Color help
 

One of my biggest problems is color. I don't know why. Ok so I'm making my son, who's in Afghanistan, his requested quilt. I am going to do this pattern http://www.connectingthreads.com/cfT...ations&isKit=1 minus the middle colors and corners. They'll be black and then I'm going to applique a shield http://technabob.com/blog/wp-content...me-shields.jpg (the one on the right just fyi) in the middle and the corners will have the yellow triangle thing. lol. Okay so I'm just not sure what to do for the rest of the quilt colors. This HAS to look like a 'guys' quilt, and I just think the bright colors look kind of 'girly'..... Someone suggested to do different variation of greys but that just seems to drab. I had thought to do the colors of the shield, but someone told me that would be to plain. I just don't know what to do. And I'm such a perfectionist...... I want to make a quilt he'll use and LOVE using, not one he'll just 'have'.... I made one for someone once that they just 'liked' and they never used it and I NEVER want to do that again, but it's made me way to OCD..... lol I went in the LQS and the lady there, whom I've never seen, was SO appalling, telling me I was just being too difficult and that there's no such thing as the perfect quilt... totally poo pooed my putting the shield in the entire center, but to only put a small one in the small center square portion. I'm NOT going to do that..... the shield is the ENTIRE purpose for the quilt! Made me sad. I'm already uncertain enough and all that did was to make it worse. lol Ugh!

Suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance! <3

I wouldn't call the combo of black, blue, red and gold "girly" colors.

Maybe you could go more to the gold than bright yellow. Same for the blues and reds.
They don't have to scream PRIMARY colors.

I think your design idea is lovely and graphic and, most importantly, EXTREMELY relevant to the recipient.


eta: The quilt in the picture - those fabrics do sort of run "young" but that doesn't mean you can't use different fabrics/textures/etc. in the same colors to create a totally different look.

I love your idea. I don't have any suggestions except...don't let anyone "poo-poo" your ideas. I'm a "freebird" when it comes to making my quilts. They aren't perfect and I don't care. They are filled with love for the ones they are made for. Just step back, take a deep breath and after getting a lot of input...do it your way. I've never followed a pattern yet. I usually make up something that suits me. haha My quilts just develop over time but the ones who get them are so thankful. When you decide what to do, I hope you will show us the finished product.

Oh your quilt will be just gorgeous! I would use the colors in the orginal quilt cause they seem to go so well with the shield. If they seem too bright to you just go down one level of brightness. Take the picture with you and do not talk to the lady who should be helping you, not knocking down your ideas.

Please, please post it when you are finished. I know your son will love it.

LEGEND OF ZELDA!!! This is going to be one awesome quilt. My brother and I are very much into the games.

My suggestion is to google image search the phrase "link blue tunic" - that's the shield that Link uses. His tunic's main colors in that outfit are a rich blue, a warm brown, and white leggings. And his hair is gold. If you went with a blue-brown-white-gold theme, you would be very in keeping with the game and also tending towards a more masculine color palette!

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You are on the right track with the red, black, gold or dark yellow and blue, but think beyond solids and look for prints in those colors. Even the black could be black on black. The Jewel Box quilt I made with Moda Marble Swirls and a BOB does not look girly, though mine had too much pink, purple and orange for your purposes.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...x-t187015.html
Batiks are another possibility. Scribbles from Marshall Dry Goods is another coordinating line. I don't care for the black, but the rest have possibilities.
http://www.marshalldrygoods.com/?gcl...FehDMgodzlkA1w
Whatever you do choose he will love it. It's time to start. Give him our best wishes and thank yous from another Marine Corps (prior) mother.

I can't wait to see the quilt when it is done! Don't let the lady at that quilt shop throw you for a loop. Do what YOU want to do. As for colors, maybe some cool batik colors would work, with the black, you can always go bright or not to bright with batiks.

I think grays and yellow go well together (IMHO) Throw in the right hue of red. It's all about the values of the colors.

Great ideas. I think I'll go back in and see if I can get any more ideas. I really love the idea of what batiks will look like, especially looking at the Link colors, but I HATE using batiks because even though they say you can't get mixed up with them I always do! lol! and... does anyone else find them stinky? I did one that I'm binding right now, (then I'll post a picture) and I got the fabric at the lqs but it stunnnkkkkk!!!

Ooohh I like that scribbles. lol Love your Jewel Box! I didn't realize it was called that. I thought it was 4 patch Jacobs Ladder. lol. I just posted mine. Still have to get it quilted though. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...e-t202368.html