Little by little, I am making progress with my Sunflower Sisters quilt. I grabbed a few minutes today and got my flip corners sewn onto the sunflower centers and lattice blocks.
I have made the decision to make my quilt top smaller than the size in the Buggy Barn's Autumn in My Garden quilt pattern. There are three reasons for this. First, Lisa and Thelma, with whom I am sewing along, are way ahead of me, and if I make the full size, it will be months before I finish. Second, I really want to use this quilt as a table cloth for late summer and fall entertaining. This smaller size will lend itself better to that end. And third, I just wasn't feeling the love for the orangey yellows we gals swapped to make the project.
I know, I know, sunflowers are actually an orangey color in nature.
But I don't like it.
I want my sunflowers to be kind of a buttery yellow.
More like that, but even softer. More like Van Gogh's sunflowers.
I have struggled with this since Day One of this project. My collection of buttery yellows was pretty small. Not nearly enough for the full size version of this quilt. I compromised and started making my blocks with the orangey yellows my friends and I traded. Lord knows I had plenty of those orangey yellows. Sigh. I didn't love it.
So today, I said "the heck with it" and made the decision to go with my buttery yellows and make my quilt smaller.
Honestly? I don't know if I am making the right choice. I am full of doubts that the brighter yellows might be the better choice after all, but it just doesn't feel like "me". I guess we will see what happens when I get my blocks made. If I don't love it, at least I won't have a bed sized quilt and hours and hours of work invested in the project!
Usually I am so much more decisive. On the one hand I tell myself "Nicole, go outside of your comfort zone for once", and on the other hand I say "Do what you feel most comfortable with". Ack.
34 responses to “Little By Little”
Hard to choose between the two but you will feel better making your own decision and bet it will be great either way. Coming along quite nicely and table topper sounds just right.
Gail
Hard to choose between the two but you will feel better making your own decision and bet it will be great either way. Coming along quite nicely and table topper sounds just right.
Gail
Do what you feel most comfortable with. I like the softer yellows also. Some projects aren’t meant to be big ones.
Do what you feel most comfortable with. I like the softer yellows also. Some projects aren’t meant to be big ones.
You need to stick with your plan to make it your own! Otherwise, this quilt will end up in a drawer or on a shelf with no chance of ever being finished! There are no quilt police…repeat after me…there are NO quilt police!
You need to stick with your plan to make it your own! Otherwise, this quilt will end up in a drawer or on a shelf with no chance of ever being finished! There are no quilt police…repeat after me…there are NO quilt police!
It’s your quilt, so do whatever floats your boat!
That said, perhaps mixing up the yellows would be the answer. You’re a marvel at making scrappy quilts with sprinklings of different shades of the same color working well and all playing happily together. Also, sunflowers have different shades of yellow in the same flower. It’s just a thought …
Enjoy the process and don’t fret. This new quilt will be lovely.
Hugs!
It’s your quilt, so do whatever floats your boat!
That said, perhaps mixing up the yellows would be the answer. You’re a marvel at making scrappy quilts with sprinklings of different shades of the same color working well and all playing happily together. Also, sunflowers have different shades of yellow in the same flower. It’s just a thought …
Enjoy the process and don’t fret. This new quilt will be lovely.
Hugs!
I say go with your gut. If you don’t love a fabric, don’t use it, use what you love, that way when it is done you will love it. I love small quilts, so handy for the kitchen table or coffee table with a fall display. Like Jan said, there are no quilt police here!!
I say go with your gut. If you don’t love a fabric, don’t use it, use what you love, that way when it is done you will love it. I love small quilts, so handy for the kitchen table or coffee table with a fall display. Like Jan said, there are no quilt police here!!
I love table topper quilts so I say go for it! And I have found that it’s best to trust your instincts… if you aren’t loving it (especially at the start) change it. To me indecision means I’ve found the right combination yet!
I love table topper quilts so I say go for it! And I have found that it’s best to trust your instincts… if you aren’t loving it (especially at the start) change it. To me indecision means I’ve found the right combination yet!
