The tried and true or out of your "box"
 

Do you always stick to the tried and true quilt patterns and color schemes or have you ventured outside of your comfort zone and discovered you liked it?

a little of both.

Like to try new things with colors and techniques.

I'm tried and true as I cannot pick my own color schemes soooo bad with that Im ok with prints and a solid or tone on tone thats bout it

The first time I went 'out of my box' - quilting wise anyway - I had to force it. I used bright orange, lime green, fright blue, and a bright pattern. since then it has been easier. Though there are some colors I definitely can't use: throw up or sick baby poop yellow-green is the main one.

I am working with oranges, rusts, and greens right now. I don't have a single thing in the closet in those colors so guess this is out of my zone. But I like it. Just won't wear it because it makes me look frightful. I like new techniques and don't like doing the same thing twice if I can help it. Exception being stack and whacks.

If it is a quilt I am going to follow the pattern to a T, then I will make every attempt to come close to the fabrics , if not the same as possible. However, right now, I am making kids quilts that match their favorite interest. Right now, my fav fabrics is brights, so I choose a theme I choose two main colors, and try to buy fabrics that match the theme. I have called myself a "DAUG" (design as u go). Sometimes the blocks are not matching up, sometimes I spend hours changing design or colors, but in the end the kids don't mind if it's not exact. All they are looking for is that it's in their fav color, their fav theme and that makes me happy.

Mostly I stay tried and true...but it is fun every once in awhile to sew with completely different colors than I usually use, or to try a different pattern...maybe one that is more complicated.

I don't like green at all - but at the Paducah Quilt show, Eleanor Burns had rented yet another building that had her "stuff" in there for sale and that particular day the greens and browns were $1 off a yard. She had a huge pile of batik scraps for sale by the pound and most were greens and browns. I wound up with over a pound of mostly green batik scraps and recently washed them and hung them up in my living room (temporary clothesline) and found that most were very beautiful. Now, I have enough green scraps if I need them.

After about 3 yrs of quilting, my friends were saying "there's a Laura fabric" Way to predictable after only 3 yrs. And following the crowd isn't my thing. So I made myself a challenge: use a pattern from a book no one else was using and only buy fabrics on the sales tables. When it was all done, it was another pink and blue quilt with a whole lot of twists. It's called Aquarium. Have never looked back to safe. And each quilt has some king of challenge: luminosity, color gradation, Y seams, etc. [ATTACH=CONFIG]412895[/ATTACH]

This is why I love precuts! I get out of my box and buy a layer cake of something different. I just made a quilt out of yellows, greens, orange and aqua. I'm drawn to fabric by holly Taylor for moda.

Usually I stick with "tried and true" but sometimes I venture out a bit. I really like my "tried and true" colors...and patters...so it is hard for me.

Dina

I also like to give myself challenges - use only what I have on hand, only sale fabric, or must be scrappy - whatever makes me think outside the box. I like to work with old fashioned fabrics, brights, really wild prints. I bounce from one to the other. Right now I'm working on a civil war quilt, a hand embellished quilt, and a block of the month quilt. Rarely do I follow the color suggestions on a quilt. I have several applique patterns that I have loved collecting the fabric for. I really like the quilt you displayed - just goes to show you a person doesn't have to be matchy, matchy. In fact I think it is more interesting when it isn't. Guess that is why I like mystery quilts. They can really challenge a person to look at values not colors.

I like picking out fabrics and colors to match a quilt block I come across on the Internet for free. The issue I have is not wanting to run out of fabric for a specific quilt pattern I design and I end up buying more than I need., which is ok as I end up making another quilt different pattern. My tastes run eclectic- love vintage but also love some of the modern. Recently, fell in love with Kaffe quilt designs and colors.

same with me

I know what I like. I know what I don't like. I don't want to challenge myself as far as pattern difficulty goes. I've found what I like and I stick with it. I sell quilts but I only sell them pre-made. I don't "take orders". That way I can make what I want in the colors I want. Anything else would take the pleasure right out of it.

they tell me i am always outside the box...lol

I am trying to use most of my large stash and just use the colors I have. I use a lot of green, brown and yellows or gold.

I've never been in the box, any box...way too confining. :) Learning something new with each quilt I make is a very high priority for me. It's pretty much the reason I quilt.

I don't use other people's patterns and seldom use my own more than once, never without changes of some kind. I have a habit of designing quilts without thinking about how to construct them until afterwards, so I usually sew by the seat of my pants. So far, it's always worked out.

I tend to stick to several favorite color ways but if I know someone likes a particular set of colors then I will make one with their favorites even if it is not mine.
One reason I like swaps is that I may receive blocks done in colors different from my usual set, or I may be challenged to use a particular set of colors that I don't usually pick.
Right now my biggest challenge is learning to do the quilting part on my machine. I'm ok with SID and cross hatching. But anything else doesn't look like I want it to and I'm not going to rip out any but the most awful puckers or pleats. So much more practice will happen in my future. Maybe someday I will do one to be proud of!

