I made a quilt top. With my Briar Rose. Good thing I still have a fair amount leftover because I am really not sure about what I have done in my first attempt. It is just waaaaaaay too busy for me. Not my cup of tea at all. My inner voice was screaming at me to stop but I carried on regardless, and the result is this (photos limited by the wet ground outside and very strong winds).
The top measures 40" x 50" so just a cot sized. Can you imagine how upset i would be if I had made it big?! Oh well, living and learning here. I should listen to myself more. I'm always telling the girls to listen to me. You think I could take my own advise!
And yes, frogs were hurt in the making of this quilt.
Oh the guilt!
Susan
Well I think it's beautiful!! Ah poor frogs. You will have to make it up to them somehow ;-)
ReplyDeletePoor little froggy. Not sure I like the colour scheme - not me, but I don't think it is too busy..
ReplyDeleteIt´s a bit busy but take a solid sashing around and it will look totally different. I know what you mean to listen to the inner voice :).
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for your sweet comment to my post on Leannes blog.
The fabrics are busy but the blocks themselves are quite simple shapes so make a good contrast. I agree with Niyla, maybe sewing some binding strips along some of the seam lines will separate the fabrics and make less busy and more easily understood by the eye?
ReplyDeleteI think the print is really well chosen for a cot quilt, it's very cute!
I can understand that it is too busy for your tastes but I think it is beautiful and it may come in as a gift quilt!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to add much to it, some rather dense quilting - say lines that are half an inch apart or less or a fairly dense stipple will soften the look a bit. I too generally find this too much pattern everywhere., so you could also take it apart and sash the blocks with a neutral and it would look a bit like my granny squares quilt. It is beautiful fabric and a fun block.
ReplyDeleteI like it....would adding a solid border calm it down for you?
ReplyDeleteLove your quilt top! Looks just like spring!
ReplyDeleteCould you add solid sashing between the blocks to tone down the busy-ness of it?
ReplyDeleteI love riots of colour! Do not add sashing it will break up the pattern and a border would just make it look busy in a bad way. It will make a gorgeous baby quilt. Just quilt, bind and be done!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lucy :)
ReplyDeleteLove those frogs! If you've got the heart to do it, I would take the blocks apart and sash it, and border it, with plain white. You'd be amazed at how un-fussy it would become. It seems such a shame to do all that hard work of collecting those gorgeous fabrics only to make something you don't like.
ReplyDeleteLove, love , this quilt! Love. It. :)
ReplyDeleteThe quilt top is lovely S but you really love those fabrics, so I think you should be careful not to settle for a quilt you cannot adore. I had the same "not liking the busy thing" on a quilt I did a few summers ago and reluctant as I was to take it apart, I'm really glad I did and the quilt looked so much better as a result. I think you should think on it before you quilt it up and cannot love it. In the end, all that matters is that you are pleased with it. Think that should do for my tuppence worth today!
ReplyDeleteI like it and I think it will grow on you ... keep an open mind. :)
ReplyDeleteI love it! Briar rose fabric is sure loud; That's why I love this line so much. I think you chose a really good quilt pattern. It's simple and brings out the frog scene. I agree with the others that a large border sashing will tone it down. Maybe take a picture and try some different border layouts to see what will make you happy.
ReplyDeleteIt seems we are all blogging our fails. This will look just fine after it's quilted. I wrote you a long comment on your sewing table yesterday and then the bloglovin thing erased it! I'll send you an email
ReplyDeleteI like it! I think it is a grower ;)
ReplyDeleteDon't do anything drastic just yet xxx
It is busy but in a good way! It looks like a spring field with lots of gorgeous flowers (sorry not HR approved).
ReplyDeleteLike many others, sashing will help. But what's the block pattern or name? I like it lots.
ReplyDeleteI really like it, but if you are unhappy with it, how about unsewing the rows and columns and sashing the blocks in a solid, that would calm it down
ReplyDeleteNo advice except to say that your inner voice is normally right so read the comments and one might jump out at you! Di x
ReplyDeleteThey say frog legs are a delicacy so don't just randomly discard them.
ReplyDeleteI think quilting will bring it to life but I'd leave it for a good while before doing anything with it as I think it'll grow on you (no, not like mould!) - put it in a cupboard and forget about it for a few weeks and then see how you feel. If you still don't love it then take it apart and add sashing (or add solids to the blocks so you end up with twice as many - some with the print in the middle and some with the print on the edge). Just don't do anything yet!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I wish my inner voice would make up its mind whether I should listen to it or not...seems I have a dithering inner voice, who'd have thought it?!!!
I am totally cringing reading all of the comments suggesting that you take.it.apart and add sashing. Now, I get that it might not be your favorite but a seam ripper for the sake of maybe making it one step closer to your liking it is not a sure enough thing for me! Unless you had it designated for an important spot in your home. Then I would. Otherwise, someone will love it and if we don't open our big mouths and tell them we wish we would have...then they never know! Carry on!