I struggle with that sometimes too. I have yet to start gathering fabrics for mine so it will be interesting to see what I come up with. You have to “feel” it, though. 🙂
I struggle with that sometimes too. I have yet to start gathering fabrics for mine so it will be interesting to see what I come up with. You have to “feel” it, though. 🙂
I am with you ! A table topper would be perfect and I would go with the buttery yellow fabrics. I am also not so much into the bright yellows 😉
I am with you ! A table topper would be perfect and I would go with the buttery yellow fabrics. I am also not so much into the bright yellows 😉
It’s simple…just remember: “My quilt, My way”.
It’s simple…just remember: “My quilt, My way”.
I’m with you on the buttery yellows. The orangeys are too “in your face” with the rest of your fabrics. Like you, I’m drawn to the softer more subdued fabrics for many things. And the others are right. If you don’t like it, you’ll end up not even using it. That would be the real waste of time and effort (and $)!
I’m with you on the buttery yellows. The orangeys are too “in your face” with the rest of your fabrics. Like you, I’m drawn to the softer more subdued fabrics for many things. And the others are right. If you don’t like it, you’ll end up not even using it. That would be the real waste of time and effort (and $)!
I think either choice will be great. You may find the orange yellows add some depth to the project. It has to be a project that you will love. Hope you find another use for the strips that were traded. I think it will make a great table cloth. I would love to make this quilt but it will take me quite awhile to collect enough fabrics.Can’t wait to see the finished project.
I think either choice will be great. You may find the orange yellows add some depth to the project. It has to be a project that you will love. Hope you find another use for the strips that were traded. I think it will make a great table cloth. I would love to make this quilt but it will take me quite awhile to collect enough fabrics.Can’t wait to see the finished project.
My grandad always used to say:
Inch by inch … it’s a cinch
Yard by yard … it’s hard
So well done on your steady progress!
I am not sure what to suggest on the yellows – I am terrible at visualising things without seeing it made up. As a quilter this is one skill I could really do with but unfortunately I just have to go with trial and error. This is such a lovely pattern I’m sure it will come out beautifully whichever you choose x
My grandad always used to say:
Inch by inch … it’s a cinch
Yard by yard … it’s hard
So well done on your steady progress!
I am not sure what to suggest on the yellows – I am terrible at visualising things without seeing it made up. As a quilter this is one skill I could really do with but unfortunately I just have to go with trial and error. This is such a lovely pattern I’m sure it will come out beautifully whichever you choose x
When I made my version of this quilt, I didn’t have the variety of browns like you have; and I really wasn’t crazy about how my centers turned out. But once everything was put together, I loved the quilt; and I think you will as well even though you are iffy on it at this point.
I like that you are making it smaller for a tablecloth. I made mine according to the pattern and now just use it on the bed instead of a tablecloth. Looking forward to seeing yours when it’s finished! Keep up the good work.
When I made my version of this quilt, I didn’t have the variety of browns like you have; and I really wasn’t crazy about how my centers turned out. But once everything was put together, I loved the quilt; and I think you will as well even though you are iffy on it at this point.
I like that you are making it smaller for a tablecloth. I made mine according to the pattern and now just use it on the bed instead of a tablecloth. Looking forward to seeing yours when it’s finished! Keep up the good work.
Love your blocks so far, will be interested to see how different thy come out looking from the other two. Thelma’s are looking awesome I must say. Very cute cupcake coaster 🙂
Love your blocks so far, will be interested to see how different thy come out looking from the other two. Thelma’s are looking awesome I must say. Very cute cupcake coaster 🙂
The coaster was from Thelma a few years back!
Sent from my iPhone
The coaster was from Thelma a few years back!
Sent from my iPhone
It’s so much easier to work on projects where we love the fabric! I’m sure you will be happy with the final result. Sometimes it just all has to come together.
I sent you some pics of my red and yellow double Irish chain. And it’s a butter yellow. 🙂
It’s so much easier to work on projects where we love the fabric! I’m sure you will be happy with the final result. Sometimes it just all has to come together.
I sent you some pics of my red and yellow double Irish chain. And it’s a butter yellow. 🙂
I couldn’t make anything for myself with orangey yellows. I just don’t like the colour. Go with what you like.
I couldn’t make anything for myself with orangey yellows. I just don’t like the colour. Go with what you like.