Lana-

I like that fabric. May I make one suggestion. Since you don't like the trellis effect, try cut the smaller triangle from this fabric instead (the triangles next to the center square). If you're careful, you should be able to do a fussy cut and eliminate most of the lines that create the trellis. This will make your fabrics go from medium to dark to medium to light; much more contrast. It will allow each of those fabrics to sing on their own and not get lost in the chorus. And don't throw away the pieces you have already cut, they will fit in somewhere else.

Since the green has shown up so dark in both photos, I am wondering if it is too dark. What shade are the leaves in your wonderful floral vines? Are they closer to an olive or seafoam green? If you decide to replace it, try a motif with a more organic feel, in keeping with the florals. I really like that green and my son would love it in his green quilts (the only color I am "allowed" to use for him!). From the photos, it looks like a lovely granite counter top (the kind I'd in my kitchen! LOL) IMO, it is too "hard" looking against the soft florals.

Just my suggestions. You have your own vision, and even though we are happy to be a sounding board, the ultimate design decision must be yours. Ultimately, you are the one who has to be happy with the block.

Gerda has a very sound suggestion for auditioning your new fabric in a couple of places and living with them for a day or two before you take the block apart. I hope you won't think us two old busy-bodies, but rather two passionate quilters who love to mentor those new to the craft.

Not at all! busybodies? never! If I hadn't wanted honest assessments I would never have posted at all. This whole "value" concept is pretty new to me as far as knowing what is what. I never actually followed a quilt pattern before where values played such an important role. I do think that I may take Gerda's suggestion and wait until the February block comes out and try my fabrics in it before I restitch the January block. I also may look for a softer green as an alternative.

As far as values, I know my current green is dark and I know the cream is light, but I guess I thought that those taupe colors fabrics would be a light and the new mauvy color would be medium. Is that wrong? are the taupes a medium and the mauve a dark? or is it all relative depending on the other fabrics? I think I'm off to do some more research on values.

Thanks!

Value is a relative term. Yellows are almost always a light and black and navy a dark, but everything in between can fall in any category of light, medium or dark, depending on what it is paired with.

A couple of tricks for working with value. Lay your fabrics out side by side and squint. It makes it easier to see the value. If you can't distinguish between one fabric and the next, that is they all run together, then there is not enough contrast.

Your local sewing store may have, and nearly every quilt shop has, value finders that you can purchase. These are pieces of colored acrylic, red or green. The idea is that the color obscures the color of the fabric, letting you only see its value.

Some folks swear by them. I cannot give you a recommendation as I am from the old school, and squinting has never let me down yet. Besides, I'd rather spend the money on fabric, than gizmos! LOL

I am a beginner quilter. 2008 will be my third BOM quilt. I am almost finished 2007's quilt; I have to do the sashing, binding and quilting. I am sending it out to be quilted. I really like piecing the blocks best. I am getting my 2008 fabrics tomorrow night. I'm so excited. Right now, I duplicate the fabrics that are suggested. I'm not ready to start doing my own color-ways yet.

Welcome to the forum. Have you ever thought about making a two-color quilt? It would give you practice at selecting a pattern and fabric. There are any number of patterns that work well. And the color selection is tres easy! Just white and one other color.

Traditionally two-color quilts were red and white or blue and white, but that's not written in stone. They are very clean and crisp looking, perfect for your summer bed. I am getting ready to make Lafayette's Orange Peel (obviously an orange and white quilt) in green. My son thinks green is the only acceptable color to make a quilt. Guess I will have to name his quilt With a Lime Twist! LOL

quote:

Originally posted by ohiorose53:
Lana-

I like that fabric. May I make one suggestion. Since you don't like the trellis effect, try cut the smaller triangle from this fabric instead (the triangles next to the center square). If you're careful, you should be able to do a fussy cut and eliminate most of the lines that create the trellis. This will make your fabrics go from medium to dark to medium to light; much more contrast ...

I am no expert, but I am thinking that this suggestion might work out very well.

These are lovely fabrics, Lana. Thank you for sharing your project.

I love the pictures, too. I am going to have to figure out how to post photos here.

Pat

Hello,

I am new to Block Central and am looking forward to making this lovely quilt. Although I have made a few sampler quilts, this will be my first BC BOM.

Pat

This message has been edited. Last edited by: scrapatches,

Those are lovely fabrics. The key to making substitutions work sucessfully is to keep the values of the substitutions the same as the original work.

The easiset way to accomplish this is to simply match them up. There are six fabrics. Pick six fabrics that you like. Lay them out on the counter darkest to lightest in value. The store clerk can help with this. I often enlist the aid of other customers as well. Most are flattered to be asked for their opinion.

Buy the same amount for the darkest as in the original, and so on down to the lightest. You are just matching them up, one to one. It is such a simple technique and it will allow you to substitute any colorway for a BOM or sampler quilt.

Well Pat I would like to welcome you also. We have so many newbies and it's wonderful. Always fun to have new ideas and friends.

Join some of our swaps and have a great time with us.
Betty

Hi Pat! Thanks and welcome. I'm new here too, and new to quilting! Everyone's been very helpful so far and I'm learning a lot!!!!