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Post by craftedbys on Apr 8, 2015 16:02:37 GMT
The fabric or the design?
I ask because I'm interested in other (and more experienced) people's creative process. Most of the time I will buy some fabric or some charm squares and then have to figure out what to make with them. Occasionally, I will see a pattern and want to make a quilt using that pattern, but then can't decide on a color scheme or fabric for it.
And if you choose the fabric first, how to do know when you've picked THE design? I can narrow it down to about 4 designs, but then it takes me forever to finally commit to one. I guess I'm afraid of it not turning out how I want it to look. My DH just bought me 3 charm packs of a beautiful yellow/blue floral fabric from Moda. I can picture it with some crisp white, but can't decide on the final design.
Right now I am also trying to come up with a design for a wall hanging. Last year at my parent's 65th wedding anniversary celebration I had all of the family sign a piece of tan linen fabric (I had drawn out 6" squares and seam allowance). Now I want to put them together in a wall hanging for this year's family get together. I have 30-36 of these squares that I want to put in and I would like to put them around a larger square in the center and have their name/anniversary date embroidered on it. I picked out some pretty blue fabric (sapphire is the color for 65th anniversary) but I want to do something more than just use it for sashing, but don't have the time/skill to pull off anything intricate.
Would anyone care to share how they start a project?
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Post by Skellinton on Apr 8, 2015 16:07:28 GMT
My mom falls in love with a Moda fabric, then finds a design or pattern to use for it. Typically there is one fabric in the line she loves most and then finds a pattern that showcases it the best then finds the fabrics to fill the other sections. I typically find a fabric first as well, but there have been a few times I found a pattern I loved and then found fabric to go with it. For the charm pack I would look at some of the Fons and Porter books specifically for those and choose one you like. Can you find a pretty patterned sapphire blue fabric and use it for a large center piece and have the squares around it? Or have the squares alternate between another style quilt block? Maybe pinwheels with the sapphire blue fabric being the main fabric? it sound lovely, I would love to see a finished picture!
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,656
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Apr 8, 2015 16:13:22 GMT
If there is a line of fabric that I really like, I will go to the manufacturer's web-site and see the quilts that are suggested for that fabric.
Or if I don't have a pattern picked out, I would buy the fat quarter package or charm package or jelly-roll and then hoard the fabric until I am ready to use it.
I have several books with "generic patterns" like trip around the world, churn dash, snail's trail and buy the yardage that is suggested for making a quilt in those patterns. Moda has some great free patterns to go with the line of fabric.
Currently I am going through all of my fabric, mostly novelty fabric, and cutting out required shapes or strips for I-spy quilts. I am then putting these into Ziploc bags for future projects.
Sometimes the fabric comes first and other times it is the pattern that comes first. Depends on my creative mood.
Guess I am not helping too much, but I am a fabric hoarder.
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Deleted
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Mar 29, 2024 0:12:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 16:25:35 GMT
I tend to buy fabric based on loving the fabric. Then I tend to find a pattern and look through my stash to see if I have enough and buy anything that is missing to match.
I don't buy many patterns, but draft most based on what I find on Pinterest and other quilting forums. I like to do a "throw" size (in between lap and twin) and many patterns don't have that size. Plus I kind of like the mathematical calculations and often don't even know what the end product is going to look like until the end because I make changes as I go along.
I am a very "independent" quilter although I like traditional quilts more than modern ones.
eta: I do have a "quilt bucket list" of certain patterns I want to do (new York beauty, Mexican start, double wedding ring, etc). But it is much smaller than my fabric stash!
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,812
Jun 26, 2014 12:56:40 GMT
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Post by CeeScraps on Apr 8, 2015 16:32:28 GMT
I find a pattern first, then fabric. Why? Because I'm afraid that I won't purchase enough fabric for a pattern once I'd find a pattern.
If I'm out shopping and find fabric I'll jot it down, then look at home for patterns. I will not purchase the fabric.
When I purchase fabric I get it for both the front and back of quilts. I will use a pattern of some sort for the front, then the same fabric and my design for the backs of them.
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Post by duchess on Apr 8, 2015 16:35:30 GMT
It just depends. Lately I have been trying to use the fabrics I already have in my stash (and I have a big stash). I also collect magazines, books and patterns and usually try to go through those to see what patterns I could use with the fabrics I have.
Since you have pre-cuts, check out Moda Bake Shop. It's a site that uses only pre-cuts.
Also, Pat Speth has Nickel quilt books - all her patterns are based on 5" squares.
And remember, you don't have to use the same fabrics, colors, etc. that are on the patterns. Just pay attention to the values (lights, darks, mediums). And mix fabric lines. It's okay to do that.
I'm a big scrappy quilt gal too since I have a lot of those too.
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Post by Dictionary on Apr 8, 2015 16:49:34 GMT
For me it depends. Like my project now, 2 superhero quilts for my grandbabies. So first came the design, then the hunt for the fabric, but if I saw fabric I loved and wanted to do something with it then obviously I will go find a design to use it for. This site has tons of designs. Wish it was a bit more user friendly but hey it's free. www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 29, 2024 0:12:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 17:02:57 GMT
Usually I start with the design and pick fabrics that go with it even if my "shopping" is in my fabric stash.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 29, 2024 0:12:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 18:27:23 GMT
I buy fabric first.
Then I buy fabric for a project. Lol, cuz you can't actually cut up the stuff in your stash.
