I'm running a bit late today due to a tight deadline. But better late than never!
Today's crazy quilt motif is a sunflower with a blackwork center.
Happy Stitching!
Cross Stitch Patterns inspired by nature, animals and the holidays by designer Pamela Kellogg of Kitty And Me Designs
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
1930 Crazy Quilt Block Step 2
Yesterday, I decided to help teach begining crazyquilters how to use color and embellishments to balance a block.
Chosing your focal point is the first step as this will lay the path for your color choices. Working with a focal point helps to take the guess-work out of your piece. This way, you won't be sitting around wondering where to start or what to do. You can be stitching instead!
Anything can be used as a focal point such as a piece of jewelry, a cross stitch motif like the ones I've been doing for the 100 Details In 100 Days project, a SRE motif...the possibilities are endless.
Choose your focal point and then pick your fabrics based on those colors. In this case, my fabrics are based on the vintage hankie print. Red, pink, yellow and blue are the main colors.
Once you have your fabrics ready, you can begin your foundation piecing. I'm not going to spend any time on that step as there are several different ways to do foundation piecing and there are many resources already available for that information.
An excellent book for crazypatch instruction is "The Magic Of Crazy Quilting" by J. Marsha Michler. A good online resource for piecing instructions can be found at Annie Whitsed's website.
As you can see, my piece is ready for stitching. I explained yesterday how I placed my fabric colors so please refer back to that post.
I like to work in what I call layers. Once the foundation piecing is complete the stitching and embellishing is layered onto the block. I start with my lace, my appliques and my fancy trims. In the case of this piece, I chose one Venise lace applique which I used on the left to "frame" that side of the hankie print. To balance the block out on the opposite side, I added piece of straight, flat lace.
As you all know, opposites attract. Or in this case, opposites are attractive. That's the key to balancing a block.
I painted my lace to again, bring the colors out of the hankie print. Do you see how the yellow flowers in the applique brings the yellow flowers out in the hankie print? Can you see the triangle of yellow? Step back from your monitor and you should be able to see the balance. The yellow gingham at the top left, again to the right of the block and then the yellow flowers in the applique to the bottom of the hankie. This is what makes the eye move around the focal point. By creating a "triangle" of color.
More tomorrow....
Chosing your focal point is the first step as this will lay the path for your color choices. Working with a focal point helps to take the guess-work out of your piece. This way, you won't be sitting around wondering where to start or what to do. You can be stitching instead!
Anything can be used as a focal point such as a piece of jewelry, a cross stitch motif like the ones I've been doing for the 100 Details In 100 Days project, a SRE motif...the possibilities are endless.
Choose your focal point and then pick your fabrics based on those colors. In this case, my fabrics are based on the vintage hankie print. Red, pink, yellow and blue are the main colors.
Once you have your fabrics ready, you can begin your foundation piecing. I'm not going to spend any time on that step as there are several different ways to do foundation piecing and there are many resources already available for that information.
An excellent book for crazypatch instruction is "The Magic Of Crazy Quilting" by J. Marsha Michler. A good online resource for piecing instructions can be found at Annie Whitsed's website.
As you can see, my piece is ready for stitching. I explained yesterday how I placed my fabric colors so please refer back to that post.
I like to work in what I call layers. Once the foundation piecing is complete the stitching and embellishing is layered onto the block. I start with my lace, my appliques and my fancy trims. In the case of this piece, I chose one Venise lace applique which I used on the left to "frame" that side of the hankie print. To balance the block out on the opposite side, I added piece of straight, flat lace.
As you all know, opposites attract. Or in this case, opposites are attractive. That's the key to balancing a block.
I painted my lace to again, bring the colors out of the hankie print. Do you see how the yellow flowers in the applique brings the yellow flowers out in the hankie print? Can you see the triangle of yellow? Step back from your monitor and you should be able to see the balance. The yellow gingham at the top left, again to the right of the block and then the yellow flowers in the applique to the bottom of the hankie. This is what makes the eye move around the focal point. By creating a "triangle" of color.
