Started this week:
This week is all about table runners in my house. I started on two this week - one for the Modern Christmas table runner swap, and one for a gift for my friend. The Christmas one was a bit of an experimental process but I'm really pleased with how its looking and just waiting till the weekend to quilt it. I know now that my partner is going to like this, but need to make a decision on how to quilt it. I could go in the white space with zig zags, which would seem a natural choice, but the trees are cut on slightly different angles so it might be a bit tricky to get it looking right. I'm liking the idea of straight line quilting too. Still pondering this one!
I also pieced and started to quilt a runner for a friend. She is not into crafty stuff really at all so this is a little bit of a reach. I want it to be very modern and understated looking. She loves bright colours, particularly orange and purple, but I don't want it too look traditionally crafty so I went for pops of colour against Ash grey Kona. The squares radiate out from the largest one in the centre towards both ends, getting smaller for each square.
I started to quilt it tonight and really love how the quilting is shaping up.I went for straight lines, with the print squares unquilted. The back is large strips of aubergine, orange, berry and ochre Kona (couldn't get a decent picture) and I'm using some of the lovely lavender coloured Egyptian cotton thread I got from Fi for the quilting on the back.
However, there is a problem. Have you noticed? I used 2 different lots of Kona Ash grey to piece this and there is a minor, minor difference in colour between them. I didn't notice it when I was piecing, it was only when I had it laid out to quilt that I realised it and I hoped the quilting would draw the eye away. I don't know what to do now - whether to continue or to stop, undo it and repiece the strips in. I'm not sure my friend will notice when its all finished, quilted and bound and laid out on the table. I am a bit of a perfectionist about stuff like this and its bothering me a bit to be honest so I would love to hear your honest opinions on it. it. My hubbie thinks I am quite mad to be so exercised about it! I will say that the camera and light exacerbate the difference more than it looks to the naked eye, but I did still spot it. But then, I am always looking much more at the detail than most people would and I know when you're in the process you tend to focus on the detail and the imperfections rather than the big picture. Urrgh. Opinions please!!
In Progress:
The red, pink and aqua quilt is progressing steadily (but no pics!) and I am almost finished cutting the block pieces, another cutting session should see me finished. Once I have finished the cutting, I am confident of moving this along quite quickly.
My Skittles quilt top is on my mind a lot this week, I think I need to start quilting it soon too. I have pretty much decided to largely hand quilt this one, mostly because then I can do it in front of the fire in the evenings :-) So, hoping to start on this soon!
Other Stuff:
I'm off to the Knitting and Stitching show on Thursday and, to my huge excitement, am meeting up with some friends there, not least my blogging buddy Cindy of Fluffy Sheep Quilting who I chat to a lot but have never actually met. Imagine how excited I am to be meeting her in real life!! So, I just can't wait for Thursday morning to roll around to set out to Dublin and hoping that I manage to pick up some lovely fabric too :-)
Ok, so I'm linking up the fab WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced - hop over there and check out the fab talent on show!
I really like the table runner, and I would definitely leave it alone. I think the subtle change in fabric makes it interesting. Really. Call it a "design decision" and carry on. How exciting to meet Cindy in real life! I have had nothing but wonderful experiences when meeting my blogging buddies for real. Have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI love the runner you are making for your friend. The colours against the gray background is really striking.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be joining you as I also chat by email with Cindy quite a bit! Have a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteI love both table runners. I think you just have to do what’s right for you regarding the Kona Ash – otherwise it might haunt you!
Well, I totally love the subtle difference in greys. I too had this issue with Kona Charcoal on my Across the Sea quilt top and it stopped me for a while from finishing it. Now I have come to love the fact that there are some small differences that mostly only I see - time to get back to that one and quilt it.
ReplyDeletelooking good
ReplyDeleteI think the grays will be just fine the way they are. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteMary
http://www.quiltgenius.com
Both runners look great, Sarah! I say leave the greys alone, even if they are a little different, I think it adds interest. Have fun at the show and super-cool that you get to meet Cindy. She seems so fun! Don't get too silly together!
ReplyDeleteExactly! A design decision. The very same thing happened to me with Kona Medium Grey the letters of my Kona Solids Challenge quilt are pieced with a different lot than the sashing between the letters and rows. You better believe I left it alone! I LOVE your modern table runner. LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteI love your runner. In the photos here, the subtle difference looks intentional, so I'd definitely leave it! I've had the same issue with Kona Ash. I've noticed more dye lot differences in Ash than just about any fabric.
