Many of you know I started two long term quilt projects recently. One is a sampler quilt with lots of hand appliqué that’s going to take me the better part of a year to make. The other is Cascade, the curved braid quilt designed by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. Cascade is a scrappy design calling for a multitude of fabrics. In preparation I bought quite a few quarter-yard cuts and fat quarters. That’s something I rarely do, preferring to buy bigger cuts of yardage. In this case, I had chosen colors for my version of Cascade that aren’t well represented in my stash: lots of neutrals and muted golds and greys.
Two days ago a new muted gray fabric with a subtle gold metallic finish came into my local quilt shop and I quickly snapped up a quarter yard of it for my version of Cascade. Then a funny thing happened. I went back to the shop yesterday and bought a lot more.
The reason? Idyllic, a quilt pattern by Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts. I bought her pattern last year and have been casting fond glances at it ever since, trying to decide what fabric I might use. When I laid eyes on that piece of fabric, I could see it in this quilt.
Here’s my test block:
Isn’t that striking? The block measures 14½” unfinished. At this point I have no idea where I’m going with this but I sure like what I see right now. I could potentially make star points for other blocks using scraps from cutting curves for Cascade or I could make an entire quilt using just the three fabrics you see here.
Could these fabric choices represent a seismic shift in my color sensibilities? Maybe . . . maybe not. You see, just a few days ago I made an earlier test block of Idyllic using a color combination you would more likely expect from me. Take a look:
Completely different look and feel, right? One of the things I love most about quilting is how color and fabric can completely change the look of a quilt.
I like both of these blocks a lot but it’s the neutral version on top that’s calling to me.
I’m so glad to see you too can be led toward (astray?) another quilt project midstream! These are so beautiful and so worthy of your attention!
It’s good to step out of the usual quilting box once in awhile! I like the “usual” colorway of your block but love the top version. Very elegant looking! I won a fat 1/8th bundle of Malka Dubrowski fabric a few years ago. It is very “modern” looking with hand-dyed looking prints and bright colors. I never would have bought any of it on my own but I decided to use it just because it was free and I could donate the quilt, if I really hated it. Well, I love the finished quilt which I designed myself, using traditional blocks with this modern fabric. You never know!Have fun with both projects!
Dawn, I personally LOVE the top block in neutrals. It’s totally unexpected and sounds like it might be “out of your box.” I commend you for considering such a bold step. That’s absolutely the hardest thing for me to do, as well! I look forward to your posts. Have fun which ever direction you take.
Oh Dawn, I do like the first one the best with the brown and black tones:)) However, would not turn down the second one either.
Well you have been busy! Nothing like a little creativity to build a worthy UFO stash.
Hey, I’m trying to bust my stash, not build it! (Not very successfully, I must admit.)
You are so right! The choices of fabrics completely alter the flavor of the finished blocks. Works that way all the time doesn’t it? That’s why I love the inspiration of Pinterest – getting to see how so many individuals change the way a quilt presents entirely. You are also right IMHO that an entire quilt made out of the fabrics in the first version would be absolutely stunning. Beyond elegant. Looking forward to seeing what you do!
Oh Dawn!! That gold and grey muted fabric looks soooo striking with the black! The Idyllic block is perfect for these fabrics!!! Elegant and simply stunning it would be in a whole quilt of these blocks!!! Do it!!!
Beautiful work Dawn…as usual. I prefer the neutral palette also, but both are beautiful.
I agree so much about color and its amazing effect. Pretty block on the bottom, Amazing block on the top.