More tomorrow....
Crayon Tinted Fruit Embroidery Almost Complete
I stitched on this for quite awhile yesterday and only the leaves and curly q's left to do. I'll probably complete it later today. I'll make it into a little doorknocker. Doesn't the crayon tinting make for an interesting look?
100 Details In 100 Days - Day 34
Today's detail is for simple little Forgetmenots. The Victorians used flowers to symbolize their emotions and Forgetmenots were one of the most popular flower used in Victorian needlework.
Click on the photo to go to my Flickr page to download a larger version of the pattern.
Again, please respect my copyrights.
Click on the photo to go to my Flickr page to download a larger version of the pattern.
Again, please respect my copyrights.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
1930 Crazy Quilt Block
Another project that I plan to start on later today. For quite awhile, I've been wanting to do a crazyquilt block with a 1930's feel. The floral print in the center is from a vintage hankie. The hankie was not in the greatest shape but the corners were pretty good and I just loved the bright cheerful pattern. This is a perfect way to use damaged vintage textiles.
What I would like to try to do with this block, is to teach beginners how to balance a crazyquilt design using color and embellishments. I'm not even sure this is the right piece for teaching but hey, I'm up for a good challenge!
For a beginner, I definately recommend working with a focal point. In this block, the focal point is the print in the center of the design. As you can see, I used more simple fabrics around the outside of it. The focal point will draw the eye to the center first and then it can move around the outside of the block. A good trick too when working with a focal point, is to place it a bit off center. Honestly, I'm not sure why this is but visually, it just looks better.
A good way to begin balancing a block is to repeat your fabrics. Many of the books I have recommend using 1 fabric for every 1 inch of your block. So, if your block is 9 inches square, they recommend that you use 9 different fabrics. Well, that's not what I recommend. I cut that theory in 1/2 and use only 4 or 5 different fabrics repeating some of them.
As you can see, the red dot fabric is at the top right and again, at the bottom left. The yellow gingham is at the top left and again to the right of the print. Same with the white and blue dot fabric. The pink 1930's repro print was only used one. I wanted to bring some of the pinks out of the flowers and down a little bit.
You can see that the fabrics I chose, match the colors in the hankie.
Remember though, there is no right or wrong with crazyquilting. It's about what's pleasing to the stitcher and her eye! Keep in the mind, this just how I work!
Tomorrow, I'll explain how to start using color and embroidery to balance a block.
What I would like to try to do with this block, is to teach beginners how to balance a crazyquilt design using color and embellishments. I'm not even sure this is the right piece for teaching but hey, I'm up for a good challenge!
For a beginner, I definately recommend working with a focal point. In this block, the focal point is the print in the center of the design. As you can see, I used more simple fabrics around the outside of it. The focal point will draw the eye to the center first and then it can move around the outside of the block. A good trick too when working with a focal point, is to place it a bit off center. Honestly, I'm not sure why this is but visually, it just looks better.
A good way to begin balancing a block is to repeat your fabrics. Many of the books I have recommend using 1 fabric for every 1 inch of your block. So, if your block is 9 inches square, they recommend that you use 9 different fabrics. Well, that's not what I recommend. I cut that theory in 1/2 and use only 4 or 5 different fabrics repeating some of them.
As you can see, the red dot fabric is at the top right and again, at the bottom left. The yellow gingham is at the top left and again to the right of the print. Same with the white and blue dot fabric. The pink 1930's repro print was only used one. I wanted to bring some of the pinks out of the flowers and down a little bit.
You can see that the fabrics I chose, match the colors in the hankie.
Remember though, there is no right or wrong with crazyquilting. It's about what's pleasing to the stitcher and her eye! Keep in the mind, this just how I work!
Tomorrow, I'll explain how to start using color and embroidery to balance a block.
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