Has anyone had this happen?
 

I,m making a quilt for my 13 year ol GD. She wanted to pick out the fabric and of course I said yes.
Well she picked two very dark colors and one medium. They go together but I think it will be too dark
when done.
I tried to talk her into adding a bright color but she refused.
I,m so tempted to add it myself and then hope she will know what I mean, but DH says I should not do this because it is hers and this is what she wanted.
By the way the colors are:
1 Dark purple
2 Purple mix,(on the order of Batik
3 Deep pink.
What do you all think?

I have had it happen to me but it was different prints that didn't match. I tried to talk her into something different but she was adamant. I did the material she wanted and to her it was the most beautiful quilt to me it looked like a neon sign shining in your bedroom. It was a hot mess. Go with her selection to her it is beautiful.

I think I would go with what she picked out. Or maybe you could make up two sample blocks, one with her colors and one with the color you add. Let her see the difference. She may still prefer the colors she has chosen.

I would do it her way since that is what she wants. You could tell her you need one more color and it needs to be something other than purple or pink. Do those 3 fabrics include enough for the backing?

I second the idea of doing a couple of test blocks (or a sample layout with graph paper or EQ or whatever) to let her really see the difference. If she still likes what she picked first, go with it.

These are wide strips across. She saw this photo in a JoAnns ad and just loved it.
I like it too but the picture had more colors than she chose. As Patiese says "to
her it will be beautiful". I sure hope so.
Oh and she picked pink flannel for the backing.

I think it will be very pretty.

Go with what she picked. She will love it I'm sure.

I think I would go with her choice. This will be a quilt she will always cherish because you made it for her and she got to be a big part of it because she picked the fabric.

If those colors she picked is what she wants, then I would go with what she picked. For whatever reason she loves what she picks and that is what she wants. Maybe a brighter backing fabric? Enjoy making it for her she will love it because you made it for her.


I'm in a search right now for pink camoflage, tattoo related fabric and Airforce emblem fabric that will all work together in a quilt. Do you have any idea how difficult that is? Oh my. I can work with the tattoo related and the camo but the AF emblem just doesn't blend well with the other two.

I would go with what she wants also.

If the fabrics truly go together, just remember that she chose them and she loves them...she made her first quilting decision...you don't want to squash her enthusiasm. you will be able to get the center assembled and then ask her to help choose the borders....she may see where that tiny flange border in a bright version of the pink just sets the whole thing off perfectly....or a pale lavendar in the right shade....whatever looks good....auditioning fabrics helps us to decide on the last touches...why not her? and THENNNNNN you will be able to show her a choice of different threads which is that last layer of color.... and then when she decides, whichever way it goes is her choice and you and she will know it is HER quilt.... she will love it and you will love knowing that she appreciates all your hard work...last ditch? put all her scraps and your color choices in a gorgeous back art that may show her what you were talking about without sabotaging her choice....

I would definitely work with only her choices. Just having a 13 year old girl involved in the process is a blessing.

Can you make two samples to show her the difference? Sometimes seeing is believing!

I would just go with what she picked. It will feel more like hers if you do...

I would not change her colors. I always heard that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I agree with others, she will always love it for so many reasons, and the fact that she picked out the fabrics will make it even more special. One day she may look at it and think "what was I thinking" but for now, it is beautiful for her. And it will be beautiful!

When I was a kid it was my way or the highway LOL! She has something in mind and a change would really ruin her plans. You won't have to look at it everyday so stick with her choices and in a few years you both can have a laugh over it, but I'm sure your effort will be well loved anyways.

Go with her choice. To suggest another colour will be saying you don't value her opinion. It might not be your taste but it's more important that you support her. It's just fabric and you may just find that she'll be willing and eager to participate in another project with you.

Be sure to wash and hot dry your flannel backing - it will shrink way more than the cotton in the top.

Totally agree with letting her choices stand. I had a girl that age tell me recently that the best thing about me was that I LISTENED to her. (I'm her piano teacher and let her make some choices about pieces to play.) Being heard is a huge thing at that age. (at any age actually!)

way more than once, too....flannel can shrink two or three times before it's done.... and I have lost up to 6 inches per yard....

