Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Playing With Color Layouts

This morning I have been playing around with some designs for my MQG Riley Blake Challenge.   Since this challenge uses Riley Blake Basics I wanted to stick to the "basics" in my design using HST's, and Flying Geese, and squares.   After lots of playing,  I kept coming back to this design.  It just seemed to fit.


Once I decided on a design, It was time to start playing with the colors.  Here is the bundle we have to work with.    I love that every time I play with color layout in a quilt I create all new designs.  It really is a fun process.  So for fun, I thought I would share with you how the color process worked for me on this particular project.  Who knows, maybe it can give you a few ideas on different ways to play with color :)


I started out with a two color layout.  I love how this emphasizes the design and gives such a crisp modern look.  But, then I decided I wanted to use more of the fabrics sent.   (Although, you might very well see this again for a future project, as I really love the bold look of the two colors ;)


I loved the bold look so I thought trying it in a rainbow type layout might be the answer.  I still get to use lots of fabrics but have a great bold design highlighted.   I liked this, but worried that I lost some of the design in the layout.  Part of me felt like that was fine and part of me wondered.  So I kept on playing.


As I was worried about losing the design, I thought maybe I needed to do a layout that highlighted the actual design by putting same colors in same places.  I instantly did not like this.  Isn't it funny how you think it will be the fix and it totally isn't.


So, after deciding that highlighting the particular parts of the design wasn't the right fit, but still not being sure of the rainbow layout, I decided to just start throwing color at it randomly.  I figured this used all the colors like I wanted and stayed away from highlighting the design.  And I love it!!!

I love how it creates all different secondary patterns that really highlight the white space and bring out lots of sharp little angles.  I can still see a pattern in it but I don't get hit in the face with it.  It is just a montage of happy colors and the randomly layout just seems to be the perfect fit for the pattern.


isn't it just so much fun playing colors.  So now I am curious . . . How do you pick a color layout??

I'm off to the cutting mat to start working on turning this from a design to a quilt :)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
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11 comments:

  1. I just love it! The two colours look great but that last one is perfect!

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  2. Great post! I love seeing how other people pick colors.

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  3. That is nearly the same method that I use. I agree... I would love to see this done is a two color as well... although I suspect that you will like the multi-colored better. My scrap quilts workout much the same way. Have fun.

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  4. I'd like to say I had a logical way of picking colours, but, err, there's nothing quite so scientific for me! The Design Seeds palettes are a good place to start though :o)

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  5. Love the choice of the two colors but I would also try the last multi color fabric design :).

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  6. Gorgeous!! I can't wait to see this come together :)

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  7. I start with the fabric and then try and find a pattern to go with it and from there I play around with what I feel looks good in the individual blocks.

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  8. I so agree, sometimes what you think might be perfect isn't but isn't it a happy surprise when you stumble on just the right combination. It looks great and I'm sure the quilt will be gorgeous.

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  9. I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  10. Thank you for sharing this interesting blog discussion. I used the visuals in a 4th grade HST Tessellation class last Thurs. It helped the students understand the impact of color, the addition of color, and why to audition color into their projects.
    Thank you for sharing!

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa