Saving my ugly fabric
 

Thinking it would be a fantastic background, I bought 4 yards of an "ivory" tonal fabric without bringing other fabrics to go with it, brought it home and realized that it matches almost nothing! I went through my rather large stash and find very little that goes with it, some greens, but only the muddied ones. It is the ivory oil paint texture from the Van Gogh collection if you are familiar with it. I loved it, since it had such a painted feel feel to it. And it goes with others in its own collection, just not much else.

It's so weird. I've never known a beige-ish fabric to be so far toward green yes, green! The fabric appears to have a chartreuse/moss green tint to it, although it's very light. It clashes even with most neutral grounds I have. I do tend to buy warm beiges and it's far more cool. I would photograph it for you all, but I've seen pictures online and they don't look like the fabric in person at all. It's a very hard color to photograph.

I am not sure what to do. Should I tea dye it? Dye it? Stick it in my stash and see if it ever finds a place? Ugh, 4 yards of money that I can't spend on something else. I won't return it, don't want to stick anyone with my mistake.

Does anyone have this fabric? What did you do with it?

Thanks.

You could either use it for a backing or ( I would be tempted) to use it for background squares for an applique quilt- it sounds like it would be wonderful appliquéd on.

Well one choice would be to expand your stash's color spectrum for a a future project for yourself or as a gift with greens. Blues, red purples, and corals for a color pop that go with your ivory. Consider it an open door to a new family of colors to work with!

Use it to piece the backing for your quilt.

Thanks for the ideas.

You would be surprised at how few of my blues and corals go with this fabric. I don't have many corals, but I have 2 huge shelves of blue, many different tones. The only one that worked super well was a navy with a slightly greenish yellow star.

If the color of a fabric doesn't have a slight green or yellow tinge to it, it clashes really badly with this fabric, turns it into the green blob. I love green but this is ugly green. It's funny how fabrics are so much different when next to other fabrics. I would think it would work with batiks because they often have a mossy cast, but most of them don't work either. I have found one red-purple batik that is nice.

I told my DH that the color was called "ivory". He said "THAT!!! is not IVORY!" I love when he's adamant about something regarding my hobby.

Being really positive about it, the color is about the shade of sunbeams through a green forest....sort of a light yellow that picks up green? Maybe I'll use it for a sunbeam in a landscape quilt. I'd only need a tiny bit, then the rest would be BACKING.

Yes, backing. That's what DH said too.

I've also been digging through my 20 year old procion dyes (do dyes expire?)....maybe I'll turn some of it black. I do need more black. Oh, it does work with this weird geometric black and yellow batik I have.

I tried taking a picture just now, but it didn't do it justice ;-). It looked so sweet and innocent, rather than like the green monster that it is.

I spent a little time looking at Van Gogh's paintings. I didn't realize before how much of a yellow green cast they have. Even skies aren't blue, they're a greyish aquamarine. Interesting. This fabric will create a challenge for me. Maybe it'll inspire me to be the next Van Gogh! (HAAAAA, I kid.)

Is this it? I kind of like it. I know it is not ugly
https://www.fabricdepot.com/quilting...wyJi_BRDLusby7

I would pair it with a deep eggplant purple and make either a "Birds in the Air" or a "Lady of the Lake." Something with contrasting triangles.

I know it is not ugly-just outside the the edge of what you are more familiar with. Ask a fellow quilter to help you so your get another perspective. I know others frequently see things very differently than I do-until it is pointed out to me. Perhaps you could purchase one or two pieces that do go with it and make a simple patterned quilt. Sounds like a personal challenge.

I spent some time searching through my pictures and found the top I made with purples, greens, beiges, and an "ivory with a greenish tint". This is what I meant by a pattern with contrasting triangles.

If you decide to dye it, I think I would test a small piece first and make sure of the affect. Or, you can put it up for re-sale here on the quilt board. It sounds like a lot of people could use it. And then, you could re-buy something that works better for you.

I don't understand using an "ugly" fabric (what you personally intensely dislike) for a backing. It's half the quilt. And it's not like a backing "hides". Sure, it doesn't take center stage, but it is an integral part of your quilt. The saying "don't decorate around a disaster" comes to mind.

But if you really DO want to salvage it, you might try a couple fat quarters from the same line that appeal to you.

Or cut it up into large practice pieces to practice your FMQ.

Or resell it here. You'd take a loss, but someone else might consider it a perfect gain to their stash.

I've never found a fabric "grow on me" if I hated it from the get-go. Color is something we have an emotional response to, and it's hard to explain. Sometimes we just have to face disappointment and sing a little tune..."let it go, let it go". Haha.

You could use it for backing, or a deep eggplant purple would work. Or maybe use it for a wholecloth quilt?

Since you did love it, I would let the idea of sunbeams through a forest percolate, and save the fabric until you have an inspiration. In the meantime, take a very close look at that entire collection, to get a better understanding of what will go well with this fabric.

Lay out a few of your other fabric. you may be surprised what works with the different values.

If you love it, how about a whole cloth quilt with beautiful quilting? Or, if the "front' side dose not work with any of your stash, try the "back" side.

It reminds me of limestone and tilework. Have you ever seen the book "Bella Bella Sampler Quilts" which are inspired by Italian stone and tile floors? I'd do an image search for that and look for a palette inspiration.

Our church group received a donation from Robert Kaufman, and in it was an enormous amount of the Van Gogh material. Some really large pieces, we used them for borders and backing and binding. Take a look at this:http://www.craftsy.com/supplies/kit/...quilt-kit/2536
Also Van Gogh had cataracts that is why all his colors are yellow/green.(Tip from my DFL who was a painter)

Who says you can't use ugly fabric? If the fabric doesn't please you in any way, give it away! Otherwise, store it until it speaks to you again and tells you to make it into a quilt.

Join the next Boomerang swap, and use it as your swap fabric. Those ladies can do wonders.

Did you try comparing your fabrics outside in the sunlight??

It seems like it would qualify as a "light" fabric. Cut it into strips and throw it into your strips/scraps and use it as a light. That is, if you ever do this kind of scrappy quilt. Otherwise, just put it away for a while. You might be surprised how it might come in handy.

Were it me, I would take Kassaundra's suggestion, Those blocks they make are outstanding. Next would be a backing, Yes to me, backing is an important part of the quilt, but usually only for the idea/design concept. Except for baby/toddler quilts, every quilt I've ever made for myself or someone else and saw/used...Never even saw the back. Beyond that, If it really only goes with the other fabric from that collection, well theres that option. All the above suggestions are great, But the really main things is....Don't let it stress you out, lol. There are soooo many other things that slip into our lives we have to deal with, colors, quilting, sewing, creating is our joy and outlet.

That color would probably sing with Batiks. Batik colors blend so well for most projects. Bonnie Hunter says, " If it is still ugly, you haven't cut it small enough".

I am using a similar color for a background. Or you can put some fabric paint into a spray bottle and spray it to change the tone but still see the pattern.

Why not buy fabric to match it? Or use it for backing. That is what I would do.

All I can say is that it sounds lovely. A surprising background. Would it go with autumn colors or blues? Don't want it? PM me and we could make a deal. Really, if you love it just hold it for a while and it will find some color friends. You can then make your own masterpiece.