Thursday, September 27, 2012

A Failed Attempt




There is one drawback when designing a quilt.   What you have in your mind and on paper, does not always work out when you actually take the fabric and spin out the design.   I have the perfect example to show you.  Remember how I was trying to figure out this outer border.

You guys really got me thinking and gave me some excellent suggestions.   I went and looked through this book 'The Border Workbook' by Janet Kime, and found what I wanted.   This book is a thumbs up, but you have to do math to get around some of those corners, so I am a little nervous.  Hope the fabric has a lot of stretch, because guaranteed, I will need it=)

Product Details

I picked out my fabric, one was a new piece I just received by Caryl Bryer Fallert (one of my all time favourite quilters) and got to work.   I choose the zigzag border due to all the ricrac in this piece.  Thought it was a good fit.  

These are all my little sections ready to be sewn together.

Here is where things took a downward spin, or as I like to say, sunk like the Titanic.   When I put it on my design wall, this is what unfolded:

Do you see the problem?   The lovely zigzag fabric is too fragmented due to all the colours in it to actually look like the pattern it should.   A very good lesson learned.   I have now picked out different fabric, one with a small repeat pattern and will see how that goes.  I will use my discarded border somehow, there is no way Ms. Fallert's fabric won't end up in one of my quilts.      

Stay tuned for the outcome of the border!




8 comments:

Snoodles said...

Love the concept of the zigzag border...sorry the first one didn't come out. Can't wait to see your next version!

jlk said...

That zigzag border is going to be fabulous.

sandra said...

I to love the concept and will look forward to your next post. We seem to sometimes have to make mistakes to get to the fabulous quilt we want.

Susan J Barker said...

that is a tricky one isn't it -- quite often until we actually see what is created it is not as clear in our minds as we thought it was! The zig zag concept, tho definately works!

Mama Pea said...

Even though it didn't work out for this quilt, I think it's quite lovely. I think you'll find a good use for it somewhere else.

Becky said...

That is beautiful fabric. I'm sure it'll be put to good use for something else!!

Danih03 said...

glad you are waiting it out to find just the right border, but like everyone else, the zig-zag looks pretty cool! It will come to you!

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

It will be fun to see zigzag border Part 2! I am one who has a hard time visualizing things and often will only cut fabric for one block of a new project to make sure it's going to work out.