I am 'auditioning' fabrics for a very simple bargello quilt, and would love any input. I found this pattern in a recently-downloaded book called "Beautiful Bargello", and I want to make a bigger one sometime, but figured I'd first try my hand at something small and more simple.

I laid my fabric out, as well as the pattern. Does it 'flow' the way it should? This will be my first attempt. Should I change anything? The fabric farthest to the right is the 'light' border.

The more I'm looking at this thing, the more I keep changing my mind and the more time I'm wasting. Please help me stop the insanity!

Thanks,
Trina

they all look like the same VALUE...medium... you need more definition between the light to med and med to dark...

Thank you SO much! I think you've helped me to discover my fear of color. ha ha...

I'm almost afraid to post this picture because I KNOW I have a big problem trying to not be so uniform.

Maybe a bigger bargello quilt with like 30 colors wouldn't be as easy as I thought. OMG.

Hmm--pretty fabrics--but something between the maroon and brownish one is needed??? This will slowly makes you nuts you know... :lol:

Yes, the second is better. I've learned something because my fear keeps me stuck in your first choice (and it's not good, if I say IMHO.) But I agree there needs to be something between the maroon and gold/brown. Welcome to insanity.

Yeah, this is driving me totally insane. I feel like I'm 'stalking' my fabric.

The main reason I know that I'm in a 'color rut' is that my stash, small as it be, is BORING!!

Here's another try. I do think a 'break' was needed.

Thank you thank you.

Can't do the green between the two light--breaks the flow.

Aren't you glad I found this post? :lol: :lol:

I sure am! Glad you found this post, that is. ha ha

The last light on the right is the border. Does this make any difference?

*runs back to the sewing room to see what else is in there...* :shock:

Hmm...a border? Try--just for kicks--to put the green between the beige with the little flowers and the gold/brown?

a good way to learn (color-values) is to use a gray scale. if you have a printer-scanner you can cut a swatch of each fabric, lay them side by side in the order you are considering, scan them and print them out in grayscale. the colors will not distract you and you will be able to see where you need to have contrast between your lights, mediums and darks.

should have added, if you do not have a scanner you can purchase grayscales in art supply stores, they are like color wheels--

OK, moved the green like you said, and also tried to bring the light green back in to use as the border.

I'm going nuts here.

GREAT suggestion. Thanks! :thumbup:

Hubby's really gonna think I've gone nuts, now.

Don't feel bad. I'm not color blind but I sure seem to be when choosing colors for quilts!

This is why I'm SEW happy I have my friends here who can help me. I really need to 'expand my horizons' when it comes to color! Gee, could I use a trip to the fabric store. :roll: My stash is quiet pathetic.

I definitely like the last grouping the best. Just my personal opinion but I don't think your border fabric is really framing your fabric grouping the way it should. Maybe a dark thin inner border? One thing I do with Bargello fabrics is lay black or other neutral (same material on either side) to cover all but the average size strip. This lessens the overloading effect of some prints and points out tonals that may be too strong. It also helps me see weak fabrics or those that nust dont play well with the others remember your first fabric will be next to your last fabric in some places. Just my method. Enjoy bargelloing!

I wish I could take you guys shopping with me ...

Guess TN is too far away from PA. Drat!! This thing's driving me crazy. The kiddos have a 2-hour delay, and one's staying home with a fever. I'll probably be spending yet another day moving fabric around.

I'll probably post another idea pic after lunch. AND, knowing me, it'll probably be totally different. Ugh!!! I did spend last night reviewing the pattern, and I really like the idea of the fabric roll. Guess this is a 'beginner technique', but I think it'll work for me! That is, if I ever pick out the darn fabric. :roll:

I think that printing it out in black and white is a great idea. Learned it here. In a bargello, value is the most important thing.

I tried to quote-copy the picture I used as reference in this post but, It didn't go through...It was Pic #2 you posted on page one..

Just another opinion lol ( and yea, I know I'm too wordy so bare with me lol)I commend you for even attempting a bargello,said the newbie quilter lol
To me, you have 3 color groups going on here (greens/purples-goldish browns-then the maroon group..I think that would be very hard to graduate the color up in each group AND make each group flow with each other. Especially when you are having trouble with values etc. Who wants to pull their hair out? lol (that's why many stick with solids and or smll prints at first)
Going from right to left (your drkest green being #1) At first glance my gut reaction is that your three greens- # 1- #6 and #7) look really good with your larg lavender floral (#2)= your focus fabric..If you could find one more really drk or really light color in this range, like a color with both green/purple or with both a blue green and more of a yellow green(pull the color from one or more colors in that floral focus fabric.. That would give you 4 fabrics in a nice range
Then you have the gold grouping (# 4 and 5) These look really good together and you'll have another floral focus fabric to pull from(beautiful light golden yellow in there- I'd keep these focus florals the largest print)You could go scouting for a Drk and light color in this range..That would give you another 4 total in that grouping equaling a total of 8..Not sure how many you need..
Then you have the Maroon grouping (#3 and 5)and you could play off of those..Really depends on what moves you..
General rule, greens purples and gold/yelllow look great toether..As do the gold group as well as maroons and greens...Unless you want a strong maroon group..I'd probably stay clear of the really strong maroon (#3).As for the border, I'd probably pick my fav color in the quilt, a purple-green- gold or a mix and keep it on the darker side..I feel there's not enough white/light color within the quilt to frame it with that.
And that's my two scents ha!( And yea, you'll probably have to read this 4 friggin times to understand me, sorry lmao
Just remember, not only do you have to pay attention to the value ( drkest to lightest) You also need to pay attention to the undertone of the colors..As a general rule, if you pick a golden brown..You wouldn't want to pair it with say a "pinkish" brown..
The best way I've found to do this is to take a swatch of all your fabrics with you shopping...Audition them on top of a bolt you're considering.. turn your back and walk 8 ft away..And turn around real fast... What doesn't fit will stick out..
And if you can't do a black and white photo of the fabrics to determine value scale..Another way to do it is to cut a template window of 2" by 2" lay it on the fabric and judge only 2 fabrics at one time..Is that one lighter or darker then that one..Then move to the next.
And I can't say enough about a color wheel..I sure hope this is somewhat understandable and helps you or someone out there a little.......Peace, Love and Color

I can't match colors at all. And one day I want to do a bargello quilt too. There is a quilt shop over on the oregon coast that the lady that runs it (i think shes the owner too) has some pretty quilts hanging behind the counter. I've never seen a bargello there though, but I have bought fabric from her and told her what I was making and she helped me pick out colors that worked together. And I bet if I took a bargello pattern over there she would help me pick out fabrics. :) But I have to wait till later this year before I can do that. Good luck with yours. I like the fabrics you have chosen.

I really don't like that purply floral next to that red. They're just to jarring next to each other.

OK, I am officially driving myself crazy. I now know how to waste HOURS without any problem.

Here's my latest attempt. I did print out a b & w picture, and I THINK the values are OK. Probably not. I picked golds/yellows/burgundy. Do you think these go?

Sheesh, I've got two projects I probably couldn't been totally finished if I wasn't wasting all this time. I know, in the end it won't be a waste of time at all.

Trina :shock:

Oh, btw, remember where I STARTED on page 1??

ahh Happy, you poor baby lol..Please don't feel like you're wasting your time..You're learning..
I like your new maroon.. Many might not agree but,I'm not to crazy about the golds together. # 3 and 4 aren't bad together but the other two- one is a brighter Yellow and the other is more neutral....
There are so many pics now It's hard to tell you what to try...Could you either group all the pics in one post.
Or I'd love to see you group the greens and maroons together, darkest to lightest( you already had a dark med and a light in the greens) and both of your large print florals had green and a maroon/pink flower in them- so one or both of them might transition nicely between the green/maroons... Also throw in fabric 4 and 7 from your very first pic with the maroons..Lets give it a look see.
Come on you guys let's help lol

I have an idea!!! Since you are able to see the colors that she is wanting to put in the quilt, couldn't you maybe take one of her pictures shes posted and put them into a specific order and just have her keep posting the pictures as she moves them around for you? It might just save her from going totally crazy. LOLOL But its just an idea.

By the way Airwick156, You're so lucky...I had to pick out graduated colors (22 of them!) for a project..I was so hoping the lady at my quilt shop would help me.. I figured she'd know where everything was and I was so overwhelmed...She practically snarled at me and walked away! lmao...Needless to say, my cousin and I had probably 20 bolts pulled off the shelves all lined up...She really shoulda helped (laugh)

I have an idea!!! Since you are able to see the colors that she is wanting to put in the quilt, couldn't you maybe take one of her pictures shes posted and put them into a specific order and just have her keep posting the pictures as she moves them around for you?[/quote]

I thought of that Airwick!..But although I can hit "quote reply" on one post..I have no idea how to takes Just pics from 2 or 3 different posts ( and my gosh, I talk waaay too much to quote multiple full post lmao)...yea, I like color but figuring out computor stuff makes me feel like I'm 5 lol..

