I am a big fan of the Log Cabin Pattern. I have a top made of the L.C. Pattern, all from scraps. The one half is light, the other half, dark. After I got it put together, I couldn't see light and dark patterns.
Is it harder to see these patterns with a scrap quilt, or is there some other reason mine aren't as pronounced as I would like to see them? I have a book of this famous patten, and I used a pattern shown in that book.
Would appreciate any advice anyone can give me.
Thanks,
Mariah

Could you post a pic? That may help. Also, sometimes when you look at your quilt in a pic, it looks totally different.

I love log cabin quilts too.

Without seeing a picture I would venture to guess that there was not a distinct enough difference between your lights and darks (ie too many of them closer to medium than to light or dark). I had a similar situation with one of the first quilts I made. All the fabrics looked great together, but it was really hard to see the pattern because it all sort of blended together.

You may have looked at color differences when in fact the fabrics were of similar value. That would read more blendy than you might expect.

Agree w/ madquilter and mom-6, we sew and learn. :)

Picture.

It might be a matter of placement.

Maybe sorting all the strips into piles or boxes of lights & darks....before you start would help.There's 3 color values, light,dark & mediums....but really light & real dark works best together.Make one LC block & see if the lights/darks show up. If not, you have a new pot holder.

This is how I tell my lights vs. darks and it may work for you.

1. Take a color picture of the fabrics you intend to use.
2. Open up the color picture on your computer and change it to Black & White.
3. Seeing the fabrics in black & white makes it easier to see the lightness/darkness of the fabric, without your mind being biased by the color.

well you beat me to it! I was going to say a black and white picture makes it so much easier to tell values

This is a great idea! It is often hard to see color value without getting distracted by the color itself! I'm going to do this with the palette for my scrappy BoM quilt. Thanks for the tip!

Added: It really does make a difference! There's a couple that show as lights in the B&W that I would have called mediums in color. Thank you! =)

Let us see the quilt. Log cabing is one of my favorite.

I wish I were any good at making posts, but need to just take time to be able to do it easily. Therefore, I can't send a post of a pic of it.
After reading all of the suggestions, I believe there may not be a big enough contrast of the lights and darks. When I get back to it after Christmas, think I will take it apart, and re-do the blocks with a more distince difference in colors and values. I took another quilt top I had made apart, and I finally was happy with it. We live and learn!!
Thanks so much for all of your suggestions and help!
Mariah.

I wish I were any good at making posts, but need to just take time to be able to do it easily. Therefore, I can't send a post of a pic of it.
After reading all of the suggestions, I believe there may not be a big enough contrast of the lights and darks. When I get back to it after Christmas, think I will take it apart, and re-do the blocks with a more distince difference in colors and values. I took another quilt top I had made apart, and I finally was happy with it. We live and learn!!
Thanks so much for all of your suggestions and help!
Mariah.

Great ideas you gave!! I am going to take a picture.
Now for a question; how do I open up the color on the computer?
Mariah

Great ideas you gave!! I am going to take a picture.
Now for a question; how do I open up the color on the computer?
Mariah

You know, many cameras and also phone cameras have a Black & White setting. You can go ahead and take the B/W picture from the get-go.

I make scrappy log cabins all the time. One thing I like to do, if I use a fabric that is not as light as the others, I place it with a real light on either side.
and If a dark is more medium, I follow that with a true dark. Hope that makes sense.

I was making lc blocks today, with no/very little different values, I plan on using them as an applique background. Designing it in my head as I piece it:)

That's an interesting way to look at it.... thanks

Hi, I think you had some very good points about the l.cabin. I won't even have time to get it out until after Christmas. I have our Quilt Show very soon, then a couple of other projects--1, a 3-pc. suit which I am making for myself. And, one small quilt.
Do you ever get a quilt made and don't like it when you get it done? I started hand quilting the l.cabin, and decided the light and dark weren't as much difference to show the design. So, think I will take it apart and try it again. I had made a l. cabin with a picture section in the center, and used Civil War Motifs, and we really like it. So, don't know how I messed this one up so badly!!
Thanks, and keep in touch.
Mariah--Martha in real life.

This is wonderful advice. Keep in mind that color is relative. What looks light against a dark color will also look dark against white or a very light color.

Oops.

This is wonderful advice. Keep in mind that color is relative. What looks light against a dark color will also look dark against white or a very light color.

[quote=mytwopals]This is how I tell my lights vs. darks and it may work for you.

1. Take a color picture of the fabrics you intend to use.
2. Open up the color picture on your computer and change it to Black & White.
3. Seeing the fabrics in black & white makes it easier to see the lightness/darkness of the fabric, without your mind being biased by the color.[/quot

How do you open the color picture on your computer and change to Black and White?
I think you have wonderful suggestions, and intend to save this and follow through. Tell me about the above question then I can go to the other steps.
Thanks,Mariah--Martha in real life.

I love the ideal that you came up with. Thank you, what excellence ideal. :thumbup: