need design help with baby quilt
 

I'm trying to come up with a baby quilt for my niece. Her mom and sister are decorating the nursery for her as a (Christmas) gift, and I'm trying to match the "decor" that they have planned. They told me -- greys and white, pale green and light yellow. Somewhere there's a chevron. Sorry, but these colors don't really inspire me, especially for a baby, so I"m having a bit of trouble. I saw a neat pattern with dresden plates made with stripes or chevrons in every-other spoke, so I made some of those, and then I created a background to put them on, but ... just don't think it's very interesting. What do you think -- here is the background with first one set of the "flowers", and then a second set. THe first one mostly matches their scheme ... the second one doesn't. I'm not wild about either one. Any suggestions of what I could do to make it pop? I would do a lot of "modern" quilting in the solid parts.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]539857[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]539858[/ATTACH]

I think that the pattern is adorable and you can't go wrong with it. Maybe you are overthinking it?? Looks really good from where I'm sitting.

8^)

I think it looks good too.

I like it! You have a lot of colour variety and the pretty 'flower' dresdens are fun and whimsical!

Good design! It is something that will stay in style and "grow" with the baby as they get older.

I think the first one is adorable & would look really cute either with overquilting in matching threads or even with big stitch quilting in a dark navy. I don't really think it needs anything more, but if you wanted you could either couch teal fiber circle around the dresdens or else maybe use some 28wt teal thread to quilt the grey sections.

I see some pretty great fussy cutting there. I like both of them. Today's baby rooms are a lot more colourful than in days past. And if the quilt is large enough, it can go to toddler stage and will be perfect then too on the next bed.
Good luck with the rest of it.

I really like this design for a baby quilt and think the first one is more controlled while the second is more exuberant. I think the first will go better given the colors you mentioned. You could quilt it with leaves and plants, maybe a butterfly or dragonfly thrown in; With green thread for the plants and the yellow for the insects.

I think they are adorable as is and after you put them all together in the same quilt there will be plenty of pop! What about making all red centers as a unifying item and then bind in red. They would all pop with red (and you already have that going in some). Lovely, and very sweet of you!

These are as cute as can be. I think you are only having trouble because the colors aren't some that actually inspire you...but these are just cute! It is going to be a great quilt.

Dina

i really like what you've done so far. i think it's the grays that are bringing it down. maybe you could add circles or butterflies in your brighter colors

I agree and love the quilting idea too.

I LOVE the first one, go with it.

The dresdens are adorable! Right on! It will be great for the room. I would mix it up a bit to add some variety -- perhaps not all of the different ones but surely a good little mix.

Have you thought of contact the niece's mom and sister sending them the photos you have posted since they are in charge of decorating?? Just a thought.

Can you mock it up with bright yellow centers for the dresden circles to help it pop?

good idea, I'll try that....

The green/yellow one looks great! It will match, and the mother will love it. In a few months, you can make another for the baby to drag around, and then another and another. Plenty of time to make ones that you love, but for now, this one is just perfect, and very clever.

This is one of those quilts that you have to remember is for the one receiving it. I've had to work in a color scheme I can't get into but the final result was appreciated. Mine was a wedding quilt and the bride knew I liked to work with bright colors but she's a country girl. She loved the result, I yawned.
BTW, I love the second one with the bright colors, the design is great in both. I agree that perhaps it's the greys bringing the quilt down, but it's their color scheme.

In the very beginning of my quilting career I learned that it's pretty silly to make a quilt to match a room because the room will be re-decorated many, many times during the life of a quilt. Are you going to throw it out, put it into a dark closet forever, if it doesn't match the decor in a few years? If you think of a quilt as a personal use comfort item rather than part of your room's accessory, you'll realize that whether it "matches" or not is really rather irrelevant.

You've tried to keep in mind their preferences, but have taken it further than that, which will endear it to their baby for a long time after his baby room has grown up. :) :thumbup:

Jan in VA

Your quilt is stunning and very interesting. The baby will like the pattern fabrics you used in your Dresden plates. You accomplished making the quilt cheerful with your addition of Dresden plates. I don't think you need to add a thing.

I like the first one, the colors that the mother wants. Regardless if you like it or not, this is for the baby, not you. Sorry to sound harsh, but where you asked, you should abide by the mothers wishes.

That's a very different kind of quilt, and a very pretty one. You have to remember that the quilting will make a lot of changes to the perception of it. Carry on, and it will be loved.

Yes, that's what I'm thinking (and hoping!) . Thanks (everyone) for the encouragement!

I like both the of them!! As for the "pop" I would thought the blue/orange ones fit the criteria!

Love what you've done! Beautiful work, be very proud.

I agree with this idea, and if you add the Dresden centers in the yellow, you may just see the "pop" you are looking for.

Since you've already admitted the color choices are not something that thrills you, no matter what pattern you decide on, it won't fit right. Maybe what you've chosen is what needs to be there?

It sounds like they're going for very neutral. Love how you're trying to spice it up!

well i have news for the parents. Babies love bright colors. But will do well with what ever is chosen. Try to stay with their colors/shades. I do love what you've done though. all of them.

It's done! I posted final pictures: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...ml#post7449626