Monday, January 16, 2012

Colorful Decisions

After languishing in the WIP pile for over a year, these three liberated coin strips are now a quilt top!


Piecing the colorful strips was the fun part.....deciding on a sashing fabric was not. 



In piecing the strips, I used a variety of solids in a rainbow of colors.  The majority of fabrics are Kona solids, but you will also find some shot cottons, corduroy and even some silks in here.


 Advice was asked and given for a possible sashing.  Every solid color in my stash was auditioned, and I didn't like any of them.  Wanting to finish this and move on to other projects, I finally went with this gray (believe it is Kona Ash), mainly because I had enough yardage on hand.


I'm not sure Kona Ash was the best choice for this project, but I am glad it is finally out of the WIP pile and ready to be basted.  Surely, a colorful scrappy binding will liven this quilt up?!


Any suggestions on how to quilt this?  Organic lines, a spiral, squares?
What about thread color?  There are so many colors going on in this quilt.  
Do I go with a neutral color, a variegated, switch thread colors to match the blocks?  
I can't decide whether to go with a solid for the backing or a busy colorful print.  That will probably depend on the answers to the how to quilt and what thread color to use questions ;-)

Thanks and happy stitching!

8 comments:

  1. Rene', this is beautiful! I know how satisfying it is to get something off the WIP list. As for thread for quilting, I would be inclined to use a matching gray for the background and live it up on the coloured panels. For that reason, I would probably choose a busy-ish print on the back because I'm not mad about letting different colours of thread show up dramatically on the back. That's what I would do - but I know whatever you choose will be spectacular!

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  2. Rene', I love it! I think this is the quilt you had at retreat this summer, isn't it? I think we agreed a grey was the right thing to do, and boy does it look smashing! Way to go! I want this quilt! Haha! I think a grey thread in the sashing so as not to take away from all the bright colors inside. Maybe you could do some cool variegated thread on the coins. Quilting design....hmmmm....no idea. This is an area I really struggle with, so I can't wait to see what awesome thing you come up with. I know it will be great!

    P.S. I want that cowboy mini quilt for the Alzheimer's project, so let me know when you list it. I went to look for it the other day and couldn't find it yet. :-) My guest bedroom is a cowboy theme, and I want to put that in it!

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  3. Great quilt! I'm all for keeping the quilting simple-straight lines in gray all the way across the quilt, even on the colors! Can't wait to see what you decide-I'm sure it will be beautiful!

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  4. Well, I I kinda think that it needs curvy lines to soften all the stark straightness! I am not going to suggest a spiral, I don't want my name used in vain while you are endlessly turning. (But I do think that spiral quilting is to die for!). Variegated thread is fun but also risky for FMQ. Grey thread would be a great second choice. Totally depends on if you are feeling it!

    I know, wishy-washy and no help whatsoever! Lol!

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  5. This is really gorgeous. Stunning. Inspired. Inspirational. :)

    I say use gray thread over the whole thing and keep the quilting simple. Some quilts are about the quilting, some are about the fabric/design...to me, this quilt is about the coins.

    A rainbow binding would be fun. Maybe some Remix chevrons? And, heck. You could use that for the backing, too! :)

    I think it's incredible. Well done!

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  6. You did a great job on this quilt. You have a wonderful eye for colors. I don't understand all of the quilting questions, but it appears that your quilting friends do. I enjoy reading their postings. Again, the quilt is beautiful.

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  7. This is so fun and colourful Rene'! Love it and look forward to seeing what you come up with on quilting. I think the suggestions so far are pretty much what I would do too. I have a colourful string quilt that I'm going to be quilting very soon that is sashed in white and have bought a colourful variegated thread for quilting. The back is pieced in various coloured scraps.

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  8. What a great quilt! I shared it and your blog address on my Facebook page. Thanks!

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