I pulled out the red scrap bin, with all those little pieces, and made 9 diamonds, which made this diamond,er, Ruby!
This ruby with all the other faceted gem stones make this
Now the panic sets in.
How to set it. It's big enough to turn into a twin with little trouble.
I have a lot of smaller diamonds made and left over, do I somehow just fill in with random color?
Piece this into one back ground fabric, which would be big. Bigger than I usually work with. And really boring to quilt, for me.
I know, I know you modern people love an empty background and quilt the heck out of it. I have a bad back people, pushing and pulling a quilt this size around my domestic machine isn't going to thrill me.
I've never sent a quilt out for quilting. First off I have money separation disorder. Second, I'm a quilter for Pete's sake! It's what I do. Third, I admit to being a control freak with my artwork.
So how should I set this thing? The colored diamonds are not sewn to each other yet... lots of choices here.
Plus I'm not opposed to making some in black and white. Help a sew-er out y'all!
41 comments:
I love the way it's looking so far. How about you make scrappy filler pieces for your background. Either in black or white/cream/grey. That way you bust more scraps. You could also use both the black and cream like half black and half cream.
I'm not sure I would have any advice for how to set these amazing blocks, but I do know exactly what you mean about quilting it yourself. I like quilting my quilts myself, even if it does come out more simply than what a longarmer would do. Maybe your diamonds need to hang out for awhile while you "mull" it over!
I hear you on the blank space! Maybe you could frame it with neutrals, and then add in more of your lovely little diamonds to fill the corners!
I totally understand your theory about sending quilts out for quilting !!! I feel the same. Love the way you blend your scrappies into beautiful fabric. Interesting to see how you finish this one. I am great for complicating issues, ask anybody. I thought maybe you could make more diamonds in scrappy neutrals, and place them horizontally to square up the piece. LOL
These are looking great. LOL at the reasons not sending out for quilting. I fully agree with all of your reasons. I have no recommendations on how to set it, but I know whatever you choose, it will look great.
I'm with you on sending quilts out to get a professional finish - it's not for me either! I'd be inclined to make four scrappy neutral diamonds to put in the empty corners and then neutral strips to make the setting triangles around them. I'm not sure if that would enhance the rainbow diamond, though, at this size. You are bound to find the perfect solution! Good luck1
Love your diamond. I also agree about sending your quilts out to be quilted but what about renting a long arm to quilt those bigger pieces? There seem to be more places offering this option, and I have a few friends who have done this. They tell me it is totally worth it. I am going to be trying this out the next time I am back in my hometown (sadly no venue for that where I am currently living). I will look forward to seeing what you do with this!
Could you randomly scatter some of the smaller diamonds in the negative space (I hate that term). Not sure how you would set them into the corners. And maybe just use the walking foot and straight line quilt with a variegated thread. Keep playing with it. Some inspiration will come.
I love it and look forward to seeing how you set it. xx
I have always sent my quilts away to my good friend who is a long arm quilter. However, now that I am not receiving a pay check on a regular basis, I'm doing much more of my own quilting (and enjoying it). Money separation disorder - TERRIFIC term!! Setting? Do you want a bed quilt or do you want a wall hanging? OR do you want several smaller pieces that would hang as a group? I could see this with scrappy black and whites for a background . . . I have run into this dilemma more than once after making a series of awesome blocks. Give it time - you'll discover a setting when you least expect it.
This diamond is a gem worth taking your time over. Your heart will steer you right
Who says that a quilt has to be rectangular? I say quilt it up as-is and bind it, then hang it somewhere that needs something pretty. It looks like stained glass. So pretty!
Don't forget quilt-as-you-go...it does eventually get big, but not for the quilting, only for the joining! Tutorials are great here http://www.thequiltingedge.com/p/tutorials.html and remind you of all you may have forgotten about QAYG! I could see little b/w polka dots and I also love the suggestions of a big neutral background. I don't think you can go wrong with this no matter what you decide!
Finally, someone has given a name for my husband's problem, MSD--Money Separation Disorder. Sometimes he goes into remission like during the shop hop this year but usually he suffers greatly from this affliction. I think it afflicts men more than women as two of our sons have it too, much to their wives dismay.
This diamond quilt is very lovely. I could see pale neutral diamonds to bring it to the size and shape you want. I was going to suggest renting time on a longarm but I see someone beat me to it (probably because I stopped reading to tell my husband there is now a name for his affliction) but it is really a good option and one I've been using. And it's kind of fun but you have to go in with knowing what you are going to do as they usually rent per hour or for the full day and you don't want to pay for thinking time. I saw on someone's blog (was it yours?) that she laid a piece of Plexiglas on the quilt and drew quilt designs with markers until she found what worked. But no matter what you decide, it will be lovely. It will be fun to see it come alive.
Sorry if this is the same as the good advise above, but I didn't read all of them.
