Working with pastels
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Quilt Dreamland
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In 6 months, we will attend a family wedding several states away. I thought of making the couple a good sized quilt, so wrote and asked the mother of the bride for her daughter's favorite color. Her reply was neutrals: light tans, gray, soft butter yellow, soft muted greens. Disappointed to learn this for 2 reasons: although this would be THEIR quilt, I actually dislike pastels (LOVE COLOR), own none in my stash for that reason, never wear them, cannot imagine working with them for even one hour. Secondly, with the blandness I have no idea how to have contrast even by adding white, showcase any pattern or produce an attractive result. It all just seems BLAH to me. I would not use black to make the pastels pop either, defeats the whole purpose. So, am rethinking the whole idea. Any input? THX
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
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I am of no help with this .. when I look in my stash ... almost no pastels. I did make a quilt that was pastels a while back, but what gave it a bit a "zip" was it was all pastel florals .. a lot of them. I had this box of pastel florals scraps that I had no clue what to do with them. This is that quilt.http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t133140.html
Last edited by Lori S; 04-04-2013 at 04:56 AM.
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 538
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Not a fan of "sans color" myself, but having said that, there are some wonderful things that you can do with the neutrals. I find myself drawn to them, but unless I HAD to for whatever reason, I wouldn't opt to use them.
Perhaps something like this could work for you...the colors are brighter than neutral, but still in that neutral family. They aren't loud, but classically pretty (IMO) I think there may be more options to "push the envelope" with an antique white or butter yellow background in the florals department
Good luck!
http://img1.etsystatic.com/003/0/5411985
http://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/590....301954719.jpg
Pardon this commercial suggestion; just looking at the colors with this one
Perhaps something like this could work for you...the colors are brighter than neutral, but still in that neutral family. They aren't loud, but classically pretty (IMO) I think there may be more options to "push the envelope" with an antique white or butter yellow background in the florals department
![Smile](https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png)
http://img1.etsystatic.com/003/0/5411985
http://img3.etsystatic.com/000/0/590....301954719.jpg
Pardon this commercial suggestion; just looking at the colors with this one
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: North Central Kansas
Posts: 4
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A friend made a log cabin in shades of cream and tan for her daughter that was gorgeous. I have seen several quilts made like this and they are very striking. The colors listed, gray, butter yellow and greens would make up pretty in a rail fence.
#8
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There are many quilts done in neutrals that are simply lovely. If you are set on making a quilt how about a lap quilt for tv rather than bedsize. That wouldn't take as long if you are working on colors you don't enjoy. Or a wallhanging.
https://www.google.com/search?q=past...iw=911&bih=429
https://www.google.com/search?q=past...iw=911&bih=429
#10
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Fort White, Fl
Posts: 2,689
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This would be a lovely quilt if you added a bit of print to these colors. Not every block but here and there. I agree that a log cabin would look wonderful and would be very easy to add the prints with your pastels. Sometimes I do not want to make something because it does not represent what my likes are but, when we do something like this it is with love and I am sure will be much appreciated
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