I am going to make a red Barjello quilt for someone extremely important to me, so I really, really, really want it to turn out great. This person was my special education advocate and basically saved my son's life. Her favorite color is red. Red is not my favorite color. Even if it was I would still have trouble putting the right colors in the right order :(

I have shown the 21 colors I selected in the order closest to right that I can get. I only need 20 colors. I have shown all the other reddish fabrics I have. I labeled them so don't be afraid to tell me what you think. I can move them around and take them out. If I have to go shopping again - I can - but I would rather not.

Thanks so much to anyone who can help!

take a scrap of your fabrics to a photocopy machine and copy in back and white. Make sure the colors are in the correct order as to intensity or darkness (pardon my word retrieval issues at the moment). I am concerned that it should possibly be 2,3,1,4... I would also remove#16 and #15. In my eye, they don't quite fit in. I like B, F, G and H to replace anything you take out of your original line up.

I have no clue!!
... just *d*r*o*o*l*i*n*g*over the lovely fabric and hoping to learn about Bargello fabric selection!

I studied this color scheme for some time with my glasses off. My only judgement is about the lighter end of your collection. #'s 1, 2 and 5 seem very white. Ask if you want a stark seperation like the picture or a more soft and wavy look. Try switching those for c, g and e. I'm also sorry to say that the # of responses you get on the quest may be maddeneng so remember it is your creation. Your choices will be a wonderful blend and give the look you want. Good luck and keep us posted as you go. I'll be watching!

They will make a stunning Bargello with your placement as is. But, if it were me, I would replace #2 with your G fabric. Or simply eliminate #2 all together.

I agree...#2 jumps at you...don't think you want that.

I'm converting colors now ... give me a few :)

Oh man ... it totally didn't work. I tried to hold my green color veiwer up to the screen and take a snapshot but the flash from the camera just made the whole color viewer a big white blob.

right off the bat though I'm going to say 1 & 2 need to be swapped. I would also add G after 1.

Let me try to download photo and convert. Perhaps I can do it better that way.

no need to take them to the copy show you can do it on the computer here are you fabrics in black and white.

I agree with the 2,3,1,4 switch but I also think 18 and 19 need to be switched so 18 would become 19 and vice versa! I don't know about 16 but I think 15 is more of a tan color when the rest of your fabrics come with a more red/pink hue.

Just my humble opinion, but I'd go with: C, 3,G,4,6,5,11, 12, 9, 16, B, F, 14,10,13,19, H, 18,20,21.

I, too, took my glasses off (very near-sighted) and just looked at the fuzzy colors. I tried to eliminate the yellows, blues and green-brown...although you may like them in there. Still concerned about #4, but the rusty red fit. You could create more depth by dropping #4 and using a black-on-black at the dark end. You have gorgeous fabric!

How did you turn them to black and white???!!!

Oh, wow--I am so bookmarking this one. Have never made a Bargello and never thought I had the courage to try, but have already learned at bunch and you only have one page of replies. Good luck, have fun and I will be watching along with a lot of other people, so PLEASE keep posting as you go if you have time. I do agree that 2 is too light and 15 is too brown--so now that I have given my "expert" opinion, go forth and quilt! ;)

I dont' think #2 fits at all, maybe try c. and I think #15 has to much brown in it.

I have no clue............just be sure to post picture when your done ...........I envy you to be able to quilt like that...................

This is fascinating. I can't offer any suggestions, but I am learning a lot. I can see that the suggestions make sense...and, for me, that is big. I am just barely more than a beginner, or I might actually know enough to suggest something. What a beautiful pattern.

here is what I have with the changes. What do you think now? I am so thankful for your help. I would have never seen thoses changees!! This has been enlightening :)

I guess I'll have to add the Pictues tomorrow, my Internet is down for the night...

3 4 14 15 seem to have too much brown tone, may not be in real life...but from the photos appears so. #2 it too much a loner, draws too much attention.
Play with and rearange walk away come back and look you will beable to see if you like it or not. Sometimes the eyes get confussed when looks at something for too long of a time. You have some wonderful fabrics, just take your time with the auditions.

So I am trying to figure out how to make the light side of these colors correct. It has occurred to me that the color I need is 'light red.'. I am not sure how to find that and not have pink :/ ??????

no need to take them to the copy show you can do it on the computer here are you fabrics in black and white.

I agree with the 2,3,1,4 switch but I also think 18 and 19 need to be switched so 18 would become 19 and vice versa! I don't know about 16 but I think 15 is more of a tan color when the rest of your fabrics come with a more red/pink hue.[/quote]

Yes, how did you make them black and white? Please.

When you go to print your pictures on your printer, there is an option in Print Preview that allows you to switch from color to black and white - so all you have to do is flip that switch and it will print black and white.

Just remember to flip back to color if you want the picture to stay in color for future printing!

Great ideas on the use of black and white to determine value. I learn something new here every day! Good luck.

I think 2 isn't quite right either - thats the only one that looks a bit out of place - but love the rest of the colours will look stunning

that is so clever would never have thought of changing them to black and white - have learnt something new today :thumbup:

I second this completely!

