Where do you get your inspiration?
08-07-2012, 03:45 AM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Holmen, WI
Posts: 6,459
I'm so glad to hear you say that because my DH thinks I'm NUTS because (well, for any number of reasons... LOL!) I save Kleenex boxes to use in scrapbooking. They have really nice patterns!
08-07-2012, 04:34 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Rain Country USA
Posts: 300
You might want to showcase the focus --rockets--- in say an 8" square then do the other fabrics in some combo that makes an 8 inch square. I used a pattern from Quilt Harbor called Split Rail Surprise for one for my great nephew. The focus fabric was cut 8 1/2 inch squares and the 4 co-ordinates in 2 1/2 inch strips pieced then cut into 8 1/2 inch squares. Framed around the focus fabric and it turns out wonderful and fast.I made a pillowcase to go with it to keep the quilt safe in shipment --Beau enjoys his "Where the Bears Are" quilt. You could scale down to 6 1/2 squares and the strips would be cut at 2 inches ( think I have the math right.)
I've had the hardest time with my latest project--a quilt for my baby boy due this fall. I went to the fabric store no less than 3 times looking for fabric (I usually pick the pattern first, then get fabric to match, but I did it the other way around this time). The first two times I ended up leaving empty handed, frustrated that all the fabrics were too feminine--even the blues were covered in flowers and hearts. I finally found a really cute rocket ship fabric, and bought 4 other colors (with subtle patterns) to match. They are perfect together. Then I thought I had the block all picked out, but now I'm second guessing it. I was going to use a star pattern to go along with the rocket ship theme, but with the size of print it seems like the pieces will be too small to really see the print. The rocketships are about 2 inches in length or so, and 1-2 inches apart. I don't want that adorable print to get lost in tiny pieces. And I want it to be different from the quilts i've made for my other kids. Most of the "traditional" blocks seem too grown up for the personality of the fabrics. I could do just 6 or 8 inch squares all pieced together, but that doesn't seem very interesting (or as much fun to make). Then I thought I might use the coordinating fabrics to make the top, then use the rocketships for the back....or save the rocket ship fabric for something else entirely (but I have no money to buy more fabric). I just can't seem to find the right way to put these fabrics together.
Anyway....where do you get your inspiration? I can't seem to find mine.
Anyway....where do you get your inspiration? I can't seem to find mine.
08-07-2012, 05:04 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The beautiful Texas hill country.
Posts: 1,265
One idea might be to use "attic window" pattern. I just finished piecing a quilt for my grandson using that pattern. The fabric is a Route 66 print. The frames are different shades of blue. Oddly enough... the pattern in the book showed a rocket ship in just one window pane. With stars and solid colors in the rest.
I get my inspiration from all sorts of places. It might be the fabric first or a pattern that strikes my fancy. So far, not one of my quilts have turned out like I first invisioned!!
Let us know what you decide.
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I get my inspiration from all sorts of places. It might be the fabric first or a pattern that strikes my fancy. So far, not one of my quilts have turned out like I first invisioned!!
Let us know what you decide.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]354115[/ATTACH]
08-07-2012, 03:24 PM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,586
Decide on the colors you want first. That will narrow the field considerably. My DIL came to me with two pieces of ribbon- one plaid, and one polka dot. That gave me little more than colors, but she wanted lots of dots. I got a stripe, a polka dot, and a plaid, then looked at some prints in same color palette for her to choose from. It ended up great if I do say so myself. The only real theme from that was she wanted striped walls, so I made a quilt with monkey riding elephant carrying balloons of the different fabrics- kind of circus looking.
08-07-2012, 03:34 PM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,586
I get my inspiration from right here on the board. I am color design challenged -- I know what I like when I see it but to figure it out myself--not happening. Case in point, I saw a pattern on Chlotilde (Monty the Monkey) that I would never have thought of buying but Cindy60545 here on this board made an OUTSTANDING one! Same with the Lucky Stars quilt made by Daylesewblessed on this board--the one made on Fons and Porter is no match to the one she made! These are only 2 recent ones but there are hundreds of ideas on this board. I sit for hours drooling over quilts made by our board members. That's where I get most of my inspiration for fabric and color choices.
08-07-2012, 03:46 PM
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
I have a bunch of books and magazines, but most of the time lately, I find ideas right here and on other forums. The picture section is a great place to look. My recent favorite pattern is the Disappearing 9-patch. I have already made 6 tops with that pattern and normally I don't repeat patterns much. It looks cool because you can feature a specific fabric, it looks difficult and it is one of the easiest patterns EVER!
08-08-2012, 04:12 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Washington state
Posts: 474
My inspiration comes from looking through books and magazines or seeing something at a quilt show. Sometimes I page through Jinny Beyers' The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns when I am looking for a block to showcase a particular fabric or just looking for ideas. When I browse the web I'll see a quilt that I really like and I might buy the pattern. It just gets added to the list of future projects. Good luck in finding a pattern you like.
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