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

Sometimes you can get the "feel" of batik, with other fabrics (think blenders). Shades of blue would also be nice, for the rest of the quilt.

As for the quilt shop lady's opinion - just remember she works at a quilt shop. She is not an artist! She is not an art teacher. Her opinion is just that - HER OPINION. Go with what looks right, to you.

Being a gamer (granted I am female) I really like the idea of going with the "Link" colors (blue, brown, white, gold, a nice deep red would also add some impact)--and I second the suggestion of maybe doing a black-on-black to give it a bit of "texture"....Also I adore that Scribble fabric...I dont need it, but I am sitting here trying to justify why I should by some....just in case.... :D

I think you should follow the suggestions for going with the Link colors and no others. I would also not put a pattern in it unless it is the black on black - definitely no prints of any kind. No men in my family think prints of ANY kind are masculine looking in a quilt. LOL And I would back it with the black you use on the front. Please show us a picture when it is finished.

What do you guys mean by 'black on black'??

Tone-on-Tone.

Go drag a plaid shirt out of his (or your hubby's closet). Use the colors in one you like. I'd problaby go with a brick red, bright navy, forest green, maybe a couple of the grays, a purple that is dark and ..................

Mercy, your guys must be dull dressers!

Someone up the line suggested a gold---------a really deep dark gold would make a great addition---------maybe just on the ends of the star points----------or the most inner part of the point.

And please do use some print design-------------best choice would be a nondescript batik.

I love those scribbles. Great for a guy without looking a bit girly!

Look carefully at the black in the Jewel Box quilt. It is black with gray swirls - from JoAnn's - not a wonderful product, but it sewed up well and is holding its color. I've seen in other people's quilts on here and it always looks good. There are a lot of black blenders available.

I, for one, will never use a solid color if I can find a blender or a tone on tone that is the color I want. Not even white

My suggestion is to go somewhere other than that quilt shop. You need to go to a shop where your ideas will be listened to and then several ideas suggested that would work with the ideas you already have. That's why we go to a quilt shop! I wish you luck and success on this! And blessings to your son for serving.

I am sure that it will be loved by your son. I don't think those are "girly colors" as they are the colors chosen by many of the armed forces. I just finished one for my grandson who is getting married this month. Although it is busy, it contains many of the colors you listed. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...l-t202535.html Good luck with the quilt and be sure to post the pictures when you have it done. I know it will be fantastic.

I'd tone the whole thing down, go away from black black and use a mottled dark charcoal in it's place. I'd use deep, rich masculine burgundy, forest green, warm gold along with the dark charcoal and then I'd let it fly with the shield...clean bright true to image colors. Let' see If I can upload this picture which has the charcoal I'm talking about... sorry, floundering around looking for an upload image link. I"ll post pic once I find the link.

Blues an browns would be good. you might ad in a bit of deep gold color, not yellow.

I think the greys, blues, reds, bright golds and blacks will be perfect for this quilt! It won't be too feminine, and I think tone on tones, batiks or marbles qould be lovely! Please let us know what you decide!