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Long time no see, fabric advice please

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6KidsNMoreQuilts
Posts: 126
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:33 pm

Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by 6KidsNMoreQuilts » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:32 pm

Ok, so I have a dilemma...

My MIL has 20 beautiful "sunbonnet sue" blocks from who knows when and she doesn’t quilt so I offered to try to assemble a quilt for her.

The fabrics she has picked are just wrong, 80s print when the blocks she gave me are all 1930s dresses w/ solid bonnets, sooo cute, and most are pastel-ish, with one med green and one burgundy bonnet in the bunch. She simply likes burgundy and royal blue, I don't think they "go" with the squares. I told her the fabric she has is out and maybe we can find some solids that won't date the quilt. She prefers a dk blue sashing with maybe a burgundy accent around each block. I say pastel with maybe a darker around each block, but not blue and burgundy. I think she will trust my judgment, but at the same time I'm making this for her, should I go darker for her? I almost think it will be too bold with the lighter prints, but at the same time don't want it looking washed out if I go too light... I need someone who's good with color to advise, please. :) They are on off white muslin.

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Quilter7
Posts: 8492
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:34 pm

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by Quilter7 » Tue Feb 17, 2009 1:09 am

In Eleanor Burns' "Sunbonnet Sue" book the sashing is done with two strips between each block and a four-patch corner stone. If you did that you would not have to pick just one color. Trust your instincts! You should probably have 1930 reproduction prints. Any chance of posting a picture?

It is so nice to see you again! I hope the baby is healthy and all of you are happy and busy!

SharonG/FL
Posts: 1746
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:25 am

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by SharonG/FL » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:40 am

You can always Google Sunbonnet Sue quilts, then click images and see what comes up....might give you some ideas of settings and shades.

Cathy32078
Posts: 17499
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:36 am

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by Cathy32078 » Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:28 am

Hello & welcome back Anna. It is so good to see you here! We have all missed you. Hope everyone is happy, healthy & busy as can be there.

Okay, about your quilt blocks. Some of the flour sacks and sugar sacks back in the 30's & 40's believe it or not, have some dk prints & flowers. Some of the 30's repo's have some sm. dk blue flowers or prints and a few have a burgandy. I've collected fat quarters from these for 10 yrs. You can google 30's reproduction fabrics and see the various prints and can get some ideas of color. Maybe use the dk. color that your MIL loves as cornerstones for the sashings? If all pastels are used in the blocks you might not want the dk colors to be used but only in sm amts. Or could you maybe add a purse or something being held by Sue with the dk colors? Just some ideas. Will you let us know how you decide to do the quilt? It is very nice of you to put it together for your MIL. She will truly love it no doubt! You are a great DDIL. Again, it is so nice to see you here again.

DeniAZ
Posts: 191
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:49 pm

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by DeniAZ » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:03 pm

Can we see pictures?

CaroleJ
Posts: 5833
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:50 pm

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by CaroleJ » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:32 am

Do a trial of different fabrics. Lay them out on a flat surface in a well-lit room, doing a "fakey-fakey" layout, putting possible sashing fabrics underneath and the blocks on top. Step back and see the results.

Remember when finding your "color season" was really IN, back in the late 70's? The trick is to put items together, step back, and see which color most draws your gaze. You want the focus to be on those cute SBS blocks and not on the sashings. I will sometimes walk away, go do something else around the house, and come back an hour or so later to see how it looks.

I hope this makes sense and doesn't sound like gibberish!

sunsup
Posts: 3958
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:48 am

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by sunsup » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:27 pm

I think Carole is right about doing a trial, maybe showing it to MIL.
Once she sees the darker fabric as sashing she may want to go lighter herself.

Good luck.

6KidsNMoreQuilts
Posts: 126
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:33 pm

Re: Long time no see, fabric advice please

Post by 6KidsNMoreQuilts » Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:04 pm

Hehe, thanks you guys. I actually did do a lay out the other night with some fabrics that I had, and looking at the pics I'm finding I like the darker blue after all, and the darker pink...so...I realize that it's not so bad and hopefully will get cracking on that soon. I just got the top done for son's quilt today, and borders are boring, so I just might work on hers tomorrow.

Thanks for your help!

-Anna

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