Thursday, February 5, 2015

Decisions, Decisions

I dyed these fabrics was back when for my next big quilt.  They had been sitting there for quite awhile and then I started sewing a couple of weeks ago.  I had a plan in mind, but as is often the case it wasn't working out the way I thought it would.  My plan was to have these panels morph into the next color from blue to blue/green to green.  My colors were all wrong for that and I don't know why I couldn't see it in the fabric before it was sewed. I blogged about it here.http://notesfromnorma.blogspot.com/2015/01/next.html

So my next plan was to just mix up the blues and greens and forget about the transitions. When I put them together side by side, that wasn't working either.


I auditioned 1/4" strips of different orange fabrics and I still didn't like it. Basically it was very boring. Boring is not good.  But I still liked the individual panels and wondered what would happen if I cut them in half vertically.




Voila!  What a difference!  I love the way they seem to wave and undulate.  I was aiming for undulation. Even that purply-blue and grayish-green seem to work now, but I wondered if I needed something narrow in between each panel.




If you look carefully, you can see quarter inch strips of black and white striped fabric (an old stand-by of mine) between the five panels on the right. I'm not sure if it needs it. Click on the picture for a bigger view.  See  picture below for a closeup.



My question is: does it need the black and white striped strips?  Do they add to the tension of the waves or detract from it? What do you think?  I'd love to hear from you.

Linking up as usual with Off the Wall Friday.

14 comments:

Sharon Robinson said...

Wow, what a difference when you cut them up! I like them better without the skinny strips. I think the appearance of undulation is stronger that way.

magicmoonmusings said...

Delicious fabrics. Cutting them made a huge difference, good call!!

I prefer without the skinny strips. The strips sort of 'grey down' the colours, I prefer the vibrancy without the strips.

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

I like the effect without the skinny strips, the strips tend to stop the motion .

Kathy said...

Yep-I agree with the others--ditch the black and white strips. It interrupts the flow and the undulations that you were going for!

The Inside Stori said...

You certainly did achieve successful movement and again....I love your use of black and white to set it all off!!

Maggi said...

The narrower strips look so much better. From a distance it also gives the impression that it is woven. I personally don't think that you need the black and white strips

Judy Warner said...

I agree with everyone else. I love the narrower strips and don't think you need the black and whites trips. They add definition but I like the flow between colors without them.

Linda M said...

I don't think you need the black and white strips, I love the movement you've been able to achieve. Good call cutting the strips vertically.

Shannon said...

I think you were smart to cut the strips in half- Have you thought about cutting some of them in half again so have two different widths? What about going back to your skinny orange strips? What about having skinny strips (bw or orange) around just one of the panels and allow the rest to have the flowing movement? The panels are just gorgeous and I really do love the movement you get when they're together uninterrupted, but maybe a couple of strips might help make a focal point?

LA Paylor said...

I don't like the black and white strips with this, as you said, it kind of detracts from the flow. Which is wonderfully interesting by the way.
LeeAnna

quiltedfabricart said...

Wow! What a difference - so much more interesting this way. The black and white makes it look like a woven rug which isn't a bad thing but I don't think that's what your going for.

Hilary Florence said...

How often do we have these great ideas in our head that look so different in reality! You are quite right, cutting the strips has made a wonderful transformation and is so much better. I'm with most of the other commentators - I prefer it without the black and white strip. However, i did like the flash of orange and I like Shannon's idea of playing about with outlining just one strip - or just putting a touch in somewhere.

Regina B Dunn said...

I, too, like it better without the black and white strips. I think you've done a good job in the cutting.

Renee said...

OK, I am the odd one out. I like the strips. I think they are tiny enough that they don't distract from the waves, but do intensify the color. But since I am a week late, it probably won't matter anyway... lol...

Thanks for the eye candy :-).