This topic is getting interesting. To those "out-of-the-box" (OOTB) [ATTACH=CONFIG]412962[/ATTACH]do you follow the art challenge? What challenges have you given yourself? Would you post an OOTB quilt? Attached is Dragon and Tiger. My cousin is a dragon. His wife is Chinese. Their son is the tiger. These are the two most auspicious signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Although I don't follow Zodiacs, it's fun to their family. Yes they have this quilt, on loan, but it's rare I get it back.

WOW!!:thumbup: That is a beautiful quilt.

Out of Comfort Zone!! Some of my most beautiful work has been done this way.

I may have mentioned this book before, but Mary Lou Weidman's book pushed me not only out of my safe little quilting box but over the ledge! I was totally surprised by what I could do in totally uncharted territory. I think any time we push ahead of ourselves with regard to our skills or knowledge, we learn more than we ever dreamed possible and find much satisfaction in our growth!


http://www.amazon.com/Out-Box-Unleas.../dp/1564779130

I wouldn't give it back, either!!!! Stunning! LOVE the shape!

I have a friend with a true eye for color that always tugs me out of my comfort zone and I end up loving it!!

I used to be stuck in a rut...mostly 30's reproductions with muslin background. Then, I started working in a LQS. Five years later, I now LOVE color! Every time a new shipment of fabric arrives, I declare it my new favorite!

I've been quilting for nearly 30 years now and am no longer afraid of anything. I guess you could say I no longer have a box!

What box??

petthefabric,

That is just too incredibly beautiful.

Each new project I start must have an element outside my comfort zone. I like to keep pushing the envelope one step further each project. Someday, perhaps............

I'm one of those people who don't like to be constrained by illogical rules. I attended a class where the pattern and the instructor were very insistent on using the same light and dark in each block. My first thought was "why"? and I decided to use a bunch of colors in each block. Instructor didn't like it and referred to me as "the rebel" throughout the day. I like the way my blocks turned out and wouldn't have been happy if I'd used the same color throughout. So yes - I'm an outside the box person.
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I never make the same pattern twice as I'm easily bored I try and challenge myself by learning new techniques etc. That being said, I love BOM's and of course, those are in the colors chosen for that pattern. If I don't like those colors, I don't buy it LOL When I choose a pattern I seldom choose the "cover" colors, preferring to make it my own. I have branched out and made a few design decisions and am usually pleased, as is the recipient. So........I guess I do what suits me at the time.

I love the colors in this quilt. I think it is beautiful!

My heart really lies with the rich, warmer colors; also most any shade of blue. I do enjoy going out of my favorite comfort zone to switch things up a bit and work with different colors and fabrics. I have utilized the "modern" colors and patterns for baby quilts that have been very well received. I try to be very attuned to the quilt's receiver. Younger people love the bright, funky colors and crisp, simple patterns.

I love challenges! I have never repeated a pattern yet. Although I do love the Carpenter's Star pattern so I may repeat that one.

I usually go out of the box. Never really been on of those who color between the lines. Some time it works some times not. Not usually moves onto something added to.

I try and do different patterns. I don't want to get into a rut and stall out on my sewing. So I use different patterns all the time.

I very seldom make the same quilt twice. The only one that I have used more than twice is the New York Beauty and that is because just changing colors and settings your quilt looks so different.

I might stick to a pattern, however definitely not to color. I have had trouble being too "matchy-matchy" in that the colors of the quilt had to blend one way or another. Then about 20 years ago I was hosting our bi-annual family reunion and decided that I would like to make a quilt to commemorate the occasion. The previous reunion my brother and SIL asked that each family pick a color for their family and wear t-shirts in that color to the reunion. My aunt and uncle were going to be visiting from CA and had never met most of us, so this way they could tell who belong to whom and the tradition continues. So, I bravely asked for the family members to send in fabric in their "color" and I would make a quilt. To say making a quilt with orange, green, yellow, red, teal, navy, black and purple was out of my safe zone would be an understatement. I made the quilt with each family represented in an album block quilt. It was a hit and my oldest brother won the quilt - I'd asked that if anyone wanted more than one ticket for the quilt, it would be $1 to help offset the cost of making the quilt, batting, backing, background, etc. I'm proud to say that every reunion my family looks forward to see what I've made with their fabric. After 2 years of making family color quilts, I went for red/white/blue, navy blue, blue, etc. and this year went for black and white. I definitely stepped out of the box with those quilts, sometimes using what might be called "ugly" colors, but the quilts all came out beautifully, and I'm glad that I will live on through my quilts.

I do both with patterns I try never to use the same pattern twice but I use patterns others have tried and published. I always use my own color choices.