I would definitely stick with her choices......you may be very pleasantly surprised. Be sure to show us when you are finished.

I would use only the colors she picked out. When she looks at the colors together, she sees beauty. Since you ask her what colors she wanted, you really should respect her wishes.

I have noticed that some kids just like darker colors, it shows in their clothing, room decor, etc... She will love this quilt that she had a hand in :) :) :)

leave it..it is hers...remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
one man's art is another man's trash!

I would go with what she selected. Would like to see how the quilt turns out when you finished.

I too have a 13 yo DGD. She wanted me to make her a quilt last summer, so instead I let her pick out the fabs and then I had her put it together. We ended up just doing a jelly roll 1600, but she learned a lot about color, placement, and how one fab will accent, sometimes negatively, another. She loved the challenge, I loved the time spent with her, and now she considers herself quite the expert on quilt terminology, color, and 1/4" seams. Even if your DGD can't make the quilt, let her help you lay it out. She may then see that it needs a lighter color to help bring out the colors she selected. Non-quilters have no clue about contrasts, etc. that it has taken us years to learn.

I agree with your DH.It is her quilt - no harm in giving her what she wants.

Kids are funny about only liking what they like. DON'T change it or she'll be resentful.
What you might do is to make a pillow case to go with it and add your bright/light color as the flange. Then don't say anything about the added color. She will notice on her own how much better it looks and will be able to make better decisions the next time but it will be "her" idea.

I have learned from quilting with my monsters tha go with what they want. They will stay interested in quilting and sewing. I have five of them and they know what they want and not happy if i try to change their minds lol. Trust me I'm putting pin up fabric on the back of our 13 year olds quilt because that's what he wants. I told him that he will catch it from every woman about his quilt lol and they will want it to stay in a closet and they will say you were how old and your mother did that? Anyway, it's tasteful but just know your not alone and go with it!

Just go with what she picked out. Better to have her like the quilt than just toss it aside if you force other colors. Have on GD that will be 13 this month and she wants pink zebra for a slouch bag. Evidently not the only person that likes that as the quilt stores have it by the bolt in multiple colors.

mltquilt

I say go with her fabric choices. You did allow her to pick out the fabric after all. She will love it because it's what she wants, plus her grandma made it for her.

I'm having the same problem with a quilt that I am making for my niece for Christmas. I had her pick out her own colors and she went with lime greens in a large print, and mostly browns, dark, med and light. There is a small 2X2 square of blue in the center.(quilt is 60X60). I need at least 15 more colors to finish the blocks that go around the center block and not sure what to pick !!! More blues really tie it together but she says she's not really a blue person !!! I'm looking for more of the lime green and will add some more blue but its getting late !!! They are a version of a log cabin block so hopefully I will be able to pull it off. I'll post it if it ever gets done !!!

Yep, go with what she wants. She's in her "dark" teenage phase at the moment and it could be quite attractive. I only refused when my GD wanted me to put black backing on a white and bright patchwork quilt!

I believe those colors will work together as when my parents built their house when we where all kids still at home we where able to pick out the colors for our bedrooms. My sister went with deep purples and pinks with no lighter colors and it look wonderful. She also had black walls!! Please note we had our rooms in the basement with just two little windows per room and with all these dark rich colors it still looked wonderful and bright.

I also had a quilt my grandmother made me when I was about six, and I had picked out my own colors as well and I will say now the colors don't match the best, but at the time I thought it was the best thing ever as I was able to pick out what I wanted and after watching my grandma create such beautiful quilts, she used my fabrics. Looking back after this quilt was made and my grandma used what I had picked it really sparked my urge to learn how to sew and create things myself. As if grandma would use it, I knew it had to be good. Hope this helps.

I would use what she picked out. You won't have to look at it all the time.

Let her have what she wants. We always say it is our quilt and we can do what we want with them so ;this is her quilt. I would not add anything

Thanks to all who replied to my post. I appreciate it.
I would never have gone against her wishes and have had her here while
putting it together and she sticks to her guns.
I like the idea of making a pillow and throwing in ssome bright fabric.
I think that is a great idea.
I just wanted to know from all you expierienced members.
Again, THANKS

The girl is stuck on pink and purple. Go with that. When she gets older she will wonder what the problem is.