by Sandra | August 5th, 2010
This is the stage where my mind tends to wander into thoughts of looking out for companion fabrics to accent the applique blocks in the overall quilt design. Since I am working on The Goldfinch that is almost completed and have the Wren finished of the Naturalist’s Notebook series, I can start to see a color story come to life for the overall quilt.
I don’t want to be too matchy matchy and I want some choices. Will I use all of the fabrics I collected? Probably not, but I want to have options while I am working. One of the main colors that is coming through is what I call “Pear”. Not quite Avocado green, (for those of us who remember the seventies, yuck!) but not a spring green either. The lucky bit is that the color is a trend right now so it is easy to find in shops and online.
Since I just purchased these fabrics in the photos, with the exception of the bottom two and top brown purple fat quarters of anonymous (no selvage info) parentage, I will list the fabric line and where I got them for those of you who want them too.
1) Anonymous; purchased at quilt show
2) Luna Blooms/Clothworks; Fabric Shack
3) Luna Blooms/Clothworks; Fabric Shack
4) Roses-Polka Dot Dynamite-lilac/Maywood Studios; eQuilter
5) Roses-Polka Dot Dynamite-olive/Maywood Studios; eQuilter
6) Roses-Polka Dot Dynamite-sky blue/Maywood Studios; eQuilter
7) Stonehendge-Igneous Profusions-steel gray/Northcott; eQuilter
8) Anonymous; quilt show
9) Anonymous; quilt show
Links to retailers above: Fabric Shack & eQuilter
Do you see below how the colors marry the Wren and Goldfinch blocks together? This is exactly what I need to make a “sampler” applique quilt come together successfully where all the blocks are different.
I am partial to dots, but these new tonal ones were too hard to pass on and gosh darn it, dots are awesome blenders that add a touch of pattern without being an obnoxious neighbor to the applique. I have no idea what part of the quilt I will work these fabrics in but piping, binding, piecing, etc., are all on the table.
If I had tried to choose all of the fabrics at the very beginning, I would have eliminated most of them by now. Things change, ideas change and serendipity along the way all play a role. Midway through, I can usually see the color palette develop and I haven’t wasted any money on fabrics I will not use and beat myself up for it.
I would like to tell you I would use them eventually, but this doesn’t happen very often with the companion fabrics I buy. Those tend to be project specific. These may not be all of the colors I will use, but they are the “main dish”.
I have actually spent one hour in my sewing room today (major!) so things will get busy again in the creative department that does not involve dirt and garden gloves.
I LOVE your posts! Thanks for sharing your process; so interesting. I’m careful now to purchase fat quarters which contain the manufacturing info.
The Wren and Goldfinch blocks look perfect together. I love the look of the embroidery, will you be sharing the secrets soon??? Thank you for sharing the fabric information, this is very helpful and a great excuse to go shopping!!!!
Hmmm…. What happened to your previous post?
It was a question that got answered Frances, via comments and email. I was going to keep it in the archives like a “real” post indefinitely.
Yes, Denise I will be sharing soon I promise.
Frances, usually I am careful to get this info too, but these fat quarters came wrapped in a ribbon and sticker sealed. They were too yummy to pass on.
Sandra,
I love the background fabric that you are using…is it still available by any chance that you might know? I really appreciate that you are willing to help us with the different internet sites for ordering fabric…I know just because I use the same fabric as you doesn’t mean that I will also have a work of art but I can pretend and it is sometimes hard for me to find fabric of this type in our local shops as they are mostly into the big bright prints at this time…just doesn’t work for me…I love Civil War for my pieced quilts and tone on tone for applique. You always seem to have such wonderful prints that blend so well….of course the artist in you shows with the fabrics you choose. Thanks again for sharing.
Pati Beck
I just got some at Quiltshops dot com
They have a seach engine , if thie link below doesn’t show up , google it and type in Antique writing you’ll find it there .
http://www.cottoncapersquiltshop.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?product=lakehouse_main&productid=lh3014taupe&tracking4=search%20lh3014taupe&pid=1#lh3014taupe
Sandra says 2yds for all the blocks I believe
boop…thank you for the information on ordering the background fabric…I have my order in…I really appreciate all the information I receive from friends of Sandra’s and of course Sandra is so generous.