Arugh!! :-(
 

Waaahhhh!!! I am just so discouraged!! Im making a requested quilt for my son who is a Marine in Adghanistan. I am just having the worst time. I, of couse, want it to be perfect. The pattern I am doing is a big star (You can see my previous posts... I think it's under color help) with an applique shield in the middle. The pattern shows super bright colors, I felt that the colors that went with the theme were more, muted I guess the word is. Like browns, golds, burgandy etc. Well, the background is black. Unfortunately the colors, to ME, are too dark!!! It makes it just a dark quilt!!! I don't like it. Now, part of the problem is that I tend to be a bit... well... perfectionist. Also, I WANT it to be perfect so that it will be something he DOES love forever! I am THINKING now that I DO need bright colors but I spent SOOOO much on all the fabric I already have that I'm going to have a hard time justifiying it!! I am SO sad. I just don't know what to do. He's going to be home for Christmas I hope, and I SO want to give this to him.

Here's what I've ended up with. Please let me know what you think. This is just one of four quadrants

[ATTACH=CONFIG]370496[/ATTACH]

I reallyt like it..It is very masculine looking..and remember that where he will be it might be hard to keep a lighter or brighter quilt clean looking.

I think it's fantabulous! Perfect for a guy...trust me, they don't see color the way we do. Keep your chin up, he will love this rustic looking manly quilt!

I agree with Pat--it's very masculine looking. Step back, take a deep breath and keep on going--it will be wonderful and he will love it! Thank your son for what he is doing for all of us.

Really?? You don't think it's too dark? Can you see the shape of the star? It just seems to me that all the fabrics blend together too much for the pattern to show well..... ?? GOod point about the laundry... it's not his strongest domestic attribute. lol. And when he gets back he'll be in the barraks so I'm sure he'll be mostly washing his uniform and not much time for washing quilts. I WILL thank him. Thank you! Oh Aalso, up in the corners will be yellow triangles appliqued also.

Could you replace a few of the dark darks with mediums? I agree that it is quite dark - - -

I haven't seen the entire idea, so my comments may not be relevant. When I looked at the picture here, it seems to me the colors are fine; however, I would consider replacing the black with a camouflage fabric, or perhaps a silvery gray.

Are you one that 'likes' light, soft or pastel colors? Or is it that you 'need/want' big contrasts (etc black against white)? Sometimes working out of ones 'colors' is harder.

As other have said ~ it is masculine looking ..... keep going ..... it will work out! :)

Keep going, it will be like a hug from Mom and thatis the most important thing for him

Very nice!

Exactly what I was thinking.

I agree and it is very masculine.

I agree it's quite dark but what's wrong with that. You have some pops of color. The dark areas can be lightened up with interesting quilting. Glide thread in slightly lighter colors could showcase quilting. Have you seen the book " Quilting Makes the Quilt?"

We were told at our guild meeting by a gal who sends many care packages to our deployed soldiers to make our quilts darker. It is just a little safer for the soldier with the dark fabric.

I saw your original post, and think what you have done looks great. Gold adds a sparkle to a darker quilt, maybe consider doing the binding in gold? He's going to love anything from mom!

I went to look at your original post to see the pattern, and I see it now. I do have a question though.

I am assuming that the 4 blocks you have shown are the 4 in the upper left corner of the whole quilt. The star beginning to make an appearance in the block in the lower right. Assuming this is correct ....

In the pattern, the border around the star continues into the block in the upper left most corner. I should be seeing a backwards L shape of lighter color in the whole block - but I'm not seeing that in yours. Perhaps it's only this block that is upsetting your eye??? If so ... should be easy to change.

Overall as for the darkness - remember that you can't see dark without light, and visa versa. Given that the quilt is for a man, and a man in the war zone of Afghanistan ... I think the light/dark combination you hit is correct for this quilt. If you want him to have a brighter quilt, plan one for his wedding when he returns!! And more for the babies that he may bless you with in the future. For now, keep him warm - and keep him safe.

