for some reason it wouldn’t go through.
For my birthday this year my hubby took me to San Jose to 3 quilt stores. You have said on your blog many times how you love Prarie Queens Quilt Shop and I finally got there. It was the best shop by far, and my credit card proves it. I let them know that I was there because of your blogs, and they were pleased to hear that.
I read your blogs everyday without fail and love the quilts and colors you choose to make. I love the red and white quilt on your header -and it is scrappy.
Thanks for all you do and for the wonderful blog.
Julie R.
I liked it with the red and without. More importantly, you DO get to fly to Ireland to deliver the quilt, right??!! That would be a deal breaker with me. ;0
I liked it with the red and without. More importantly, you DO get to fly to Ireland to deliver the quilt, right??!! That would be a deal breaker with me. ;0
I love the final version of the quilt! I was deliberating if I should buy Kim Brackets new book, because of your quilt I now most certainly will. Congratulations to Ahren and Mary Ann, and thank God for modern technology to keep in touch with your son in the future.
I love the final version of the quilt! I was deliberating if I should buy Kim Brackets new book, because of your quilt I now most certainly will. Congratulations to Ahren and Mary Ann, and thank God for modern technology to keep in touch with your son in the future.
That border fabric is beautiful! At first glance I didn’t see anything really wrong with the red/rust, until you put the border fabric up…yeah gotta go – even if it pains you to remove it. Congrats to Ahren.
That border fabric is beautiful! At first glance I didn’t see anything really wrong with the red/rust, until you put the border fabric up…yeah gotta go – even if it pains you to remove it. Congrats to Ahren.
I love your interpretation of this pattern with the Morris fabrics – very pretty. I did one of these quilts myself and it is a very red quilt – imagine that – LOL!
I love your interpretation of this pattern with the Morris fabrics – very pretty. I did one of these quilts myself and it is a very red quilt – imagine that – LOL!
Quilt looks great and looove the border fabric! Congrats to Ahren and to you for getting him there 🙂
Quilt looks great and looove the border fabric! Congrats to Ahren and to you for getting him there 🙂
Loving your quilt! Wonderful colors….and, I join with everyone else…I like it without the red. Is the border fabric Morris as well?
Loving your quilt! Wonderful colors….and, I join with everyone else…I like it without the red. Is the border fabric Morris as well?
LUSCIOUS fabric!! I might have to get me some William Morris to sew on this summer! I think the rusts/reds just gave it a scrappier look, but boy, it sure calms it down without them. The happy couple will be thrilled. Thanks for sharing their latest venture.
LUSCIOUS fabric!! I might have to get me some William Morris to sew on this summer! I think the rusts/reds just gave it a scrappier look, but boy, it sure calms it down without them. The happy couple will be thrilled. Thanks for sharing their latest venture.
Wow, Nicole! I always love the posts you do when you change your mind and tell us why, then show us the results. I liked the red version until I saw the other one. And it’s the same way with all of your “I wasn’t happy with this” posts. You really have a gift for combining fabrics — your quilts are always beautiful.
Congratulations to Ahren and Mary Ann!
Wow, Nicole! I always love the posts you do when you change your mind and tell us why, then show us the results. I liked the red version until I saw the other one. And it’s the same way with all of your “I wasn’t happy with this” posts. You really have a gift for combining fabrics — your quilts are always beautiful.
Congratulations to Ahren and Mary Ann!
It was just about this time last year, we were nervously watching our son defend his thesis. It was tough, sitting in silence while those “mean old professors” tried to tear apart his presentation. But he prevailed and we are so proud of him! I’m sure Ahren will be successful as well! A lot of changes in store for him and a lot of emotions for you to go through. Congratulations to you all!!
It was just about this time last year, we were nervously watching our son defend his thesis. It was tough, sitting in silence while those “mean old professors” tried to tear apart his presentation. But he prevailed and we are so proud of him! I’m sure Ahren will be successful as well! A lot of changes in store for him and a lot of emotions for you to go through. Congratulations to you all!!
I love that border fabric, but you’re right, with no red in the border the red in the center stands out, and not in a good way. I’m amazed by quilters who can “see” how the fabric will look before it’s even pieced, I’m like you, I can’t see it until it’s on my design wall.
I love that border fabric, but you’re right, with no red in the border the red in the center stands out, and not in a good way. I’m amazed by quilters who can “see” how the fabric will look before it’s even pieced, I’m like you, I can’t see it until it’s on my design wall.
As much as we love to use red you made the right call on taking out the red. This is going to be lovely with the border fabrics you chose. Love those fabrics..
As much as we love to use red you made the right call on taking out the red. This is going to be lovely with the border fabrics you chose. Love those fabrics..