Wednesday, April 08, 2009

square dance quilt top


The square dance quilt top is done. My original plan didn't involve the white sashing, but I felt that the white would help break up the colors a bit. After sewing it together, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. So I slept on it. (Not literally.) This morning I determined the white strips had to go.

So I ripped out 10 long seams and I sewed all the rows back together. Seems to be a lot of re-work going on in my sewing room these days. I think I like it a little more now. This is the only quilt I've been working on for a week straight and I need a break from it. Here's hoping that whenever I get around to stippling it, I like it more. I have a feeling I will.

It measures about 66" x 85"...so it's a twin size. When I was contemplating whether I liked it or not, my sweet son said, "I'd use it on my bed." What a honey.

double click on the photos to see more detail. they look better up close. :)

112 comments:

kangaroo said...

you have a good eye--i totally agree, i like it without the sashing. lovely colors!

V and Co. said...

ooooh nice son! except that i would like to say that i would use it on my son's bed as well! just trying to be kind over here. if you need my address to ship it i can email it to you! ;)

Anonymous said...

I agree, I like it without the sashing. And yes, I'd love it on my bed as well!

Rachael Adele said...

You were right to take out the white. This is a nice take on a "just squares" quilt!

Mary P said...

I like it! I've found that when I work on a quilt too much, I start to hate it. But after taking a break I come back and love it.

Blogful said...

ooh! I really like it. Not typically your style, but very artsy and contemporary. Reminds me of a Monet painting. Don't bind it in something crazy or eye catching. Mild so as not to detract from the impressionistic beauty.
I don't usually comment on your blog, but you are my official "quilt color and contrast inspiration."

John said...

now that there's a lot of work! but it looks GREAT! good call on the sashing, too. i love the modern dimension that the different sized squares gives to the traditional look.

annette said...

You were right to take the sashing out - makes for some lovely movement. You're a talented lady with a great eye for colour and layout. Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring.

Valerie said...

Wowsah! Definitely prefer it without the white. VERY cool quilt, if only I had a twin bed ;)

Katherine said...

Yes, it does look better without the sashing. What an interesting pattern with all the varying sizes. I really like it.

I find that stepping back from a project does the trick for me. I'm now wondering (and anticipating) what you'll choose for the binding and backing....

Mama Urchin said...

I like it so much better without the white. And I love that it's green :)

jennicakes said...

I think it's wonderfully illuminating to see the comparison. With the sashing, the quilt seems to be about shapes. Without, it seems to be more about color. And because I believe there are no right or wrong answers here, I'm going to admit that I LOVE the sashed version :)

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Love it. Looks great and I like how the squares are smaller in the middle. I'm hoping I'm seeing those squares right or my eyes are playing big tricks on me.

Marie' said...

I like it a lot. The different sized squares are interesting to look at.
You could put a thin white border around with the fabric you took out. It would frame your "art work" nicely.

Lisa said...

I love this. Much better without the sashing!

Anonymous said...

I love it!
I like the version without the white.

Ginger said...

This quilt is great! I agree with your son, I really love it! And I am with you on the white sashing! It really just detracted from the other fabrics and their design.

Unknown said...

I love the quilt. I think you were right to take out the sashing. It looks great!

Dandelion Quilts said...

You were so right to remove the white...but you are also very patient! Way to rip, way to rip.

leigh said...

I like it without the sashing too. What a fun pattern!

Siwa said...

agree with all above comments! love it too and your son is so sweet. I'm thinking on making quilts for kids. Um.. will wait and see.

Beth said...

You were definitely right! It looks fantastic!

Melissa said...

are you kidding?! I love it! This is one of my favorites that you have made. Do you mind sharing the pattern? How many inches are the sqaures, etc. I want to make one now! Also, I love love the fabrics. Love.

I have three quilts in process all thanks to you! I hope to finish them in the next week :)

Thanks Amanda Jean!

Kerri said...

how fun to see the difference in the two! i'm always one for sashing, so i'd have to admit i like the one with the sashing, but they both look great!!

Isa said...

By afar or up close, they are beautifull, I love the colors.

nettie said...

i love them both, but I do like it better without the white. great colors.

KateKwiltz said...

Good call! It has a lot more movement this way.

bedelia said...

I love this quilt. LOVE it. i think it might be my favorite of yours so far.

Crafty Girls Workshop said...

I really do love those colors.

Anna

Cheryl Arkison said...

Definitely the right call. The small blocks look great.
I don't envy you stippling over all those seams!

Natalie said...

I totally dig this quilt top and I have to agree with you, it looks much better without the white sashing. Any plans for the back?

Robyn said...

beautiful! I love it... my favorite color combination too.

roseylittlethings said...

Much better with out the white, love the fabrics and color combo!

LadyUnderThe Oaks said...

it really flows and moves without the sashing - very nice combination of colors and square size.

Anonymous said...

yes, I agree, it does look better without the white sashings. great top as usual :)

Mandy said...

I guess I'm one of like three people who like it better WITH the sashing - which is odd b/c I usually never like sashing! It looks good without it, too, though - great job, as always:) I'm NEVER disappointed in your work!

