Thursday, July 8, 2010

My creative space...where to from here?

It's been a little while since I've managed to join in with kootoyoo's creative spaces round-up. But I really, really wanted to get amongst it today, because I need your thoughts on my hexagon charm quilt.

I've pieced all the hexagons I'm going to piece, leaving me with a small cot-sized patchwork top. I either love it or hate it, but I'm not sure which it is yet!



Now I was thinking about backing the top without a border and leaving the edges tessellated. But as I've been looking at it (kind of in horror) I've realised that there is nowhere for the eye to rest. Because there is no dominant colour, no repeated pattern, no focal point to draw the eye, I've found my eyes bouncing around the quilt top. I like the effect, but I wonder if it might be better to add a plain border to tone it down a bit.

What do you think?

Can you see this with a border?
Do you think a border would tone down the quilt? Should it be toned down?
What about the edges, straight or as they are?
Do you find this quilt horrendous or fabulous? (I can't decide...)

Opinions much appreciated (although of course I will disregard them and do my own thing :))

More creative spaces at Kirsty's house.

38 comments:

  1. Well, I know nothing about quilting but I love the chaotic colours. That said I think I'd like straight edges to balance the whole thing out a bit.... but then, that's just me. Amazing effort so far! xo m.

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  2. Oh, I am loving your quilt! I am facing the exact same dilema with my own. I am thinking of half hexagons to finish the edges and bring them straight. Then perhaps a very small boarder so as not to detract from the hex's but to give me some room to work with bindings.
    I love the way so many different fabrics come together in non harmony that is harmonious. Get what I mean? Embrace the chaos.

    xB

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  3. I don't think it needs a border as such, maybe just binding around the edge. It might be a bit fiddly, but I think worth it. Maybe a nice red, that should keep your eye in (I hope that makes sense). Looking good though!

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  4. Ummm.... i don't know!! But i really like it!! I should get back to mine but my hexies are smaller...

    xo Steph

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  5. Gina, I love it! Chaos is great... I have an unedged one just like that on my kitchen table underneath a layer of glass.
    If you are going to use it for anything else...I think it would would look beautiful if you straighten off the edges & back it... No need to put a border around it.

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  6. I can't really decide if I like it or not either.... but I think it would look nice with a one colour as a border for sure- i will always suggest red for any colour suggestion but there is a lot of white on it- and maybe white might tone it down a little make it softer....you have done a fabulous job of it. well done Gina! xx

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  7. Its sensational! I think when you finally take a few steps back from it, you'll realise how much you love it. I am marvelling at all the work that has gone into it!

    And heck I might as well throw in another suggestion - being the huge quilt expert I am (OK you can stop laughing now!)- I can imagine it with a white or natural border.

    Whatever you decide, I can't wait to see the finished quilt. Have fun!

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  8. It looks great! I think it would be great to put a straight border of one colour. But then again, what do I know?!

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  9. Personally, I would only be adding borders if you want it bigger.
    If you're happy with the size, I'd leave it just as it is, tesselations and all.
    It's gorgeous.
    If you are interested in a good way of finishing off the quilt with wobbly edges, check out Amy's tutorial:
    http://badskirt.blogspot.com/2010/05/tutorial-finishing-you-hexie-quilts.html
    Have fun!!
    Andi :-)

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  10. I really like it as it is with no border but I am no quilting expert! I like the mish mash of colours too but then I am a big fan of bright colours. Are you going to be using it on your bed? If so then I think a plain coloured cover on the bed with this on top would be great :) But as I say I am no quilter!

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  11. Eyes bouncing around is exactly what is happening when you look at it. To me its got that slightly country quilt look to it, which I am not keen on, but that's also probably because it is kind of out of context hanging on your fence! My idea would be to straigten the edges and finish the edges with a white binding to give it a bit of a frame (like a painting has a mounting). A lot of beautiful and exact work there which is entirely admirable.

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  12. Wow Gina - that's nanna chic in a Dottie Angel kind of way (which is good). Maybe half hexies in a light colour and a bold red binding?

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  13. I love the quilt and all the craziness! If it was mine (I wish I had the patience you have!) I would add a border in maybe a white/off-white/cream color to take it from a piece of patchwork to a finished quilt. It would look cool if you could keep the edges of what you have now the same and add the border on to it so that the hexagons "creep" into the straight border. Hope that makes sense.

    It really is amazing.

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  14. To me the green hexies stand out. If you do add a border, consider green - it's almost a neutral (at least to me - I use green all the time).

    I think adding half hexies might just be the ticket, but as I have never been down the hexie path, what would I know.

    Happy sewing anyway

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  15. I LOVE it Gina, you should be very proud cos youve done an amazing job. If I were doing it I would probably straighten the edges and finish with a solid color binding - whatever you choose to do will be beautiful!