ReplyDeleteI love your Modern Christmas Runner, but I can understand your indecision over how to quilt it! Sorry, I have no suggestion! I would also make the fabric/dye difference a design feature- could you emphasise it further with the quilting you will add?
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the Kona - your friend will be so pleased she will think it is part of the design if she notices at all!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time with Cousin Cindy!
I wouldn't worry about the Kona if your friend isn't crafty she want notice. Love the Christmas tree runnner
ReplyDeleteVery pretty Sarah! By the way, was planning to contact you to ask if you wanted to host a TGIFFriday (www.tgiffriday.blogspot.com) at the end of Feb to coincide with your end of winter sewing list... so we can see what you have finished up from your list! Will forgive you for being hemispherist if you do! ;)
ReplyDeleteLovely! I wouldn't change a thing. I thought it was a design element.
ReplyDeleteLeave it and then I will feel better about the discoloured piece of white in my Christmas runner that I didn't notice until after I had embroidered a snowflake on top of it. So just leave it to make me feel better please!
ReplyDeleteIf your friend's not crafty then if she notices it she'll think it's deliberate. It looks really classy and not at all homemade and crafty so I'm sure she'll love it!
ReplyDeleteI love both tablerunners and your friend`s is gorgeous! As the different Kona is matched in the piecing in that it is opposite each other it just looks like it is part of the design but if you decide to leave it you mustn`t do what I would do and blurt it out to her! She won`t notice. Truly.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool that you'll be able to meet Cindy!! Have fun :) I think that after you wash the runner for your friend, you won't notice the slight difference in the Kona Ash pieces - the quilting and crinkliness will totally mask it!
ReplyDeleteLove the modern table runner! And definitely, leave it alone - it adds to the design element to have the colors off just a bit. LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteLove the runnerS...LOL...As for the grey "issue" honestly, I did notice it in the pictures, but totally thought it was part of the subtlety of the design to really make the colors pop. I say do what makes you happy, but I really thought it was deliberate!
ReplyDeleteLove the runner - I noticed it in the picture but thought it was part of the design too!!
ReplyDeleteI love your trees! I'd also just leave the grey alone, I think it looks great!
ReplyDeleteActually, I think the color difference adds some character. But you have to do what you think is best for you. Don't be disappointed in your work!!!
ReplyDeleteI would also leave the grey - is a stunning table runner.
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever holiday table runner! I'm not a big Christmas decor fan, but I really like this!
ReplyDeleteI love that Christmas table runner! I had a simular problem with one of my quilts recently when the whites were just slightly different. I didn't notice until it was DONE, so there was no way I was going to change it, but now - I can't even tell, unless I look really hard... I would leave it if I were you! YOur friend either won't notice or won't mind!! :)
ReplyDeleteLove both runners! I would say leave it, I bet after its all bound and displayed you wont even notice the tiny difference, and if you can, pretend its supposed to be like that!
ReplyDeleteStill loving your trees table runner. As for the Kona Ash thing.. hmmmm.. I honestly thought it was done on purpose to create interest. Are the different ash's distributed throughout or just on one side. I say leave them from what I can tell... it creates a bit of interest.
ReplyDeleteLeave it alone and pretend it was intentional! I quite like the subtle variation in the grays. I had that happen with some Moda Snow one time and didn't notice it until I took pictures of the finished quilt, yikes! I just hope the recipient didn't notice it either, lol. As for quilting of the first one, maybe echo quilt the colored triangles? Go up one side, pivot at the point, and then down the other side. Or continue all the way across and let your diagonal lines intersect with each other?
ReplyDeleteI love these projects! A lot of antique quilts have that one odd block, with fabric that doesn't match the other so you are in good company. I am a hopeless perfectionist too so I hear you. We are probably the only ones who will notice. I also hear that if the bolt does not have the blue label of Kaufman it isn't Kona cotton. Some discount stores have fabrics called Kona, but it isn't the same. Dye lots also differ.
ReplyDeletethe quilting is beautiful on that gray tablerunner
ReplyDeleteI LOVE, simply love the trees table runner, simple and yet so cute & Modern! I saw the different lots of fabric, but I just though you did that on purpose, and unless you say anything who else is to know otherwise when you gift it? Call it "an experiment in creative shading" or something like that!
ReplyDeleteI love your tree runner. I am thinking of a snowflake one. I love following your blog!
ReplyDeleteI'm wanting to do a lot more table runners. I need to find patterns maybe. A lady at church gave me a pattern but I've not tried it yet.
