Waiting In The Wings

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Playtime with Across The Fields

Playing with a few left over large HSTs, cutting a few more from scraps and couldn't not add a few newer fabrics. Simple pattern as shown in a previous post was Across The Fields from Rachaeldaisy, shown again below

she has used very different fabrics to the ones I work with.The diagonal strips in the original pattern were to be cut from the same fabrics used for the HSTs. Using these more subdued colours this worked very well, with my fabrics they didn't. I've gone with a single fabric - Grunge by Moda in Aqua.

Here's how the wider strip at 1" finished looks with my blocks, not sewn just placed on the design wall.


I felt the strip overpowered the block, I decided to try with a half inch finished  and was much happier with the effect.



So I began placing more of the HTS, some I had left over from other projects but I did add a few newer fabrics. Only the top row of blocks have the strip sewn in,  I'm fiddling about placing pieces and found that before the strips were added the overall effect was a huge mish mash of colour, the strips definitely make a difference.

The photo below is pretty messy because I'm playing around to try and get a good balance of colour.



You can see what I mean about a mash of colour without the strip.

Apart from the above things have been slow around here for a number of reasons, I think an improvement is happening now, thank goodness. Next post, which I do hope will be much sooner than the length between the last two, I hope to have a near finished top.

A short post I know, I'll close with a bright splash of colour from the garden, one of my Hibiscus blooms and probably the last with Winter underway, we still have a few camellias flowering.


I'm off to the kitchen now to bake Cranberry muffins and a batch of Crunchy Lemon muffins.

Enjoy stitching

Maureen







14 comments:

Julierose said...

Those little 1/2" strips really set off the 1/2-sq triangles beautifully...
I like the solids against those prints too. Nice WIP Maureen;)))

Hope this finds you feeling a lot better...hugs, Julierose

Quilting Babcia said...

The darker grunge strips are very effective in calming and containing the myriad of bright prints without diminishing their individual beauty. Good job!

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

The half inch strips give definition to the design but I love busy, busy, busy quilts and I actually have one in progress with 6" triangles (no strips). I'm using the old florals, many of them Hoffman prints.

I hope your health improves greatly and that you have more energy and less pain.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Busy quilt or quilt with strips- both ideas winners because of the fabric choices. Hope your baking turned out well because you made me hungry. I keep praying for your health to improve and healing to be in full force.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

I'm in both camps here ... love your messy busy HSTs and I love the aqua for that unifying pop of colour too!
No help I know:(

FlourishingPalms said...

I agree that those strips are needed as good resting places for one's eyes that otherwise fly across the quilt without a pause. It's evident that you are attracted to bold floral prints and colors! It's a fun quilt design to look at. As for as "an improvement happening now," I hope that's a positive thing regarding your health. Take care, and continue your fabric therapy. If nothing else, it's good for your soul1

Quiltdivajulie said...

YES - that narrow strip of Grunge makes ALL the difference. Your colors always delight me.

Rosemary Dickinson said...

The narrow strip makes a huge difference! You always have the best fabric!

Linda said...

So pleased that you are feeling well enough to do some sewing. Love your string quilt and agree that the narrower aqua order for each block works really well. Really pretty. Keep up the good work Maureen.

gayle said...

I always love seeing your bright happy colors!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Oh my Maureen, those fabrics you've chosen to put together with those strips is just stunning. Happy Stitching!

Janie said...

What an exciting post Maureen!
I very much like Aqua grunge too! And I love seeing your 'messy' thank you for sharing your real process I'm inspired.
Your Hibiscus is a beauty, vibrant and warm.

Ann said...

Playtime is such fun. I like the narrow aqua strips but also like it without in places. What if you only put “some” strips in and left the others plain? You’d probably have to trim some of the blocks down. Or possibly using a second solid in a different color like the original. Whatever you choose will be great. Lemon crunch muffins sound delicious.

Kaja said...

I really like how you are tweaking this pattern to fit your style. It's good to see these progress shots where you haven't quite got things how you want; it's always interesting to watch something evolve.