And seriously, others may be seeing stuff I'm not... I just know my cousin suffers from color anxiety horribly... But I go shopping with her and she's getting better and better..She's even helping me now...And she has taught me not to be afraid of my sewing machine..It's a good relationship lol

And here we go again...

Do I need the solid maroon added??

:roll:

I like the way your latest layout looks

[quote=ArtisticDesign]
Or I'd love to see you group the greens and maroons together, darkest to lightest( you already had a dark med and a light in the greens) and both of your large print florals had green and a maroon/pink flower in them- so one or both of them might transition nicely between the green/maroons... Also throw in fabric 4 and 7 from your very first pic with the maroons..Lets give it a look see.
Come on you guys let's help lol[/quo]
Come on humor meeee lol

I love the first 3 or so you have grouped to the left

Ya know, I think I'll throw myself a party once I have this thing figured out. Seriously. I'm sure people are already rolling their eyes thinking "this girl's crazy". Sorry, I really am. This is slowly driving me crazy.

I didn't include a border fabric because I figure I could pick that after it's finished. I tried to find a color that flowed to each next fabric.

I think I'm making progress, at least from where I started. If anything I'm thinking totally differently about how to look at color. Confusing yet enlightening. :wink:

Again, my sincere apologizes.

that looks very pretty together, I really like that selection

I think everybody must have given up on me. :( Thanks, EagarBeez. ha ha

Can't say that I blame ya... :mrgreen: It's probably bad and you don't have the heart to say so and continue to keep going round and round.

Good morning, I haven't given up on ya..I just got here with my coffee and you're the first one I checked on lol...And as EagarBeez said, your last two selections are looking so much better..There's more of a definite flow to them.. Give me a min. and let me look them over side by side and I'll give you yet another opinion(laugh)

No we haven't given up on you!! We're just watching you play with fabric. LOL

One thing that might help is to google pictures of bargello quilts. That might help you get a better idea of how to arrange your fabrics. I do think that most of your groupings could really use a very dark fabric added to them.

GRRR it didn't add the pic lol doing that now

You're right Happy..Your definitely improving..I agree with EagarBreez, the last few runs of fabric you've posted have a definite flow to them.
This selection right here, There is just something about the first (7or 8) ones in this run that make me go to my happy place lol...Is that a really dark navy blue fabric I see in the lower left hand corner (1st one) It's a really sweet "dark" one.
I think starting with the dark green one and the next 3 over..Look really good together..It kind of fades from greens into a slightly green/blue just add either a really drk green or a lighter green/blue to that group..
Then starting with that very dark navy blue..I would start on the blue to blue /grey group

So starting with the navy blue, add the 6th(kind of a blue grey) and 7th one over from that..That would be 3 total... Now there is one in your last grouping you posted that would really look good with this blue/grey group...Since I don't know how to do two pics in one post..I'll do another post to show you lol

ok, this is the pic I was referring to in my last post

It still didn't show! hmmm..... I'm sorry Happy.... The one I'm referring to is that last pic you posted on the previous page- page 2

The other fabric I was referring to that I think would look really nice with that blue/grey grouping is the 5th one over in this group (In case the pic doesn't show up in this post too...I'm referring to the last pic you posted on the last page lol)...The large floral that has blue/grey flowers in it along with the green leaves - would go with both color groupings

Good morning! I know how it is to select colors. You don't want to know how I am in a fabric store. I have bolts of fabric lined up and change them for hours.
I am working believe it or not on a beginners bargello. I have about 3 yrs quilting experience, but, I love colors
I am making a quilt for my niece, she wanted blue, and pink I added some yellow.
I will post the picture what I have going so far. Don't know if the colors are grouped the best, but, I worked with what was given me and did what I thought best.
You may like your colors one way, while someone likes their colors another... the quilt is yours..you own it, you should do which ever way appeals to you. You have some very pretty fabric, and if you want to add that burgundy to the last picture you have, that would be great. Don't make yourself crazy, walk away take a break and then come back.
I also have a pattern that my DH drew up to what I had asked him to do on a beginners bargello. I started with 5 in blocks and ended up being 41/2 after seams.

It's actually a very dark green, not navy blue.

BTW, LOVELY quilt EagerBeze!

I'll keep pluggin' away on this. Thanks so much for all your patience, everybody!
:roll: