Simply Sophisticated BOM
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 11:05AM This was the first BOM I ever decided to participate in. I’d only done a couple of months and I joined another. I’m pretty sure I won’t ever do any more however. Probably around the 5th month or so into the first one, I was rather disliking the the fabric combinations.
When the finished kit finally arrived, I was so disenchanted with the blocks that I never even opened it! Into the project bin it went, with twelve months worth of completed blocks.
;)
Today I decided by golly, I’d open it up and be pleasantly surprised, and finish the darn thing once and for all! Gulp… I think the finishing kit makes a pile of ugly blocks even uglier. It’s so busy all the block designs are completely lost in the quilt. I got as far as cutting one of the half yard fabrics into setting triangles, decided I’d better lay out all the blocks on the floor and have a look, and holy moly! It’s like someone ate tuna fish and peanut butter and jelly and promptly got sick!
See the pink arrow? It’s pointing to the one (of EIGHT!) fabrics designated for the setting triangles. I think perhaps this quilt could be salvaged… but not if I used all those different fabrics. Maybe a solid color for all the setting triangles?
Did anyone do this BOM and have a picture of it completed as sent? I would sure love to see it, even though I’ve probably already upset you by my comments. We all have different taste… and this one just doesn’t work for me.
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Reader Comments (9)
CJ,
Definitely like the idea of the solid fabric for the setting triangles. I am thinking a muted soft color in the medium to darker range. Some of my favorite solids are the Kaffe Fassett shot cottons. The warp threads and weave threads are different and produces a "not so flat" look for the background setting tris.
I like it!
It definitely has a vintage, shabby chic look.
It reminds me of the In the Beginning blended blocks quilts.
I know you have definite tastes and this does not fit, but if you switch
to a calmer setting triangle, it will change the whole effect and look
fantastic as well.
Imagine you are in Victorian England at Northanger Abbey or some such Jane Austen like place......
Sandy
I joined a block of the month for two reasons. Companionship of a friend and practice. I won't really like the quilt when done but I plan on finishing the top and then giving it to our quilt guild to finish for a charity quilt. Just a thought
I agree with you. Even though all the fabrics are pretty in a provincial way, the over-all quilt is bland. I love the look of those fabrics on the bolt. I think they are really hard to put together in a striking way. Maybe you could make smaller items like throw pillows, then the subtleties of each fabric will show more. That is my only thought. It is hard to finish projects that are not exciting.
CJ,
Couple of thoughts for you. You could finish as is and just give it away, give it to a charity group to finish or you could change the setting triangles to something you do like and keep the quilt. I belong to a little group that we make quilts that are given out in the community as there is needed:illness, injury, fire, flood, or just because we think you might need one. My sister has given us several "quilts" ranging from blocks that need to be assembled into a top to tops that need to be layered etc.. No matter what the colors or what we think of the tops, we have found homes for all of them. What's interesting is when a quilt is made that maybe we didn't care for and the person loves it because it goes with their living room, bedroom, etc. Now my sister's friends send their cast off blocks, fabric and tops too!
Just a thought!
The quilt with the kit fabrics looks too busy for me, too. The blocks look good on your carpet. That tells me that a muted background might look good. I would try a few tone-on-tone options as you audition possible fabrics. Make it to satisfy your tastes and don't worry about what the kit suggests!! The kit fabrics remind me of a very busy "blended" quilt - no place for the eyes to rest when viewing it. Good luck!
I did finish mine as per the finishing kit. It is not wonderful, I think what they were going for, was one of those blended, shabby chic looks. I don't have mine quilted yet. But, I could take a picture of the finished top and send it to you.
I have not done this particular BOM but another called Charleston Harbour and the setting triangle fabric was horrific! I went straight out and purchased new fabric I like. I diced up the original fabric and used it along with some other fabric I had for the backing. I like the charity quilt idea best!
oh my I was searching hoping to find another solution to this quilt! Sorry its ugly!
what did you end up doing?