ReplyDeleteHa, I just had the same problem with Kona Celery in one of my quilts! In the end, I just left it like it was. But both table runners look wonderful so far!
ReplyDeleteI also had a similar problem with 2 different blacks. I'm not a perfectionist, and I'm cheap, so I let it be, and made a mental note to buy the same lot for each project, and keep all of the fabric together. I think it looks great, BTW, and you've put a lot of work into it already. Keep it!
ReplyDeleteI kept rereading the bit about the runner for your friend, thinking, ok, she used ash, but what's the other grey? I love how they interact and give even more of a modern vibe to the piece. Don't stress, it's gorgeous that way!
ReplyDeleteI totally get being upset by the color difference, however I think you can probably just let it go. Even if anyone notices, tell them its supposed to be that way. :) Overall I really like the runner. Very simple/understated. In a good way.
ReplyDeleteYour xmas runner is so cute and love your quilting on the other runner.
ReplyDeleteLoving that Christmas runner, maybe a meandering stipple through the white? Love the runner you made for your friend too - I thought the colour difference was meant to be trendily tonal until you pointed out it wasn't meant to be so embrace it, it looks fab!
ReplyDeleteYour table runners are beautiful, and honestly the one with Kona Ash....just leave it alone, after several washings, you will never notice, I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteBoth table runners are lovely. I agree with the general consensus that you shouldn't worry about the subtle differences in the grey. The Christmas table runner is really fabulous.
ReplyDeleteOh I know how you feel Sarah. This happended to me too in my ATS Quilt...frustrating isn't it. Enjoy the show on the weekend, I might get there..don't know what day yet.
ReplyDeletethe christmas runner is so sweet, you may have given me an idea for my mug rug swop :O) enjoy dublin you lucky thing !!
ReplyDeleteI love your tablerunners, and, by the way, I actually love the (very very slight) differences in colors in your Kona ash grey. I thought it was deliberate unless I read otherwise!
ReplyDeleteI think once you wash your runner the color difference will be less noticable, beside I am sure she will love it no matter what. That is the great thing about friends. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love the table runner you're quilting - I think the variation in Ash looks good actually!
ReplyDeleteI love both runners. I'd leave the variation..it's subtle and I like it. I would have thought you had done it on purpose!
ReplyDeleteTell hubby that some of us out in the bloggy quilt world are exactly like you! I used to crochet a lot before quilting and my hubby was always flabbergasted when I completely pulled out a piece because I made what he considered a minor mistake! I'm like Ella. I think it looks like it's supposed to be that way. And it's very subtle so it doesn't draw your eye in a negative way.
ReplyDeleteI can see how it would bother you but really, without knowing what happened, it does look like it's supposed to be that way. As always, loving the fabrics. You are so creative with them!
ReplyDeleteModern Christmas table runner gives me some fun ideas! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove how you are quilting the table runner Sarah - and the colours look fine!!
ReplyDeleteHello you, loving both table runners! The grey must stay like it is, like the others, I like the subtle changes in colour :) x
ReplyDeleteI think it looks great. I would leave it too. :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm a lil bit in love with that table runner. So so pretty.
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective I see there is a subtle blending happening between the purple patterned fabric in the centre outward along the columns of a solid pale grey (I think you mentioned them as being a slightly different shade). There is a continuity and purpose in the fact that they are restricted to the same column and you could modify your design to incorporate that perhaps? Also I notice that they have a similar tone to the centre fabric, a pale mauve-y grey..which helps to make it look more deliberate. In the end it is your decision, your quilt coming from your heart!!
ReplyDeleteOoooh! Love the Christmas table runner.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I love your table runner! And your quilting on that linen looks great!
ReplyDeleteWow, you have many comments. I did not read them all, but thought I'd add my thoughts on the gray fabric. I think it looks very nice. Homemade should look different from items you would pick up in a store. I think the 2 gray's add character.
ReplyDeletethe Christmas table runner is looking great :) I would leave the grey fabric as is since you havae already done so much quilting. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love the two shades of grey and wouldn't change it.
ReplyDeleteOh, that table runner is super cool. I already sew that you decided to fix it—I probably would have done the same, even though I'm sure it was painful! Thanks for linking up to WIP Wednesday. : )
ReplyDeleteOops, I meant to say "saw" not "sew." LOL.
ReplyDeleteI think she will really like the table runner. Very graphic and modern.
ReplyDelete