watercolor quilts
kara sheil
recommendation in this newsgroup. It has me inspired, probably beyond
my abilities. I am hoping that my grandmothers spirit will help
me! Anyway, I have read the book and it says to make 2" squares. Is
this set in stone? Do you lose the effect with larger squares? How
large would be too large? I was only thinking of going to 3" squares
but I didn't want to mess anything up. I also have captured the
interest of my husband in this project. He is excited about designing
the pattern. I hope he doesn't go too wild. Thanks for your help in
advance.
Kara
Nechama Cox
only thing to worry about when changing the size of blocks, is to keep
the ratio the same. That way your quilt will not be lopsided or out of
proportion.
Nechama Cox
nec...@phoenix.princeton.edu
Lynn Boyte
I have also purchased the Watercolors
quilt book and it is a great inspiration.
Makes you look at fabric color and values in a whole
new light.
Watercolors quilting is a method of piecing
2" squares (most commonly done if floral fabrics) of different
values. ( My husband says I've learned a new word and like to use
it) Value is the shade of light/medium/dark of the fabric. These values are arranged to make a pattern of light to dark or arranged to resemble an impressionist
painting. Monets Waterlilly's piece is used as an example in this particular book.
As far as the 2" squares my feelings are that you would loose a lot of
the "FLOW" between the values if the pieces were made bigger. In otherwords
you would probably have to go with a pattern that more closely resembels something
geometric rather than a pictoral or impressionistic design. You can still achieve
the value flow with something larger(3" max) geometric,
the transition just wont be as smooth.
As far as the book goes, IT IS GREAT!!!!
Yes, I've made two and am working on my 3rd.
Have fun with your designing. Let me know what you come up with.
Lynne (bo...@erc.msstate.edu)
margm...@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Kara,
I have ordered the watercolor book but do not have it yet. However
I think that the effect of the colors will not be as "flowing" if you make
the blocks larger. I think the smaller you make them, the more impressive
the quilt will be. BUT, don't let it stop you from experimenting. A 3
inch block will still only be 2.5 inches after sewing and if you keep it
all in proportion it will most likely be a beautiful quilt.
The best advice I can give a beginning quilter is don't start
something too big for your first project!!! My first was a full size bed
quilt in the Grandmother's Fan pattern. It still is not finished and
I started quilting 8 years ago!! I would do a wall hanging and work
through all the steps of making the quilt a little faster than a large
quilt! That way, you will finish it in this lifetime!! and be able to try
lots more!!
Margaret
Margaret Burk
Hi Kara-
I just made my first watercolor quilt, and used 3 inch squares. I think it looks
great (of course, I am biased). Smaller squares might have made smoother transitions,
but I dont think would have been that much different. I especially like the squares
that have an interesting print (especially dinosaurs) in them, and I think they would
have been lost (cut apart) in a 2 inch square.
I'd say to experiment with the fabric that you have, and you can always cut a 3 inch square down if you decide it is not the effect you are after.
Margaret
Deborah Compeau
>From: margm...@kean.ucs.mun.ca
>Subject: Re: watercolor quilts
>Date: 21 Jul 94 10:38:34 -0230
> The best advice I can give a beginning quilter is don't start
>something too big for your first project!!! My first was a full size bed
>quilt in the Grandmother's Fan pattern. It still is not finished and
>I started quilting 8 years ago!! I would do a wall hanging and work
>through all the steps of making the quilt a little faster than a large
>quilt! That way, you will finish it in this lifetime!! and be able to try
>lots more!!
This is absolutely the best advice. I have only been quilting for about 3
years, and all I have ever done is baby quilts and wallhangings (it
helps that my whole family is having babies at present). This has
given me the opportunity to experiment with design and colour in different
projects, and minimizes the boredom that can often come with big
projects.
Debbie Compeau
Ottawa, Canada
Tim Rowe
idea when using your own designs (not traditional) is to do lots of small
separate pieces and then sew them all together!
Also, can anyone recommend a book on traditional American quilt designs?
Many Thanks
--
Karen Rowe - London, England
Marina Salume
Well, I will jump in and disagree about only starting with
small projects. My first quilt was a bed-size one, and I think
that if I had made only a pillow I would not have been hooked
on quilting. It took me about three months (machine pieced and
hand quilted) and when I was done, the enormous rush of self-
esteem I got from throwing that thing on my bed was incredible!