Abby said...

Yes, no white! It reminds me of a pixels :)

kandjelic said...

Its a really interesting quilt - I love the change in square sizes. Totally agree with you too, like it better without the stripes.

e.c said...

I really like the 3(?) different sized square groups you used...the colors bring the sizes together.

Yes, way better without the white strips.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

You made the right decision. I love the quilt without the white and the colors look like water.

jabeybaby said...

I think it looks great! I love the colors!

Amy said...

Ripping out the seams was worth it. I think this definitely looks better without the sashing! Nice job!

Anonymous said...

I think it looks better without the sashing too. That must have been quite a project! I can't imagine sewing together that many squares, matching that many seams!

susan said...

I wasn't a fan with the sashing but I LOVE it without. What great colors and an interesting pattern. :-)

Pam said...

I imagined it like this when I saw the small portion you posted the other day. I love the subtle beauty.

heather said...

both ways are good to me. i liked the white sashing. either is good.:) hope you are having a good week.

connie said...

Very nice. I too like it without the white. I was wondering however what it would look like with sashing with one of the fabrics in the body of the quilt.

Anonymous said...

your son is a sweetie!
Too cute.
I think you made a good decision taking the white lines out. Bravo for being so brave in doing it.

Tara said...

It turned out great! Much better without the sashing, though I liked it before I knew you took the sashing out! I think I'll have to make a lap quilt like this.

Thimbleanna said...

Awww, what a sweetie! I like the new version MUCH better and I love that the squares change in size. So, will your son be the recipient? ;-)

Jodi Nelson said...

ooooh. I think you're going to like it very much when you stipple it. The colors are beautiful. ooxx`jodi

Jessica said...

That quilt is great-the green is so springy! The new version has so much "flow"!

Deelee said...

That's really going to come together once you quilt it. It's beautiful!
I just finished quilting one of my full size quilts. I sure didn't measure twice and sew once! After making my binding, and sewing it on to the quilt, I was left with 8 inches of quilt and no more binding. I had to rip it off and start all over again with new binding. I feel your pain!

Linda said...

I like it without the sashing,too. I like the subtleness to the change of the block size that it gives. It reminds me of a watercolor painting or a mosaic or something.

Annie said...

Well done yet again - I am in the camp with the no sashing - worth taking it out.

Kritta22 said...

yeah I like the without strips better. Nice choice.

I'll put it on my bed!!!!!

Amanda said...

I agree with you that it does look better without the sashing. You wouldn't have been happy had you not ripped it out, so you did the right thing.

I love the colors and the fabrics.

Hanberg's said...

I absolutely love the colors and fabrics you chose. They work together really well. And I think you're right, its better without the sashing.

Andrea said...

It's beautiful - it kind of reminds me of a watercolour quilt, although it really doesn't. I think it's the variation of sizes of squares. It's really beautiful. I love the colour combination. again. Can you make an ugly quilt so I can say something other than gorgeous, beautiful and stunning, please? LOL

Ella said...

I was just wondering what size square you used,how many of each size and how many different fabrics.BTW this is so cute! I love it and love your blog. Thanks Ella

Anonymous said...

I love the colors and design of that quilt top. I'm so glad you removed the white strips!

melissa s. said...

i like the striped version, but LOVE LOVE LOVE the non-striped!!

jmb_craftypickle said...

love the change....the final looks so good!

Angela Nash said...

I really like the small section of squares - especially nice without the sashing. A bit Monet-like in it's feel.

Philigry said...

oh, i looks really great. your son is so darn sweet!

Patricia said...

I'll join the other 65 comments---I love the quilt--without the white sashing! Do you mind if I "copy" it? Sure hope not---I really love it.

Heather said...

Kids always help out situations like this. And I agree...it does look better without the white.

Emily Cole said...

I completely think it's better without the white sashing. I love the way you put different size squares together. Very pretty colors too.

Michelle said...

I like it - definitely better without the sashing. It reminds me of those pixelated photo images.

Jocelyn said...

How sweet that your son likes it. I think it looks better w/o the white strips. And I understand the unsewing part. I tend to do that a lot :-)

Jocelyn

momawake said...

I really like it. It's got great visual interest.

Christy said...

I like it...i think it is one of those things that is subtly good...you aren't sure at first if it is, but the more you look, the more you like it. Way to go. Love those colors

Roxanne said...

Oooh, looks good either way, but I think you made the right call. Love the fabrics you chose, so cute!!

Unknown said...

Love it, and it is better without the sashing, good call!

Unknown said...

Love it! so glad you took the white out - just not quite right :) Your boy is very sweet!

CJ said...

I liked it with the white but LOVE it without the white. I would NOT have had the oomph to take it apart though. Sweet boy. I have one of those too. :D

Stitching At Stone Cottage said...

i'd use it on my bed too....love it..

Leslie said...

it is beautiful. I love the fabrics and colors...and it looks so great minus the sashing.....fantastic

dutchcomfort said...

Beautiful!