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  16. I really like it (and I wish I could do that sort of sewing!), but if it were mine, I'd put a block colour border on it. Nic

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  17. I think you have created an old fashioned scrappy quilt and should treat it as that (doesn't matter if you don't though!) which would probably be to cut the edges straight and back it and use an old blanket in the centre for authenticity, like a wagga. I like it. Cherrie

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  18. seeing it come together i still really like it, and the jumping around thing doesn't bother me at all
    that said, i think an anchoring would be good, but I like the idea of the tessellated edge {if it means what i think it means}
    it is possible, and me knowing NOTHING about this whole sewing caper, to leave a "top" tessellated and border the rest

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  19. wow - well firstly i think it looks great - so much work and effort. I have not idea what would be involved if you left it without a border but that seems to be a bit unfinished...so i think pick a fav colour or a colour that brings out the strength in you quilt....but seeing as i have never done anything this complicated - good luck with your decisions...;-0

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  20. I love it! I wouldn't tone it down. I would leave the edges tessellated (thanks for the new word!)OR you could re-arrange the hexies so that colour blind folk can't see the hidden number in the middle! Ha. You could do a block colour to fill in the edges and use that same colour on the underside too??? Great to see you on the weekend, I hope you had an ace time. Peta

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  21. It's fabulous Gina! I would tone it up with a hot pink border. ; )

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  22. I love it as is...just beautiful...its like a big story. (if that makes any sense!)

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  23. Uber ace hexy quilt top you've got there :)
    I think the border will look smashing - provide a frame. Initially I though a natural colour but now I'm not sure - perhaps something darker to keep all the colours in.
    Brilliant piecing Gina.

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  24. hmmn. I'm thinking border. A nice straight edge will give it some balance. I'm imagining the half hex's to fill in would be the same colour as the edge too (something very pale). But of course, disregard as you see fit!

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  25. definitely not horrendous. absolutely fabulous. i do think a plain border would offset the colours beautifully. you could test it out by sitting the quilt atop a piece of plain fabric and reshoot the photos to get an idea of whether or not it works for you

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  26. I think a border is just what you need to calm the eye jumpiness. I was thinking tan or some sort of neutral so it wouldn't compete with the colors in the hexagons. If there was a neutral color running through some of the hexes that would tie it together a little.
    I for one love it! If you decide you really do hate it I'll send you my address!

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  27. I love the edges the way they are - would it be a nightmare to bind though? I think read and white spotted binding would look fabulous.

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  28. I absolutely love it!!
    If it were mine, I would be tempted to pick a colour to highlight, and do a border of hexies in that colour, keeping the tessellated edge and overall hexy feeling. I'd choose the colour to suit the purpose it's intended for - your fave colour if it's for you.
    Have fun!!

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  29. I have absolutely no idea! but having said that, my friend was working on a hexy quilt last weekend- her mum had been making the hexies since the 70s out of leftover dress fabrics to give her for her 21st- she's now 35 and the hexies are finally sewn together, and at the same stage as yours. She was trying to decide what to do with them, and laid them out on a rather yucky mustardy-neutral colour. and much to our surprise, wham! it all came together somehow. The background fabric picked up colours that were in the disparate fabrics but had been barely noticeable before, and it gave the whole quilt a colour scheme. I must say I was really surprised how effective it was.

    You could lay the quilt top out on some large solids or almost-solids, and one colour might have the same effect. Or a few colours might have different effects, and you could choose. you might even find a border as well as a binding.

    Looking forward to seeing what you decide!

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  30. BTW when I scan my eye across the quilt I see green and navy blue.

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  31. Okay, I'm casting my vote for straightened edges and a solid green binding. Felt the need to be decisive!

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  32. Squint your eyes and look at it. What colour do you see? Blue? Red? Rust? Yellow? I would attach half hexagons to the outside with that colour (either plain or very slightly printed) so that you get a straight edge, and then add another straight border in the same colour. Your hexagons will then look as if they are "floating" on the solid colour.

    It helps to audition different fabrics against the quilt, but the squinting really works!! So does looking through a viewfinder of a camera (although that's not as much fun as squinting and trying to do your head in).

    Hope that helps! Good luck!!

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  33. It is wonderful Gina but I do agree with you - my eyes were bouncing all over the place. A border sounds like a fabulous idea, but how do you do that on bumping hex edges? Sounds pretty fiddly. Maybe think about where you'll use it - is it wall art or it is going to be folded in the daytime and spread out at night only? ... you know what I mean... if this was on my bed i would want to be up close and appreciating each gorgeous panel :) Kx

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  34. Repeat after me: It is supposed to be busy!

    What a great job. Though it would look cute finished just like this, I agree that a border would help 'contain' the movement you feel here.

    I did an afghan (posted on my blog) that had a triangular edge. Though I liked the irregular edge it created, my daughter, who was the recipient at 2 1/2 yrs old, told me years later that it had always intimidated her to try to fold it because she couldn't find the edges to match up. That had never occurred to me.

    Good luck with it!

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  35. You have so much creativity that you will find the answer, I guess. It's already so so so beautiful!!!

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  36. oh gina, your quilt has turned out so lovey, lovely! Do you watch Dr Who? If so, did you see the beautiful cousin to your quilt on the young Amy Pond's bed? I emplore you to down load said program on i view and take a peek. Oh dear, I too am now wanting some Hexagonal love, my crochet hexagon's are not working, purhaps I need to quilt some...

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  37. I think that this has turned out to be fabulous. I really love the boldness of it, and yet it still so 'olde worlde' and charming. I love the way the muted gray of the fence frames and holds it all together, if you wanted a border that might be a workable colour. I really can't offer much advice on how you would finish off 'cause I'm not that clever with hexies, but I thought the badskirt tute looked pretty good if you wanted to leave it just as is.

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  38. oh my goodness i love it, border or no border it'll look great. i'd go the red binding suggested by selina if it was me. wow great job :)

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“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
~Albert Einstein