Need Help with Making Center Blocks Stand Out
 

This is one of those "salvage it if you can" projects. The Dutch Doll embroidery panels were purchased and finished more than 10 years ago, but I missed the baby-days mark for my granddaughter. The baby quilt never got finished.

I finally just gave the embroidery to my granddaughter to ask her what she wanted to do with it. Then, while we were visiting one summer, my daughter and an older granddaughter suggested an Irish Chain with the dolls as the center blocks. We worked on it together for several visits, but pictures of the quilt never seemed to do it justice. Even here the picture is pixilated so one can barely see the design.

MY QUESTION:
Is there anyone on this board who has painted or used crayons *after* a quilt has been quilted? This one is not finished, but moving along nicely. I just hate that the Dutch Doll blocks do not show up. I hope you good ladies have suggestions. I have looked through Pinterest and there are a few ideas there, but I do not know anyone who has tried them.

Wow! I'm just finishing that same quilt, without the embroidery. It sure was a bear to make, but turned out great. Maybe doing a little bit of echo quilting around each embroidery would make them stand out more. Good luck, I think any thing will be great.

Your quilt is beautiful! I wouldn't change a thing. Your embroidery blocks show because they are on a solid white background.

I wouldn't touch it!

Beautiful work!!

It's a lovely quilt. I can see the center embroidered blocks just fine. I wouldn't change a thing, I love it!

I also think the embroidery stands on it's own. I love it just the way it is. I'd worry that coloring the blocks would make them look too cartoon-y.

I agree with all of the other posters here saying your embroidery blocks look perfect! The irish chain helps them stand out beautifully. Perhaps some echo quilting with a colored thread that brings out the predominant color within the embroidered blocks if they are a bit different? That could help make those colors pop a bit more. Otherwise, I would leave those lovely embroidered blocks alone.

The embroidery is sweet and adding more color to it would change the look too much imo. Wouldn't change a thing.

I like the way it looks now. I certainly wouldn't take a chance on adding any form of color at this time. I think it would not be an asset.

Yes, I too would leave the embroidery alone. It shows up fine.

I have not. I think it looks fine as is.

Oh, this is so very pretty.......the pattern idea and the fabrics! Hope someone knows what to do......maybe paints instead of crayons so color would not soak through??

I agree with everyone else. I like it the way it is! Echo quilting is a workable idea, but I don't want you to do anything that would spoil the beauty of the quilt as it is.

I think it looks great - I actually would love to see it wide open :) To answer your question, I did one time take a black fine point sharpie to outline some embroidery to help it stand out better... BUT that was with lettering and they were all one color. I would not attempt such a thing on this lovely quilt

Please don't change the quilt....it's beautiful as it is. Whoever quilts it can make those blocks you don't like "POP"!

I like it the way it is. The embroideries show up nicely. I bet she will love it. Beautiful!

I, too, say: Don't touch the embroidered pictures. They are lovely as is.

WOW!!! What a gorgeous generation quilt. To think ALL of you have taken an interest in it and it is making invaluable memories. Just love this picture, too. 'Less is Better' in this case. Leave it just the way it is - beautiful.

I have used crayons to enhance embroidery. I set each block with a hot iron using a silicone pressing sheet. Came out very nice and I gave it for a charity auction. So I don't know how it washed, but it was real pretty.

It's amazing, and the fact that all of you worked on it makes it even more special.

After studying it, I wonder if what you are seeing isn't that the embroidery needs to be more colorful, but that it is airy and open, compared to the wide saturation of color in the Irish chain blocks. One idea might be to give the edges of the white more definition to stand up to them. Maybe quilt inside the edges of the white with a contrasting color that's in the embroidery? With a beefier thread? Or a blanket stitch in black or a color?

Hugs,
Charlotte

I think the fabric (or even normal crayons) need to high a heat to be used once there is batting. Maybe a denser quilting stitch w/ a white thread in the pieced part would tone that down allowing the embroider to shine brighter w/o having to alter it.

If I were determined to alter the embroider blocks, I would use the dimensional fabric paint w/ a narrow tip, carefully going along the embroidered stitch line to darken it, you would need paint colors to match or nearly match all the thread colors.

I think the lighter embroidery actually gives it a vintage look.

I agree, I'd leave it as it is - beautiful!

I think the problem is that in your mind you have a vision of what it should look like and this isn't quite it. We all tend to do that and then become disappointed. Try to look at it with a fresh mind and I think you will see how lovely it is.

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*** It is a very beautiful quilt and no matter what you do it always will be.
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I also think that the embroidery looks beautiful as it is and would not change it.

Your quilt is fabulous!

I, too, would leave the blocks alone. It is so pretty as is.

It is beautiful! Anyone would be proud to have that quilt; " missed the mark" for a baby quilt or other happening.
I love The Irish Chain in pastels. So much more interesting than all one color.
Love it!
M.

I wouldn't worry about how they look in photos as long as they look good in person. From what I can see, and I don't hve the best sight anymore, I think they look great. Don't change anything. The quilt is perfect the way it is and it was created with family members. You can't beat that.

Looks great as is.

Extra batting behind the pictures would help them stand out, I think your quilt is beautiful!

Your embroidery blocks are beautiful! Will be a lovely quilt!

The quilt is just beautiful as it is, and I can see the embroidery; I would not change a thing.

I think it looks great. I wouldn't change a thing. So soft and gentle looking.

Love it! It's beautiful as is.

I like it just as it is. To me, as a brand new viewer of your quilt, the fact that they don't immediately stand out is a good thing.Why? Because it adds an element of discovery. The first layer of the discovery is the design of the whole quilt, in which I say "Wow!" Second layer is the chain and the intrigue of that pattern. Third layer is embroidery, like a treasure in the hunt for details and subpatterns. Kind of like dating someone you like at first notice, then want to get closer and closer to know everything about them and you're in love. If we find out everything in two dates, good grief! They're a bore --or they talk so much about themselves, there's nothing left to tell. Haha.