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Post by ~Sherri~ on Apr 8, 2015 18:43:31 GMT
I buy fabric first. Then I buy fabric for a project. Lol, cuz you can't actually cut up the stuff in your stash. You just described me to a "T"!! LOL!! I rarely buy fabric with a pattern in mind. I just love adding it to my stash.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Apr 8, 2015 18:56:44 GMT
I buy fabric first. Then I buy fabric for a project. Lol, cuz you can't actually cut up the stuff in your stash. Isn't that the truth!
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Post by shannoots on Apr 8, 2015 18:59:48 GMT
Well, I have only made a few quilts but I always choose the fabric first. I'm an impulse buyer when it comes to fabric. I find one I love and will buy between 1/2-1 yard of each color/design. Many times it just sits for quite awhile until I decide what to do with it. I do have some patterns I would like to try on Pinterest so next time I might go with the pattern first and the fabric.
I should add that I have never used an actual pattern. I always just make up my own and do my own thing.
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Deleted
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Mar 29, 2024 0:12:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 19:03:23 GMT
For me it could be either. Sometimes I fall in love with the quilt pattern and buy fabric for that particular quilt. Sometimes I see a fabric I just love and will look for a quilt pattern for that fabric.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
Jun 27, 2014 18:02:10 GMT
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Post by georgiapea on Apr 8, 2015 19:15:58 GMT
Wouldn't it work both ways? Spotting a beautiful fabric leads to "What pattern would that look best in". Seeing a pattern that catches your eye results in "Now what fabric shall I get for this".
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Post by compwalla on Apr 8, 2015 19:19:37 GMT
I do both. Sometimes I see a cute pattern and think of the fabric in my stash that I want to make it with. Sometimes I fall deeply in love with a fabric and buy a bunch of it and find a quilt that makes it sing.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,363
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Apr 8, 2015 19:46:56 GMT
I would just like to point out that I am not a hoarder of fabric, I am a curator of an extensive textile collection.
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Post by paigewh on Apr 8, 2015 19:50:55 GMT
Both! I work for Riley Blake Designs and we always have a free quilt pattern to go with the fabric lines we release
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Post by craftedbys on Apr 8, 2015 19:53:34 GMT
I would just like to point out that I am not a hoarder of fabric, I am a curator of an extensive textile collection. I am so stealing this response the next time my DH makes a comment about my constantly growing fabric stash.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,363
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Apr 8, 2015 20:11:14 GMT
I would just like to point out that I am not a hoarder of fabric, I am a curator of an extensive textile collection. Someone has to make this into one of those eCards you see all over Facebook & Pinterest!!! And when they do, let me know because I want to share it! They did and that is where I saw it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Mar 29, 2024 0:12:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 21:24:56 GMT
My sister does both. Sometimes she buys fabric and then goes looking for a pattern. Other times, she sees a pattern and then goes looking for fabric. I'm afraid to step into her quilting room. I think she has more fabric waiting for patterns than patterns waiting for fabric.
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Post by gale w on Apr 11, 2015 21:59:04 GMT
In my case it's almost always the fabric, because I tend to shop more than I create. So it's always a big production trying to decide which of my hundreds of fabrics to use when I make something.
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Post by rst on Apr 11, 2015 22:29:31 GMT
For me, it usually starts with some design idea -- not really a pattern or a block, but an idea from say, a tile floor, or an ad, or the way shadows look on a wall.
Then I go through my extensive curated collection and pull fabrics in the colors/styles that seem like they might work with my idea, and I'll usually just start making blocks or cutting shapes and put them up on the design wall. I'll try to get a significant expanse that is fitting my idea, then I either add to or subtract from it with the pile o' fabrics I've pulled. I'll use photographs turned to gray scale to help me ensure I have the values right and am not being distracted by color too much, and I just continue the editing mode of adding and subtracting until I'm either happy with the design or sick of it and want to get it out of there-- in either case, I sew the whole thing together and move it to the "waiting to be finished " box.
Very occasionally I will fall in love with a whole fabric collection and make a quilt strictly from that line. In those cases, I almost always go with a simple, classic block or shape-- half square triangles, flying geese, log cabins, rail fence, 9 patch or split value 9 patch. Those shapes give you a ton of options for arrangements that totally change the look of the final quilt -- so I will let that evolve as I put the assembled blocks up on the design wall.
I never worry about yardage amounts because my preferred style of quilt is going to be very scrappy -- my rule of thumb for myself is that I need to have at least 3 equivalent value/color fabrics going on. So while the quilt may look like it has a white background, there will be at least 3 different whites-- tone on tone, textured, solid, slightly off white. Same with colors/prints. Just my style preference, but it also translates to complete freedom in buying and using fabric -- I never stress out over having enough of an exact fabric or color, and I'm free to pick up odd amounts of remnants / scrappy packs.
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Post by gramasue on Apr 11, 2015 22:35:57 GMT
I would just like to point out that I am not a hoarder of fabric, I am a curator of an extensive textile collection. That's hilarious! I usually just call myself a fabric junkie.
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Rainbow
Pearl Clutcher
Where salt is in the air and sand is at my feet...
Posts: 4,103
Jun 26, 2014 5:57:41 GMT
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Post by Rainbow on Apr 11, 2015 22:42:07 GMT
Usually I start with the design and pick fabrics that go with it even if my "shopping" is in my fabric stash.
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