And the astonished looks from my friends and relations were
priceless too :-) I always had trouble finishing projects until
I started quilting--now it may take me a few years to finish them,
but I always do! I think that is because quilts are so big and
impressive (who really cares if you finish that little pillow,
anyway?) So there are two sides to the coin on this one, IMHO.
--marina
Christine Utting
twin size quilt for my then 3 year-old son. It was a fence rail pattern,
very easy but I used the right colors and it came out beautifully. I had it
all machine pieced within 4 or 5 days. I chose not to quilt it, but tied it
instead. So from start to finish, I was done in about 10 days. I was
thrilled! He was thrilled! The sense of acconplishment and creativity was
what spurred me on to continue quilting. In fact, I did 6 bed-size quilts,
including a king-size log cabin, before I ever tried a wall-hanging. Of the
6 quilts, I used 5 different patterns and each was so satisfying. It gave
me a great love of quilting and was fantastic for my self-esteem. Of the 22
quilts I've done, only 4 have been tied and I've tried to incorporate one
new technique (to me) in each one.
I'm not saying not to start small. If what you want is a wall-hanging then
go for it. But if what you want to do is a bed-size quilt, don't let being
a beginner stop you and don't futz around for a couple years "learning" on
wall-hangings. Just be honest about your capabilities and pick an
uncomplicated pattern. The very worst that will happen is that your quilt
won't come out good, and so what? Just put it aside and start over.
Enjoy quilting and don't agonize over the outcome. You'll be much happier
in the long run and your work will reflect that. (my $.02)
Chris (c...@delphi.com)
margm...@kean.ucs.mun.ca
> In article <1994Jul21.103834.1@leif> margm...@kean.ucs.mun.ca writes:
>>From: margm...@kean.ucs.mun.ca
>>Subject: Re: watercolor quilts
>>Date: 21 Jul 94 10:38:34 -0230
>
>
>> The best advice I can give a beginning quilter is don't start
>>something too big for your first project!!! My first was a full size bed
>>quilt in the Grandmother's Fan pattern. It
I had no idea I had started such a discussion with this phrase!
To be honest, most of the quilters I know have successfully completed
a full size quilt as their first project. I did _not_ mean to turn
anybody off attempting a bed quilt as a first project. I think it
depends on what kind of person you are and how hectic your life is!
Since I started my first quilt (not yet finished) 8 years ago, I have:
1. written a master's thesis.
2. had my first child ( and made 2 quilts for him)
3. built a house with my husband
4. sold that house and moved into another!
In this time I have completed tablerunners, cushions (a little boring)
lots of wallhangings, but not my original full size fan quilt. I have also
started another full size "Flying geese in the cabin" quilt and a
"Cascading Colors" wall hanging at workshops. These too are waiting to be
finished. The good news is I finally have a devoted sewing room again and
have dug out my unfinished projects. I have made a committment to finish
these beautiful quilts before starting anything else (except for the baby
quilt I started last night!).
Basically, if you are a "start to finish" type of person you should go for
a full size quilt as your first project. There is nothing so gratifying
when it is done!! If you are like me, easily distracted by the excitement
of a new workshop or project, I would limit my initial projects. I think I
was quilting for 3 years before I needed to learn how to attach a binding!!
No offence taken by all the opposing views to my original advice. I just
felt a need to explain myself!! Maybe it's guilt!!!
Margaret
Nechama Cox
time. My first two quilts were Queen and King sized respectively. It
meant that I had something real to show when I was done. I agree with
her that if I had made a pillow I would not have gotten the same
satisfaction and would probably not have continued to quilt.
Nechama Cox
Russ Haynal
: I am a new quilter and I bought the book on watercolor quilts from the
: Kara
Hello,
just visiting - actually we were just demo-ing this group as part of a
course - navigating the internet,
Patch you later :-)
russ + class
Kerowyn2
No, 2" squares are not written in stone, Nothing in Quilting is written in
stone. I have had marvelous results with 4" using quarter square
triangles.
I think that the larger you go the more dilute the visual effect. But 5"
or 6" might be a good place to start.
Janet Holbrook
Woman's Work INC