Playtime ...

... and Conversation

Do you want your fabrics to play well together?

I usually do.  Or, perhaps more accurately, I want them to speak the same lanquage.

Seems like if I'm using antique reproduction fabrics, they should all be reproduction -- or at least have the same "look" of a reproduction fabric.  If I'm using 30s, I think they should all look like 30s.  It's just that control side of me.  I know, in a really scrappy quilt it doesn't matter, but at that point the fabrics are cut to such small pieces that it's hard to tell what they were originally.

This week I broke my own "rule."  Here's how it happened:

I was searching the shelves for "ugly" fabrics to give away, things that I have avoided using for years and therefore would probably never use.  You've got some of those, I'll bet!

I pulled down a stodgy-looking floral -- mostly pink and sage on a black background -- that probably came from the sale table at Hobby Lobby because never on my worst day would I have paid full price for it!

4-Patch Posey

Folded up inside were 16 4-Patch Posies that I had made for a lecture/class demo.  There was enough fabric, already cut into four pattern repeats, to make another 16 blocks.  My first inclination was to pass this on to somebody else to finish.  But could someone else handle the job?  (Insert "...to my satisfaction" here)

Hmmm .... it wouldn't take much time to cut and finish the blocks and then I could pass it on .... but would somebody else have an appropriate sashing fabric?

I know -- I could pull another "ugly" to go with it .... And maybe I should precut the sashing strips so it would be obvious how they should be used .... Can you see where this is going?


I searched the shelves and the fabric that matched the best was a polka dot!  Too frivolous for a serious floral, was my first thought.

But I couldn't get away from the fact that it was a perfect color match.  It even had matching pink dots!  And suddenly the floral lost some of its seriousness.

After all, serious grandmas play well with frivolous grandchildren and they all have a great time, right?

Then I added a 19th century repro for the cornerstones and a timeless print for the border.  Guess what?

A finished top!!



Weekly Stash Report -August 10 , 2015
     In last week:                      0.00 yards
     Out last week:                   4.50 yards
     In year to Date:             122.00 yards
     Out Year-to-Date:           97.50 yards

     Net Used               24.50 yards 

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.