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quilt proportions
I've been messing with a "pita" quilt top for a while. I bought it at estate sale. It was not finished.
Meanwhile, I read an article about proportions. The magic number is supposed to be 1 to 1.6, I thought. My little top can't go any wider, as it's strip pieced. So, it's 44" wide and I can't change that. I can change the length, though and it needed it. (It was about square when I started changing it.) So, I used the 1:1.6 measurement to choose a length. It looks way too long for how wide it is. It's 44X70 without borders. Did I misinterpret the meaning of the 1.6 proportion? Is that not the right number? Or, do I just not have a good sense of design? I'm going to change it, right or wrong, as I don't like it. Not sure yet to what to change it to. But now, I'm curious about the "perfect proportion". bkay |
There is something called the "Golden Ratio" - which is approximately 1:1.6 - Which seems to be derived from the Fibonacci series.
There are a lot of articles on it, if you want to google it. IMO, if it looks "right" to you - then that is what it should be. |
Do you have a picture you can share?? IMHO it seems a bit narrow for an adult size quilt, a younger toddler/ child it may be perfect , I like to be completely wrapped in a quilt all around. Can you add a border???
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I've never heard of this magic ratio; very interesting! I've always just made my quilts to a "look right" ratio:) But I agree 44"x70" does sound rather long.
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I agree with you that 44x70 seems out of synch even if it does represent the perfect golden proportion rule. I go by visual clues and use individual blocks which I put together in 4x5, 5x7, 7x9 or 6x8 grid (depending on block size). It seems that the recommended quilt sizes are more of a 1:1.33 ratio.
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A quilt is the right proportion when you like the size it is. Now, any QP wanna write me a ticket?
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this is one of the reasons i love my EQ... i can spy the size before committing fabric
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The golden ratio produces a rectangle that supposedly has pleasing proportions. Personally, I don't think that there is a "perfect" rectangle any more than there is a perfect flower or type of pen or colour to paint your house; personal taste and utility for the task matter.
The golden ratio produces quilts of weird sizes. They might be great rectangles, but they aren't great quilts, because a quilt has a purpose - covering a person or a bed, that often isn't in that ratio. It's fine to use the golden ratio to determine dimensions of visual elements within the quilt, but it's a poor guide for overall size. Edit: Sorry, I guess that first part was just my little rant. To answer your questions: Did I misinterpret the meaning of the 1.6 proportion? Is that not the right number? Or, do I just not have a good sense of design? I think you interpreted it as they intended; the writer was just wrong in this application. Good design is useful as well as beautiful, so you will need to use a different ratio for your quilt. I'm going to change it, right or wrong, as I don't like it. Not sure yet to what to change it to. But now, I'm curious about the "perfect proportion". |
Yes, and how about all of the "standard" picture frame sizes we see? They certainly don't follow that 1 to 1.6 rule.
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Maybe you could use it for a bedrunner or long table runner? You could put some blocks as a border on both ends so it would drop over a queen size.
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