rail fence question
 

I just finished a rail fence where I used three colors, and I am wondering if I arranged them in the best order. I had a light fabric (white) and I put it in the middle. I couldn't seem to find any information as to which was the "normal or preferred" order.

The quilt turned out okay, but I am going to make another with a light purple, darker purple, and a white. I can't decide if I want the white in the middle again.

I know there are no quilt police, but is there a preferred order? Perhaps one of you will have an expertise in this...

I'll enclose a picture of the quilt I just made. It is going to charity, and I hope someone finds it "cheerful." I was aiming for youthful. Hope I got that too. :)

Thanks,
Dina

Your quilt is lovely and that's how I would have done it. Love the cat - are you sure he's going to give it up? ;)

I think it looks great and I don't think switching the order would have made a difference. It is youthful, cheerful and bright. Nice job!

I think it looks perfect! Very bright and cheerful.

I would have done it the same way also. It is a happy quilt.
Eileen

Thanks for the compliments. My quilt inspector surely likes it. I guess it comes down to personal preference then. I am one who is totally unable to visualize how my quilts will turn out until I am done. I have been using graph paper to try to get an idea, and I think I will see if I have a light and darker purple colored pencil so I can decide how to go with this next quilt. I figure I can't go wrong either way, just wondered if there was a "preferred" way.

Dina

In my opinion, you are mainly looking for contrast between the two outside rails. As long as you have that, you get the correct stairstep effect in your finished quilt. By the way, I love this one, and I don't think a different arrangement would make it look better.
Darren

This is beautiful. Anyone would be very glad to get this quilt. The colors are very cherry.

Darren, thanks for the information about contrasting fabrics in the two outside rails. I have been looking at pictures of rail fences, and quite a few have the medium fabric in the middle. That makes what you say make sense too. So in the quilt I am going to make next, if my dark purple and lighter purple don't have a lot of contrast, I will be happier with my white fabric on the outside. Yes....this helps me a lot. Thanks again.

Dina

Love the layout! love your quilt inspector. He's (or she) is being very courteous. Mine usually take the middle.

Love your pink and green! Here's a link showing different layouts of Rail Fence. Some are even in purples. ;)

http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...t-pattern.html

Love your quilt and inspector. The link that Retiree provided is great and will answer your questions about the different patterns you can get by color/value placement within your block.

Thanks for sharing.

Oh yes!! Thank you!!! This is a great link and I have bookmarked it!!

Dina

I made one with 2 shades of purple, 2 shades of green, and a funny white pattern strip. dark green, lighter green, white, lighter green, dark green strips, all going the same direction. did the same with purple, dk purple, lighter purple, white, lighter purple, dark purple, all going the opposite direction as the green. I almost cried when it left, cause it was so gorgeous. it looked like a basket weave, and the dark and lights were all the same intensity. there really is no right or wrong way to do it as long as you like the outcome. try some different combinations and go with it......

Thank you so much for the link! I've bookmarked it for future reference.

i think you got the color order just right!

I really like how you arranged your colors. I have made many rail fence quilts, and the only time (in my opinion) it matters what goes in the middle is if I'm using a print with 2 solids, I put the print in the middle.

Yours is beautiful:)

Thanks, Angela....a print between two solids. I will add that information to my "box of tools." In fact, I will be using a print and two "sort of solids" in this next quilt. That formula works well with what I had in mind!

Dina

This is a great link I will save it too. Thank you retiree! BTW love your avatar too. I think I'll add this quilt to my list of want to do's .

I made a rail fence last year for my son and I used 4 colors: white, pale blue, medium blue and dark blue. I arranged the colors from lightest to darkest. But really, it's up to you and what you think looks best. The shades of purple will be nice.

I've attached a photo of my son's quilt.

I love your blue quilt. Maybe I will add another shade of purple to mine and use four strips!! Thanks.

Dina

Like your inspector and your color choice. I don't think changing the colors would make a difference either. Am watching to see if there is a correct way.

Here's another suggestion. If you are strip piecing, cut your strips out and lay them out on a neutral surface in the order you think you want them. Lay some going in each direction and weave them like the finished quilt will look. If you don't like it you haven't sewed anything and you can still change it. Does that make sense?

Darren

Yes, Darren, thanks, this does make sense. I will be starting the purple quilt as soon as I sandwich and quilt another charity quilt top I just finished. And laying out the strips really will give me an idea of where I am going. Purple is my favorite color and this quilt will be for me. I don't want to make it and then decide I wish I had done it differently.

Thanks again!

Dina

I like it the way you've done it... I think the white in the middle puts more separation between the pink and green which makes them pop more.
When I want to see how a quilt will look, I 'draw' it up in MS Publisher (could also use PowerPoint). It's easy with squares and rectangles.

Rail fence demo/variations: http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...t-pattern.html

I just finished a Split Rail Fence with diamonds for as a baby quilt. Found it on the Missouri Star Quilt site/videos.

Love your quilt.
The beauty of rail-fence is there's so many different looks you can achieve.

Just finishing up this rail-fence.



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Here's a picture of my very first quilt.
As you can see, I didn't lay the rail-fence in the traditional manner.


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Love it, you did great. Looks good to me and I would have put the white in the middle too. I did a three rail fence and loved it. It is a great pattern and easy to do.

I make lots of these to use up binding strips from our Guild Baby Bee group. I judge each quilt as I make it as to what looks best once I lay out the pieces. Often it's lightest to darkest in the square but not always.

One could place them where the pink forms a plus & the green also form a plus. Have made several of the "Interlocking Squares". They too are neet looking. The quilt inspector doesn't want you to give up his quilt.

Very sweet. Love the bubblegum pink.

Great quilt.....I think you made a good choice.

Daddy always said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" I see no reason for change there at all. Beautiful job The purples will be just as great.

I love your quilt and inspector! It is bright and the white really showcases the rails.
And Darren, thanks for your explanation also!

Looks nice. I saw one Eleanor Burns did and am trying to construct one...she used 4 shades/prints of yellow and 4 of blues....I was going to use pinks and thinking of using 4 solid shades of pink against 4 prints of pink....what's everyone think of that? I'd say if you want to change yours, I'd go for a more cream than the white if you want to tone down the white, but really, it looks nice as is. Or maybe ad a fourth color.....

this is beautiful just the way it is love it... smile.. and the cat is precious... may have a problem giving up the quilt...lol

I love it, I'm a pink freak anyway. It's bright and pretty. The pink and green look pretty together.

Very pretty, it is bright and cheery, think you picked the right order for this one, but just my opinion.