Thursday, October 14, 2010

I Really Like Martha

I took a workshop the other day and bought this beautiful fabric by Martha Negley called Autumn Medley, isn't it beautiful? It is going in the next block. I have a question.....if you do a scrappy background do you keep them all the same white? I am thinking that white white looks better with these fabrics rather than cream. Or does anyone think you can mix the two different whites (white and cream) and it won't look muddy?
I am thinking of the Stars and Sprigs. I really want a scrappy background and have a lot of scraps to use, but am unsure about the white issue. Any opinions are appreciated!

11 comments:

  1. his is a lovely color fabric. Enjoy.

    Love,

    -Samya :-)

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  2. Kelly, I have done the different whites and they look great doing it this way. If one or more white on white are too creamy they will stick out too much and look 'dirty'....and sometimes when using whites they have a directional look to them, just like the white dot I bought at AQS show (earlier post). When I turned it one way you could hardly see the dots. When cutting I will cut the entire set of blocks and borders and mark the upper right hand corner of each. When photgraphing the quilt you can see this better. Yeah, I just noticed again I left off my stem in the center of my last block that I just posted...the camera tells all ;D
    Hope this helps.

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  3. The day I can start on stars and sprigs I intend to use all the different kinds of white and off-white I can find, especcially since i also want to have a very scrappy look. I think it adds a lot, even if some whites splashed here and there look rather cream or even darker. You find that a lot in antique quilts too. I love that.

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  4. I love that fabric and Martha Negley too!! My experience with whites and creams is the same as Julee's. I find they don't look good together. I have made scrappy quilts and I either use lots of different ones of either of the shades, but don't mix them. They tend to stick out if they are not all similar and can have a directional difference or a "nap". Can't wait to see the fabric in your next block.

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  5. I think you have to audition approximate sizes of all the background fabrics, just as you would for the applique bits. Preferably up on a design wall. If you do that you can use as many as you find look lovely together. Some folks might think all neutrals work equally well, but (INMH) it just isn't so. I've made a number of applique projects with multiple backgrounds, and I find that there are always a few fabrics that "should" work but instead stick out like a sore thumb. Have fun with it, Michele B

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  6. I have several Martha Negley fabrics too. The one you posted is yummy!

    I don't usually mix creams and whites. I tend to use more creams, so that's mostly what I have in my stash. I think they go with these richly colored fabrics just fine? I think it's all just personal preference?

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  7. I have mixed white on whites with creams in a Dresden Plate quilt I made some years ago. The Dresden Plates were sewn onto one fabric background square, but the individual squares were a variety of white on whites, and I threw in a cream or two for variety. The entire border was pieced using all the background scraps.

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  8. Love your Martha, Kelly! Background - please tread carefully and be very sure about your choice before you start - there's a lot of work there!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  9. I have made scrappy quilts using all of my leftover white backgrounds don't think I would mix in creams.
    If you take a picture of the assorted whites you want to use up and if there is one that does not belong it will show up.

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  10. People seem to have different opinions about mixing background whites and creams. Initially I came to quilting because I was in love with old scrappy quilts, and one of the things that makes them so appealing is the random mismatch here and there. Personally I like the "sports" that give a quilt an accidental feel.

    Denise has a good suggestion above; it will certainly help point out the "sports."

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  11. Wow, what a delicious looking fabric! Kim Mcl

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