I would put the yellow one in the center...so much lighter than the other values. Then the other sides I'd make plain diamonds of dull colors like brown or grey or black. Quilt the colored diamonds in the 9 diamond ditches and the rest of it likewise, even though they are not 9 diamonds. Hope this helps. I always have trouble figuring out how to quilt my stuff, but others' quilts seem easy.
My hubby has that MSD thing too. Today he was telling me we'd be eating out less, and I should figure out some Christmas gifts that don't cost anything. Any suggestions? LOL
Hugs
It's pretty just as it is. I can picture it on a black background,looking like a big jewel.
I love your diamonds. I love to quilt larger quilts in sections and then join them together. Marti Michell has a book called "Quilting in sections" that I have found very helpful. Enjoy the process of creating your very own quilt whatever you decide to do with your beautiful diamonds.
It's gorgeous as it is, but I like the idea above of using cream/black scraps to fill in the edges with some color added at the edges.
The diamond of diamonds is fabulous. Why not just face it and call it done? If you go bigger, quilting can be accomplished at "Quilt it Yourself" just a few miles from my house. I have yet to book time there myself, but it's on my bucket list.
Oops, that is really "Quilt Your Own"
Money Separation Disorder... Perfect term! Thank you for that!
I'd separate the diamonds out with scrappy blacks/whites diamonds - harlequin-like. But that's me complicating things again. It's what I do. 8)
I'm in love with this one!! I can't wait to see what you decide to do! I might use neutral scraps around it. Maybe with spots of color. There are so many possibilities!
I'm totally drawn to that red!! Love it. ღ
I like the idea of putting the yellow diamond in the center of the bright diamonds and filling in the background with light colored neutrals, altho not such tiny pieces. Whatever you decide I'm sure it will be fabulous
How great they look together! I would use some light colors/neutral diamonds to fill the corners, so that the negative space around the colors is not so plain... and I would add scraps of colors just to make it more fun!
I hear you about quilting and back pain... it's terrible for my shoulders too! With this piecing design and size, I would do straight line quilting with my walking foot, probably following the angle of the diamond. You could add more line to make it random crosshatch too.
I am looking forward to see how you finish this beauty!!
Stained glass of course!
Just as it is, adding only black/brons leading strips between and frame with a fabric window frame!
Then hang it up! Gorgeous!
These are beautiful. Totally agree about acres of negative space, and about paying for quilting. Trust your instincts - they are great and will get you to the best solution in the end.
Leah Day does something with bungee cords and clamps to help support the weight of the quilt. That might be worth looking into. Renting time on a long arm is still quilting it yourself. And recently a shop near me started renting time on a sit down midarm which is the option I would lean towards. Definitely want your quilt basted and quilting planned ahead for that. And then you could rent a few hours at a time if that's all your back (and budget) could handle at once. Your innate creativity is a constant inspiration. You are fluent with so many mediums that I have always struggled with. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, I LOVE a good 60 degree diamond, and seeing scrappy ones is icing on the cake. I'd set this against scrap-pieced neutrals, if it were mine. I actually had a plan to do just this thing (scrappy diamonds, not the same configuration as yours), and am working on a blue string in diamonds now.
Carole S.
You are funny... I was smiling the whole time I was read this blog post!
What about setting it into light grey edges/borders and scattering a few random diamonds around? Hey you could do grey strings around the diamonds to make it a rectangle! Have fun!
Way to use up those itty bitty pieces! I'll be watching your blog to see what you decide.
Oh it is so beautiful - could you use the leftovers in a border?
Your diamond quilt is going to be absolutely gorgeous!!
I love this rubis diamond! Personally, I would simply stitch in the ditch around each diamond, which in fact would give you straight lines (in diagonal). That would be fast work. :-)
How about some filler pieces for the corners? Maybe set it on black? And what would black sashing look like? I know you'll get it figured out! Thanks for sharing on Midweek Makers - I've enjoyed watching this one's progress
Looks great! Vivid colors sure are appealing. I do occasionally make a few more muted things, bit bright is best. :)
Is one a quilter if one doesn't actually quilt their own quilts? If one sends their quilts out - then what are they?
Hmmmm......I do send my quilts out to a long arm quilter or my daughter (who is learning to quilt on her sewing machine) with no qualms. I just love they're beautiful work!
That said, you "diamond" is so amazingly beautiful! I love the fabric choices, it has such depth! Again, you have amazed me with the way you play with color! So inspiring!
Thank you for sharing!
I'm not a quilter, so I don't have any suggestions, but I think it looks lovely so far. Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned!
I like symmetry, so gold in the centre, then matching diamonds round it. And paler ones to set it off, if this is to be a wall hanging, maybe just a narrow flanged binding, if it is going to be part of something larger, I agree that pale grey or very pale taupe would set off those jewels beautifully, You are an artist for sure.
I forgot, the quilting, I would have rays going out on curves from the centre of the centre diamond,
Great Post! Thanks for sharing and Kindly share the top share of diamond rings!
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