The ugly fabric is the brown fabric, although the light gold is giving it a run for its money. I used some of the colours in the gold fabric to choose additional fabrics for the piece. I also thought it would be fun to practise some gentle improv curves. I was really just playing around at this point seeing how the colours were working together. Although I wasn't thrilled with how this piece was coming together, as I worked I began to figure out a way to use the fabric with a result I might like.
I decided I needed to tone the fabric down a bit and I decided to add some grey grunge fabric with blue undertones. I sewed 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" rectangles of the grunge to 3 1/2" squares of the "ugly" fabric and some other co ordinating fabrics I had in my scrap bins. Things worked together quite nicely and I finished with this table runner.
I think the brighter orange squares really lift the tone of the runner and I knew I had a winner when I added them to the mix.
And winner it was! It won the most votes (by one or two) at our December Guild meeting/Holiday Party/Sew In. I used my walking foot to quilt more or less straight lines across the quilt using a light blue aurifil thread. If you go back to the first photo in the post you can see the 2/12" by 12 1/2" creative grids ruler I received as a prize. You can also see the EZ angle ruler and the template holder I received as a gift. Instead of purchasing things we wrapped up tools or material we had on hand, or made something as gifts for one another.
These two small quilts make up my first finish for the fourth quarter of the 2018 Finish Along (you can see my original list here. There is also a really good photo of the "ugly" fabric there. I will be linking up to the finish along later in the month but for now I am linking this finish up to the Brag about your Beauties link up with Michelle of From Bolt to Beauty.
And I'm also linking up with TGIFF which is hosted this week by Kathy at Kathy's Kwilts and More.
19 comments:
Ugly fabric! What ugly fabric? When I look at that table runner I only see a beautiful piece.
Lovely! Brilliant using orange and yellow aong with the brown. I think I spy some yellow and orange highlights among the brown too.
I don't think we can refer to these fabrics as ugly anymore because both pieces are beautiful!
Wow, well done, Lisa! The table runner is stunning and I have to agree with the others who have said that I can't see ugly fabric; just beautifully made quilts. :)
Great job transforming the fabric into something you love!
Hi Lisa! I just adore your runner and the quilting looks fabulous. I would never have guessed that fabric was a part of the runner . . . your complimentary fabrics absolutely toned it down. Really really nice job! Happy Happy Friday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne
Wow, what a fantastic way to use that "ugly" fabric! It is definitely a winner.
You found the magic size to cut the fabric into so that it stopped being "ugly"! Just big enough to enjoy the rich brown and gold tones without focusing too much on the design. No wonder you won first prize! Congrats, Lisa :)
Well done. Not one project, but two. Your curves are wonderful.
good job....Someone told me that it takes an ugly fabric to make the pretty ones shine.
Great finishes! You have such good ideas. I especially like the table runner. Congratulations on winning.
I've always thought every print is usable -- as long as you cut it down small enough! I think you proved that theory here: the smaller snippets on the gray grunge *are* pretty. And you were right about those necessary orange bits. Well done!
Fabulous Lisa! I really like the runner, but I think the first one is good too. Letting yourself experiment with the 'not precious' fabric can be surprisingly fun!
Congratulations on a well-deserved win! Your lovely runner doesn't look at all as if it was made with "ugly" fabric.
This is pretty amazing. It is not my fabric either. When I look at your first project I would honestly not be very thrilled. But the second one is very inspiring. I would have never thought you could "make" something out of that. The orange is really great, but I think the purple also adds so much. Then the grey and a modern, airy setting... I am still not loving the fabric but the runner is great!
You really turned that unloved fabric into a fabulous quilt! Paired with the orange and gray it is beautiful!
You deserved it, I love your table runner too! Great way to play with not wanted fabrics!
The runner is beautiful!
I love how the look of the fabric changes when you change the company that it is with! Congrats on the finishes and on behalf of the entire FAL crew, thanks for participating!
Post a Comment