ReplyDeleteI think it's fab, but I like bright and obnoxious and busy. Is there someone in your universe that needs a happy baby quilt? I'm loathe to suggest taking it apart, but if you want it for you and you don't like it, you should.
ReplyDeleteAs a baby quilt it is fantastic just as it is - it'll hide a multitude of 'stuff' that comes with babies, or from them!!!
ReplyDeletehehehe you bad Mummy for splitting up those frogs lol!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a little zingy for something called briar rose...what about if you added some solid sashing?
Poor frogs! Susan, I love this quilt and it's not at all too busy! It is so fun to see how other's busy is not busy enough for the other. I was trying to think how your could calm it down, but I found only ideas to make it more 'messy'! If you relly don't like it, you could use for backing (perhaps even ripping it half and adding something more calm and use it for two quilt backs). Just ideas - I love it!!! x Teje
ReplyDeleteps. I just read the other comments about sashing doh!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great the way it is, but if you don't like it, I think it is worthwhile to try changing it. Before taking it apart, try a mock up with some fabric for sashing. I'm not so keen on the idea of adding a border. One thing I'm sure, if you're not happy with it now, odds are you won't ever be happy with it if you leave it the way it is.
ReplyDeletewhat you talkin' about? It looks great! Busy quilts are always the best, i really like it :)
ReplyDeleteBind it in a Kona Mustard and all will be well :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it's great...leave it a while as it might grow on you but otherwise maybe put some sashing between the block might work.
ReplyDeleteI told you that baby frog would haunt you!
LITTLE FROGGIE BABIES! Oh my.
ReplyDeleteI like some blocks and don't dig others. My first instinct was to suggest sashing too, but what if you just hung it somewhere in the house and mulled it over for the next few days. You'll find the right solution or will fall in love with it as it is.
This reminds me of a vintage sheet quilt I made about 4 years ago ...there was something not right about that project and I unpicked the blocks and put sashing between them.
ReplyDeleteI like the fabrics a lot...listen to your inner voice !
I reiterate, go with YOUR gut. If this happens to me (and it does) I set it aside & let it talk to me when its ready. *Warning* can sometimes take years. LOL
ReplyDeleteAny news on the beans arrival?
I remember how excited you were to receive this fabric too!
ReplyDeleteI agree with L@CAY.
FInd a "calmer" backing and just leave it alone.
Tis totally gorgeous and desirable....and I think you are just a wee bit too self critical!...it brings a smile to my face.
And we cant love all our babies the same. My "children" continually teach me a thing or two and I dont throw them away, just because they confront me!
I like the big squares showing off the pictoral prints, even with legless frogs ;o)
ReplyDeleteIt is a little busy isn't it... I think it's a quot that someone will love, and it dosnt have to be you. Quilt her up and before you know it someone will be having a little person and you will look at them and think "I have JUST the quilt for you".
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think there's anything wrong with it. And I don't think I'd be adding sashing or borders. A nice pink binding sits well in my mind.
E xx
I think most of it works. But I agree about 'unsewing' it and sashing it in white or pale pink to give the busy prints some breathing space. Sit with it for a little while and I am sure something will come to you! It is very pretty!
ReplyDeleteGet a grip Mrs, it's not bad at all! Once it's quilted and bound it will be just fine :)
ReplyDeleteListen to Alison - she saved my hexalong quilt.
ReplyDeleteAlways listen to the voices - I do and I'm perfectly sane....
Lots of advice....you are so talented I can't wait to see what you decide!!
ReplyDeleteit is beautiful - a little girl will definitely love it :-)
ReplyDeleteI think you have more than enough advice and what I was going to say has been covered in different comments but here's my two penneth - put it away for a bit and then get it out - probably in March as it is very springy, it will become less shouty when you quilt it and I like Leanne's dense quilting advice and I alos like Alison's kona mustard! All will be fine and a riot of colour is good - ask me how I know!
ReplyDeleteMokki is right, it's because the print is busy!
ReplyDeleteI quite like it...I think part of it is that you are trying to love it in the depths of winter...try again in the spring..it will look a lot different....I know this as my campervan noodlebag looks really odd with my winter coat! LOL (really need to make a winter version!)
ReplyDeleteIn general, I like riots of color but I think this block needs sashing. Because there are mostly lights and mediums, I would choose a very dark, narrow sashing. Narrow because one wants an unequal, amount of the third value. In this case less dark than lights or mediums. So, perhaps a one inch sashing... Hope you end up loving this quilt!
ReplyDeleteWhat did you decide to do? I think it's too busy for my liking too, because the fabric is so busy. I love the block you've chosen. I might try a narrow white sashing between blocks, say one that finishes as narrow as 3/4" even. Then bind it in white too. But that's me.
ReplyDelete