I did it with photoshop HOWEVER. you can do it in windows paint program, open the picture you want to turn black and white. then hold CTRL on your keyboard and hit the E button. This will bring up a window called Image Properties in this box there are a couple of options to change things, under color click on Black and White. Once you change it and click on save it will give you a warning message that the color change can't be UNDONE just click on ok again and there ya go, your picture is now black and white. as long as you A) don't save the changed photo or B) save the black and white photo by click on SAVE AS, and renaming it, it will NOT change the original photo.

Yes I quite agree with this.

:thumbup:

As far as getting different depths of red without going pink, there is another quilt in that quilt book done in reds that should give you some ideas. Look at page 36-43, page 59 and 88. I like page 88 the best.

Great pattern and great fabrics. Its always hard to choose fabrics when you need so many. But it is your quilt, use the fabrics you like. What helps me the most is taking pictures and then viewing the color combinations, move a few fabrics, take another picture, for some reason you 'see' the colors and patterns better when looking at a picture. (?) :thumbup:

Very good catch here. Good eyes. good call! Good B&W tip!

I think you could switch 1&2 and drop 15 and add H somewhere at the end. Also switching 18&19. Eventually I hope to work up to something like this. I am working on a squares in strips quilt, but just 4 alternating, not having to pay a lot of attention to the pattern.

I think # 9 & 11 look like the same fabric and replace 2 with g 15 with b

I agree with 2,3,1,4..and 6,5. From my end, 7 appears to be purple and yellow to me, but maybe you need the contrast?? 15 looks brownish-green to me and doesn't work.

I am no quilt expert at all, but I was a custom color matching specialist for Sherwin-Williams for years....back before they computers to do it! lol I believe this is where my love of color was born :)

I may have no idea what I am talking about, when it comes to the bargello quilts, so feel free to dismiss this opinion..lol

I think everyone has said what I would have said already, so I won't add my 2 cents worth. BUT, please keep posting pictures! I am not yet brave enough to try one of these, but maybe you can inspire me.

I've not made a bargello, but your avatar caught my eye. I just made my first stab (:0) at English Paper Piecing. I know my cats love to "arrange" my quilt pieces for me, but this is the first time my cat was caught (true!) pulling the pins out with his claws and tossing the paper-backed hexagons up in the air & batting then like butterflies. It was too funny to get aggravated - until the third time. : )
Debbie Stair

I tried to do what was suggested, the results are shown in the first picture. I also tried the combination sylviak suggested. Then I hopped in bed so I could be ready to the day. I could not sleep. I am on vacation from the family, in a nice cabin by a beautiful lake. It is so relaxing and peaceful. So, rather than sleep I let these silly red fabrics dance in my head for hours!!! At 1 am I arranged them again, thinking I ONLY want red. I kind of like what I got but that would create more shopping which I don’t have the funds for. BUT----I forgot my rotary cutter so I have to go to the store anyway. Now looking at page 88 (I posted the picture below). I am thinking this may be what I want. The person this quilt is for loves red, so I wanted to go over the top with red which is why I choose a Bargello.

I made a Bargello with blues from my very, very small, like it fit in two small boxes at the time, stash and it turned out great. So maybe I am making too much of this. One of my problems is that red is one of my least favorite colors. The other is I just don’t see what you guys see. Sure I see it once it is pointed out…

I am thinking the best thing to do now is go get some coffee :)

Thanks again for all the help :thumbup:


edit: I forgot to mention that I put the darkest fabric next to the lightest fabric since they will be like that in the finished product.

Hi. My avater is my one block wonder that turned out very poorly. I should changeit , but I'll probably get more help with it there! My current foster cat tries to take pins out, it really scares me. The paper butterflies thing seem so cute though! I just love how my cats lay all over the quilts before they are done.

And darn it all, you didn't have your camera ... right? :)

OHHHHH..........not to hurt any feelings..........I like to seea solid here or there, makes the prints pop, comtrast..........you know...........calla

What a wonderful holiday for you!

I think you've got it ... your first layout of the new round and add I to the right of #1 ... it'll really help the lights pop against the darks when put together. Or does that give you one too many? .... then stick with what you have!!

Now for that coffee by the lake ... dash to the store for your new rotary cutter!

Hope you'll show us progress pics at each stage, as you make it!!

(remember the thread recently of the lady in Hong Kong that showed us pics at each stage ... felt like we were making it with her, starting as you had with the fabric selection)

You ladies ARE amazing. I see how the B&W photo REALLY helps.

For educational purposes I will post one last picture. DogHouseMom suggested adding a green filter. I think this is what she meant. Something looks out of place, I'll fix it when I return with the cutter. Who tooks a "quilting vacation" and doesn't bring their rotaty cutter????? Only me!

I'd make several moves, and one removal. #5 bothers me because it reads both very dark and very light. It's going to look out of place regardless of where you put it. I'd bring back the fabric you had in the first photo in either #1 or #2 position (a white background with a red vine/flower). Don't remember which position it was in, but if it was 2 swap it to 1 and if it was 1 swap it to 2.

After that ....

1, (insert new) 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 16, 8, 9, 12, 14, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20.

I've made 5 various types of bargello and it's not unusual for me to take DAYS looking at and swapping out fabric. I especially like looking at them in different lights of the day. Sometimes a combination looks OK until the morning light then I have to wonder what I was thinking last night!