Gah... This is why our board is such an invaluable resource!!! I love being able to come here!! Ok, I know what youre talking about with the backwards L. I left that out intentionally because Im going to applique the "Tri-force" in them all. Lol. Its just three triangles together corner to corner. I think I will get a couple mediums to exchange with the dark dark burgandy and dark dark brown... Also LOVE the idea of the gold binding. I'll be sending it out for quilting but youre right about that.
Ok youve all talked me into it, Ill keep going!! THANK you all!! <3

I think it's beautiful and your son will love it. Please thank your son for his service to our country. And from this military mom to you - thanks for yours!!

I agree it is really nice. Very masculine and he will love because you made it for him. That might be more I important to him in the long run that he has you arms around him with the quilt you made for him. :)

I lOVE the colors, so rich~~

I think the colors are wonderful! They look so very masculine to me. Lighter colors to me would look "cute" or "pretty" not the way you'd describe a soldier involved in killing for the defense of freedom.

quilt it with a brighter color, for example, to match one of your brighter colors like the gold. That should help brighten it overall. I think you will love this quilt when it's done--it really is pretty now.

I think it will be great!! Very manly. Keep on sewing. He will love it.

If I remember it correctly, there is a large applique shield in the center. In my opinion, that is the focal point of the quilt (along the triangles in the corners), and I would want enough contrast on it to draw the eye to it. The blocks you have shown us here are part of the background of the shield and therefore do not need to stand out. In other words, what you have done so far is great!

Again, sincere thanks to an American hero!

I agree that it is very masculine and I love it! Keep working on it. I think it will be absolutely beautiful. Also, please pass along my thanks to your Marine son for his service. And God bless Mom.

Remember too that the lighting conditions may be much brighter and "harsher" in the barracks so the subtle contrasts in your colors will be more noticeable. Also, if he does wash the quilt, the colors may fade a bit over time since I doubt they'll have a "delicate" cycle! The idea of the contrasting quilting on some of the darker blocks is interesting as well.

It will be gorgeous, he will love it, and his buddies will probably all want one too!

I have mixed feelings about it (darkness), however, if your son is anything like my son...Anything you make for him will be "perfect"...! Thats what my son tells me...."Mom, it's perfect"... He doesn't see or care if its all on point, he doesn't know what that is...also knows Mom isn't REALLY pefect, he just tells me that I am...

Just know that he knows how much love you are putting into it...

New fabrics
 

Ok I replaced a few of the darker fabrics (4 I think) It looks much better. I hope. lol

Love the pattern, but I do think it is a touch dark, perhaps some gray or medium brown.....

Hi, The quilt colours are fine, he's a marine, that means manly .He will be delighted with the love you put into the making, I pray he will be safe and return home to thank you for your gift,sure he will. Love Letty

I would change one or two colors .A definite color to add would be a strong mustard gold.I used that for my son in a pillow in his insignia that he took to Afghanistan Do not loose the fantastic design in the dark colors.The reason I Chose gold was that it shows in many insignias..

I am sure no matter what you finally decide, he will love it.

It's dark, yes, but still seems to work ok.
Maybe you could do some echo stitching around the entire star in lighter thread that will make it stand out?

The colors are fine - I'm just not seeing much of a contrast in a lot of the triangles. The all seem to be about the same value. Maybe it's not showing up on the computer. It just seems to be a lot of work for all those HST if they aren't really going to be accented. Hope he gets home at Christmas!

Regardless of the color - he will love it

Thank him for me!

Yep masculin looking. It is probabaly perfect. Keep the course and finnish it for Christmas.

This is what I was thinking.

I like the colors in the quadrant. My sugestion would be to use the gold fabric to make sashing around each quadrant.

I really think this is fine for a marine. He would look pretty funny with a pastel calico quilt on his bunk! I would definitely finish this as you originally planned. He will love it.

Perfection is highly overrated. Don't beat yourself up over it. Your DS will LOVE it and that is the important part.

As for the colors, it's hard to judge when it's just in pieces. A few blocks against a white design wall will show a much distorted picture. I think it's wonderful.