would appreciate some fabric opinions, please.
 

I'm going to be making a log cabin quilt, darks on one side, lights on the other. The gold fabric in the front is for the center block, and the brown fabric in front is for the border. Could you please look at the picture and let me know if anything screams "get me outta here" to you. Also, since this is going to be scrappy, should I not use Kona solids? I'm afraid that it would be too confusing with prints and solids. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.[ATTACH=CONFIG]502882[/ATTACH]Thanks! Michelle

The only thing that might just scream is that red one with the tiny circles. But sometimes you need one or to that are a little loader should we say. I agree with you. I wouldn't use any solids. That center fabric looks more like a yellow in the picture. I would do a test block first to see if that works. Good Luck. Please post a photo when you have completed the top.

I think these are a pretty good mix. The only one I have any question about is the bottom one in the "lights" stack. Can't tell if it is more like the right hand end showing or the left end because of the uneven lighting. If it is like the left end then I think it is a little dark to be used as a light fabric. If more like the right end then it will be fine.
It looks to me like all your prints except the one for the border are pretty small scale which would play well with solids. I wouldn't use a lot of solids but a few strips here and there will blend in well with the prints, in my opinion.

The only one that looks really out of place to me is the yellow you plan for the centers. Seems to me it will look like square "eyes" in the center of every block. I think this is because I don't see that yellow picked up in any of the other fabrics. I could be wrong, though. In this situation I would definitely make a test block.

I did one with the same color palet as your, similar. the center one should be red or yeloow. symbolizing the fire in the fireplace or the light in the house. love your colors. use the solids. they strips are small and some of your prints will read solid froma a distance. go for it, love the yellow as the ctr.

To me the bottom in the light pile looks too dark. Try using photo shop or simular program and make this picture black and white to see how they actually read. I see no problem with mixing solids in like Lynnie said your strips are narrow and your going scrappy it will be very pretty.

I agree. It is the only one that seems off.

I agree with bjchad. The bottom 1 of the light stack looks a little dark. The gold I think will work fine. Your border fabric looks like it has some gold/yellow so it should tie together.

I wonder if the solids will stand out more than you would like. They can, sometimes.

hugs,
Charlotte

If that bottom fabric of the 'lights' is a bit darker than the others, more a medium, I'd urge you to use it anyway, in BOTH sides of the block. YEP!

I "teach" here so often with this quilt, but here it is again to demonstrate how both sides of the block have some medium, and how cozy it looks. In this case it's the lighter blue on the 'dark' side, and the tan and the blue on the 'light' side.

Jan in VA (wish the picture were clearer)

Thank you so much, everyone, for your help. The gold for the center is more gold, less yellow and that's the one fabric the person definitely wants me to use! I wasn't sure about the bottom fabric of the lights either, but Jan, your quilt and your ideas are brilliant! I'll make some test blocks and see how the Kona solids look. I'm concerned about them playing well with others, but the colors are so yummy!!

Is the gold more muted than it looks. Looks kind of bright. Sometimes color is different when posted and computers love playing color tricks.

Log cabins are addicting to me!

I use solids and I use prints - I also like to throw in a few batiks also.. I love the traditional log cabin. I have done it in browns and it is very rich looking - I can see one polka dot, but not two- they look alike. I also know that a yellow center represents the light in the window and the red center represents the warmth of the home. I have always used red regardless of what color the block is done in. Also, I always put (when I am makiing a sampler, which is my favorite quilt of all) the Log Cabin in the center of the quilt. You can explain to the person that that is the most important block because it represents the home and that is the center of all. I have two quilts in the works and one has the Log cabin and that quilt is done in pinks and blues, yellows and greens - all pastel. It is not easy to find a dark pastel. The next quilt I do will be a Pinwheel, but the center will be the Log Cabin matching blues and tans. So, thata's what I do. I do like the choice of the yellow or red center and I think the yellow with your colors will be beautiful. Be sure and tell the person what the yellow stands for. That's what makes the quilt the quilt. I always write a little book with it and tell what each block means and how it pertains to the person I am making the quilt for. Then they feel like it is totally personalized, which it is. Edie

I think there are four "lights" in there that I would question. I made one like that, and found I didn't like the "dark lights" I had used.

The gold for centers is going to be beautiful.

Good mix..I might rethink the bottom one in the light pile...

A lot simpler method to see color "value" is to simply squint at the picture until it's all blurry. Then you can clearly see lights and darks. Yes, that bottom one looks like it might need to jump over into the darks pile, unless it's actually lighter than it photographed.

I LOVE the yellow for the centers and see nothing wrong with using solids and prints together. Love your fabrics.

I'm not sure the border will go with the others. I have a tendency to stay with same sized prints.

I think you have a good selection of light and dark fabrics and using yellow as the center square shows the light from within the home. If you want to use solids, go ahead, it's your quilt. I agree with some of the other comments that the bottom fabric in the lights might be too dark, however, I would go ahead and make a block and see how it looks in the block. You do have a great selection of dark fabrics.