low contrast quilts? always fail?
 

my gran, ever a force of nature, decided today was the day we were going to buy some fabric so i can make a quilt for her. i love the fabrics she chose, but there really isn't very much ooomph or contrast in the pile. i want it to be really pretty and i can't take forever to make it. she's 88 and my favorite human on earth.

i was wondering if you thought i could pull off something like this:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]335427[/ATTACH]

with the addition of a one or two fabrics to this selection, where the contrast is really more in the design and dimensions of the fabrics than in the colours (monochrome with a touch of blue here and there):


[ATTACH=CONFIG]335428[/ATTACH]

thoughts? opinions? please?

thanks!

aileen

the selection is nice but is rather monochromatic. i would add something to add a little umph to it--spice it up a bit.
even just one bright color used for sashings or maybe a border print of the blues/greens with a tough of pink or yellow.
hope this helps--post a pic when it is done so we can see how it turns out

I think that pattern could work with those fabrics, you just have to make sure you have contrast for the colors in the two pinwheels. Just look at the pinwheel in the bottom left corner to see how less effective it is than the others, with similar values in the two fabrics. You'd have to use your darkest and lightest blues for one pinwheel (I think that's the small blue check and the white background with print fabric next to it.) and your darkest and lightest greens for the other (probably the tone on tone green and the white with green vines??). The only fabrics I see which possibly won't work with that pattern are the ones at each end in the pic. You could use one of them for the border, but I don't think either of them would work for sashing strips, because the large print may confuse/lose the pattern. I think the third fabric from the left (dense small blue? print) would work for sashing strips, but you'd have to add another fabric for the other color of sashing strips. I think that's what I'd do with all that, lol!:p

How about a rich dark green & a dark navy blue?
Sue

Sometimes low contrast quilts work just fine. It's the blended look and several books were written on it. If your Gran picked out the fabrics then she must love them and I would hesitate to introduce anything too bright or dark.

Oh no ... low contrast are not always fail. Not at all. That's the Shabby Chique look! :)
ITA re the bottom left pinwheel ... If you're using that pattern, watch that the pinwheels have the contrast to let them show.

You might want to add another one or two fabrics to your mix, though you can get some lovely subtle contrasts with what you have. However, don't get too carried away with add-ins, as this is what your Grandma chose!! And you want to keep it "her" quilt! Have fun making it. What a special project to work on.

i really like the fabrics your Gran picked. not every quilt has to scream CONTRAST! perhaps introducing a solid or mono print green or blue into the border, but not much more. I think the quilt you showed as an example is lovely. and here is the thing....your Gran is going to love what ever you make for her. remember that!

I think the colors your Gran picked are beautiful. I am sure she picked what she liked. If you had a little "oomph", just make sure it is a little.

I agree with Sue, get a dark for the pinwheels in the sashing, and maybe an almost solid cream, again for the sashing. I think the fabrics and pattern go well and you will have a beautiful quilt with subtle design and color.

'Contrast' comes in many flavors, and that selection of fabrics has more than you are giving it credit for. It has contrast of scale, value and texture just as it is and your pattern choice adds contrast of shape and size. All together, the voice is understated and restrained, yet solid, strong, and reliable. My sense is that is what your gran was instinctively drawn to. Think about her personality before you decide to add "oomph" or any loud contrast of color.

Placement of the fabrics within the pattern will be very important to the impact, so try several arrangements before you start to cut and sew anything. I think it has the potential of being a stunning, and very personal, quilt for your 'favorite human on earth'. Enjoy the journey. :)