I’ve read almost all the comments and it seems i’m the only to be one who likes the white sashing...?

Coffeebean's Dailies said...

What can I say? You rock man!

Debbie said...

I like it w/o the sashing too. Beautiful colors. I have been ripping out alot too. Did some crazy quilting on a small quilt and hated it. It is taking me hours to take it out, but will be worth it. Sons are sweet!

erica e said...

i really like all the different sizes of squares. and its much better without the white. would you mind if i borrowed a pic and linked to you on my blog?

Jessica Christensen said...

I think you made the right choice in taking out the white, but what a lot of work to do so. I love it. I love how it plays with your eyes. It's always hard when designing your own quilt to make decisions about those things. Well, it is for me anyway. Really beautiful job.

Anonymous said...

That makes a few "non-pink" quilts in a row! Way to stretch. I love the design of this.

Ida13 said...

I'm wondering.. Do you want a simmetric work to do or not? Because the squares are bigger above the smallest squares than under ones are and..I'm not good in English..


I love your works.

Lonci said...

Happy Easter to you and your family too

Paula said...

I've worked on quilts that I grow to dislike then like again. I hope that happens to you with this one. Very good decision to remove the white sashing. Somehow it broke it up too much. It is more visually interesting with just the squares.

Terry said...

I definitely like it better without the sashing! Good choice you made. Happy Easter! :0)

Jenny L said...

Oh I think you were spot-on about the sashing. It's beautiful! It reminds me of those photo collages where the actual picture is made up of hundreds of little pictures, but you can't really tell they're little pictures till you get up close. Does that even make sense? Hope so!

Brandi said...

I made your square rag quilt and love it. I posted it on my blog and put your site on there to give you credit. I hope that is ok.

Anonymous said...

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT Wow - it's like a monet water colour when you look at it from a distance - there is so much movement in the quilt with the different size squares - thanks for sharing - Susan in Canada

edeenut said...

oh, I do love the close up view, and those fabrics for sure. It turned out very nice.
After thinking how much I hate the seem ripper I thought of another way to get the white strips out. Cutting down the center of them and then line up the edges and then use a seam allowance that is big enough to cover the extra white. To end, trim off the excess white on the seem after you sew it together.

jacquie said...

i think it was worth it! i really like it without the strips. especially the close up view. have a happy easter weekend.

Michelle said...

I love all of your quilts!!

Thanks for the free motion quilting tutorial a while back .. but I have a question!!

When I try it, I get a nasty backlash of thread on the backside of my quilt .... how do I prevent this big birds nest of thread on teh back??? My tension?

Thanks so much!!

Journeying Five said...

yep, the white needed to go! looks great!

la_sale_bete said...

Hello! I have really enjoyed looking at your blog, and thanks to all of the inspiration and advice you offer, I just completed my first quilt. Thank you!

Stéphanie said...

I also like it better without the white sash. It give me the illusion of a Kadelioscope. I think it would be a good name for it, if you don't have one yet. All the different sizes of squares that merge to the center to be smaller and then expand again. Just like looking into a kadelioscope.

I love the colour combination, great job on that. You have such good eyes for choosing colours!

Nile e Richard said...

Oi amiga.Estou encantada com tão lindo trabalho.
A páscoa existe para nos lembrar deste momento inigualável chamado ressurreição.Ressurreição do sorriso, da alegria de viver, do amor.Ressurreição da amizade, da vontade de ser feliz.Ressurreição dos sonhos, das lembranças.
Feliz páscoa para voce e sua família.
bjtos.Nile.

Oiyi said...

I love the colors.

Rebekah said...

I love how this turned out! Beautiful colors!

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

Girl I just found you recently and I cannot believe how prolific you are with making quilts!

Laura
A Sometime Quilter

The Wooly Wumpus said...

Another beautiful quilt, AmandaJean! Your son is so darn sweet!

shellysquilts said...

Interesting work. I like it, alot. Well done! Have you thought about quilting a continuous curve in your squares instead of a stipple?

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

I think you made a good call taking the sashing out. It is gorgeous!

Renee said...

It's gorgeous!!!!!

I like it better without the white sashing seams too.

Solidia said...

Ohhhh you have done it once again! I absolutely LOVE your work!! :)

pratima said...

It's such a beautiful quilt. The name is so perfect for it :)

bookflutterby said...

Oh my WORD your quilts are gorgeous! I've always loved quilting (inspired by my quilt-loving music teacher) and I will be using some of these designs! Just beaUUUUUUtiful!
Courtney

Jacky O said...

I love it! Is there a pattern?

Hillary said...

I think you're right about the sashing :) It looks fabulous! I think!

sulu-design said...

Much better with out the sashes. I love how subtle the difference in square sizing is - it looks like a modern abstract painting.

Marja said...

I've been stalking your blog for a while now and am in love with this quilt. Can I ask what the size ranges are for the squares? I'm guessing 4", 3" and 2" finished but just wondered if I am far off. I'd like to borrow this idea and make one for my bed in queen size and have the perfect fabrics for it :)

Hopefully you will see this comment as it's an older entry in your blog!