Friday, December 5, 2014

Curve Quilt Progress

I'm learning so much while working on this quilt.  More of these sections need to be sewn together but it's almost impossible to take one off the design wall and get it back in the exact same place. I machined the coral/orange white circle and interior but may switch to hand sewing or Vikki Pignatelli's method for sewing curves.

Vikki machine appliques the curves with Invisifil thread: 100-wt. 2-ply polyester. My takeaway from her Crazy About Curves class was to turn narrow seams on the top layer and blind stitch from the top (although I recall using nylon monofilament at the time.)

Curve Quilt detail

Tight and gentle curves  and some straight sections are all needed. Most of mine are mid-range radius. More curve variation would help.

I thought Sherri Lynn meant to assign a specific mood to each single color based on how one felt that day. I chose these colors but felt the mood assignment was artificial. Anyway, here's my explanation:
  1. red - energy
  2. coral - happy
  3. orange - annoyed
  4. green - health
  5. white - tired/sleepy
  6. blue - peaceful
  7. yellow - questioning
Upon re-reading her post I realized her moods are more general, covering a section of values and shades rather than an individual color. This makes more sense to me; a group of values conveys my mood more than an individual color. 

There is very little yellow in my stash. Rather than buy fabric I removed that color. Then I used a bit of each of the remaining colors and sewed some curves. The curves are too ambiguous. If all the colors are in each curve, it's hard to distinguish one curve from another. So I switched to smaller groups of two to four colors. Each color can have one or more fabrics. This is working better.

It's obvious in the photo below which curves were sewn first and which were sewn later. I also decided I needed a new, discrete section rather than having everything unfold from a single center. That's how the Q appeared in the bottom right. It may be too disconnected from the rest; we'll see.

Curve Quilt in Progress

Every time I add a curve, the quilt gets bigger. It's a bit like children - we keep them once they arrive. :-) I don't want to trim any of them away but I don't want a large quilt. Continually adding curves is not helping me square it up. Perhaps I should piece strips in straight-ish sections to finish it out. Another point to ponder.

The technical points are starting to pile up. I'm deliberately not looking at anyone else's postings again until mine is sewn in order to see how I work this out. It will be fun to compare later. And having completed one, I'll have a better understanding of how and why others made their decisions.

Enjoy the day!
Ann

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I too found the color for mood concept somewhat artificial, but it was a good way for me to make my color choice more random and spontaneous. My colors created their own mood and I resonated with it. My tendency would have been toward a more harmonious scheme. It's fun to follow you through this process, Ann.

Lara B. said...

You are such an artist Ann! This looks very difficult to me. I so love the pieced curves and the colors and textures you chose. Would it be acceptable to NOT trim any of them away? It seems a shame to lose any of this!

Susan said...

Very interesting piece! It's fun to do free form though, isn't it? And as for the moods--I think I'd have every color in there as my moods are all over the place lately, and change so quickly.

Kaja said...

It is fun to watch this piece evolve. I love the fluid movement and the play of colours, so will be very interested to see where it goes next and how you solve your different puzzles.

audrey said...

This is obviously a very challenging project. Very interesting to see how you're moving through the steps and finding your way.:)

Ann said...

I liked your fabric combinations. Even though they were in most of the sections ,you were still able to differentiate the sections. I think my colors were too close so mine jumbled together too much. It is nice to know I'm not the only person having trouble assigning a mood to a color😕

Ann said...

Thanks Lara. That's my problem I don't want to cut anything off! And it's getting out of hand.

Ann said...

Thanks Susan. It is interesting to work this out.

Ann said...

I am having fun working with something there could never be a pattern for.

Ann said...

Thanks Audrey. I like reading help other people solve their problems so I want to make sure I include that in my discussion. I'm so glad you like it too.

Mystic Quilter said...

Wow! This is truly amazing and challenging! I applaud you for taking this on Ann.

Ann said...

Thanks. I'm enjoying the challenge.

Stephie said...

It's wonderful Anne, so exciting to see it evolve. I think the colour/mood thing would feel artificial, it obviously has deep meaning to Sherri Lynn, but for you and others taking part it might be something else that you consciously choose to do to reflect a part of who you are - the shape or direction of a curve, the juxtaposition of particular colours or prints… Maybe 'recording' your mood through colour just isn't you, but something else is? Really love your exploration x

Ann said...

Thanks, Stephie. I've been thinking about what draws me to certain combinations. I think color combos have more meaning than individual color. It may be a reflection of the light/cloudiness/era of the day. Or it may be my mood. But I don't think one color has a certain mood for me. Although rereading Sherri's post, she applies moods to groups of colors. I'm thinking:-)

Lorna McMahon said...

Love, love, love the curves, Ann! Also enjoyed reading about the mood ring and fabric colour association. When I popped over to the link you provided, I realized why I have so much trouble using purple in my projects. Looking forward to following your progress with this quilt and seeing how everything comes together for you!

Laney said...

Very interesting project!! I need to follow that link you provided to learn more. Thanks for sharing this!

Ann said...

Thanks, Lorna. I think this year has been the Year of the Curve for me. And yes, Sherri's site did demonstrate color moods better!

Ann said...

Thanks, Laney. I think you will like Sherri's explanations when you read them.

LA Paylor said...

Hi Ann, I came to your blog for the first time from Lets be social. I just am so intrigued by you and what you are making, the art you show, etc. Seems like you and I are two of a kind. I'll look around your blog and come back again to see what you're making. The circles are so interesting. I like a circle anyway, and strips of color. Thanks girl, gotta go look around. LeeAnna at Not afraid of color

Unknown said...

I love the curves and colors and the way your write abour your thoughts and the decissions you had to make. Love to see it finished.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

what a unique quilt you are making - very original love what you are doing with it.

Ann said...

LeAnna, what a delightful message! I will read your blog today. I really enjoy conversing with other quilters on these blogs and am so delighted you said hello.

Ann said...

Thank you, Maartje. It has been an enlightening process to put my thoughts and processes in writing. I think I'm making better decisions since I started doing so.

Ann said...

Thanks, Karen. It's been an exciting challenge. I don't think there could ever be a pattern. Certainly a learning experience.