Storm at sea troubles
 

I went to my lqs for help with the storm at sea design phase. I bought 18 half metre cuts and arrayed them by tonal value. Following the advice of the lqs owner, I created a fairly mathematical progression for incorporating the fabrics. I am now finished three rows following the math and I am really worried. There are four more rows to go but it doesn't see to be flowing or undulating the way I wanted it to.

Do you have any advice? The fabrics are so beautiful and i really want this one to flow tonally across the top. I am happy to rip it out and I have lots of fabric, but maybe I'm just not seeing it so far and it will all come together?

the very first block, top left, is a mistake. But it's close to the right combination of fabrics according to the pattern recommended at the lqs.

Thanks!

aileen

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Gorgeous. Makes me want to start this pattern. Put it up on a design wall and you will see it better.

It's gorgeous. I think you need more rows to see the undulations you are talking about.

The only item I see that stand out is that all the top rows have dark centers and that the 2nd row has pastels of various colors. I have seen this pattern before but never have done one.

I'm not sure what you're going for but I can see the movement of the waves, keep going. Can you see it better in the picture than you can looking at the quilt? I usually can.

It looks beautiful. You may wish to print out a "coloring" page for your layout and take some colored pencils to it so you can see as you progress if the undulation is as dramatic as you are hoping for. About half way down the page is downloadable SAS coloring pages
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...sea-quilt.html

An easy way to see where your values are 'off' is to change your photos to black and white. It eliminates the distraction of color. I took the liberty of doing that to the one you posted.

http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/13/49/59/13/repost10.jpg

See if it helps you get an idea of where to make placement changes, add value steps, etc. Your idea has great potential and you've made a very strong start; keep going!!

I would go & look at google images for storm at sea quilts. The ones with color progressions seem to continue the same colors across the entire diagonal row. Your color placement seems to end the colors after 2 rows, then the 3rd row seems to stars another set of colors, which may be the same value, but for me, break the flow of the quilt up... I covered the third row of blocks and the top 2 rows seem to flow. I really think looking at other photos and Feline's suggestion of coloring in a grid are your best options.

A suggestion. Take a picture of each of your different blocks you have created. Copy them into a document and print a couple of copies. Then cut them up and play with the arrangement. And, if you haven't done so, please go to either Yahoo or Google and search for Storm at Sea Quilt Images. There are so many ways to get a quilt to undulate and you will see lots of them. Good luck with the quilt.

Great idea to show it in black and white, ghostrider. You are a clever lady!!! I'd prefer to see the dark values in one corner and then graduating down to light in the opposite corner.

I would switch the 2 top left blocks at least. The black and white is a great idea.

Yes, that was my first thought too, then remove that last block at the right....too early for that dark a block.....this us a tough color way to produce, but you are doing well.

I started a SAS from a guild workshop, but mine will (someday) just be the same blue/white thruout...........I bought the j Flynn templates for mine.......works well......

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...a-t267743.html

I did a varigated SAS also, picture shown at link above. I ran my colors diagonally rather than horizontally. I love your fabrics!

I think perhaps there are too many different colors in all different shades in too small an area. The black and white will help with value, but doesn't show the many color changes. I agree that the shift in color usually looks best over a full diagonal. However, I do think the best thing to do is to use either EQ or coloring pages to reproduce your plan before changing it.

I think you need the rest of the rows before you make a decision. I see the flow of color that you say you would like to have-but it just seems to stop because you do not have the rest of the four rows. I understand your skepticism but the beauty of the flow of color is in the whole project.

I agree, that's what caught me eye also. Its going to be lovely!

How about using your own intuition instead of the LQS owner's advice/suggestions? Sometimes "what is" will show that "theoretical" isn't working.

Most of the colors shown seem to be muted (even the lime green one) - so I think you will be able to make them work together.

If one does not "work" - it really is okay to not use it or change it to something else.

you guys are good! the top block is a fill-in to be replaced by the "right" combination of fabrics andthe bottom left is the wrong block almost entirely!

i'm going to finish it off accordingto the math and then tweak as necessary. i strongly suspect late night panic and uncertainty are at play here.

thanks for all your suggestions. i have looked at so many of these that i feel my eyes might be bugging out and i am not up for the colouring gig. i'd rather sew first and cry later i guess :)

aileen

Sometimes it does look different after all the pieces are there - and one has had a good night's rest!

this is what I did. It helps to visualize it . There was a wonderful on here recently. I'll look for the link.

input "Variegated storm at Sea" in advanced search. Isn't this beautiful!!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/webkit-...ab6a/imagejpeg

Sorry. I didn't read all the threads before I responded. Yours is the one I LOVE!!

i am color blind, so would never attempt a quilt with so many different colors and fabrics.

I do love storm at sea quilts, though, and will be thrilled to see the completed, beautiful quilt.

As ghostrider illustrated with her black and white version of your photo, VALUE is much more important to quilt 'movement' than TONE. If you squint at your quilt, the dark and light values will jump out at you without the colors getting in the way. This is something a great art teacher in high school taught me and I've used it all my life to see darks and lights.

Study the values in some storm at sea quilts that you like, and then make your changes. It's going to be lovely!

I haven't tried a variegated SAS- yet- but have noticed in the square-in-a-square blocks (lg and small) the triangle pieces are different colours. eg; 2 opposite triangles and the middle square are the same colour, and the other 2 triangles are the same as the diamond sashing blocks. Some even have a different shaded fabric in each triangle. If you change the top-left triangle in the top left block to dark blue it might help. Just a suggesion.

There is definitely movement in your blocks. When you add more rows, you will see them even more clearly. Remember to finish the design you will need to add the vertical diamond sashing to the right hand side of the quilt. Your work is beautiful.

I definitely agree with you Kathy. There is a definite wave in colors. I would say finish all the blocks then you will see it.

Looks plenty stormy to me .. keep going

Once you have the blocks sewn together, and the points match up, I think you will see a stronger flow. Looks great to me.

Go to this quiltingboard post: http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t119519-3.html

It looks just the way it is supposed to..you are doing a great job!!

Brilliant idea with the black and white photo! I think it will be gorgeous.

[QUOTE=ghostrider;7324458]An easy way to see where your values are 'off' is to change your photos to black and white. It eliminates the distraction of color. I took the liberty of doing that to the one you posted.

http://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/13/49/59/13/repost10.jpg

See if it helps you get an idea of where to make placement changes, add value steps, etc. Your idea has great potential and you've made a very strong start; keep going!![/QUOTE



Brilliant idea!