The next lessons are on drafting, base grids, mock-ups, planning and changing finished sizes (block and/or quilt). I tried doing this previously for the triple rail quilt. The book says that drafting etc are necessary so a quilter can break down blocks to their basic elements and re-create them. These skills are also handy if you are working on a pattern and something goes wrong. If you have drafting skills, you have the knowledge to figure out the problem and fix it.
The 1st exersize involves drawing up a pattern on graph paper and colouring it in. The example used is Interlacing Circles (Project 6 from the book). To do this, you need to have selected some fabrics. I had a vague idea of the colours I wanted to use and the exersize really helps in getting this right.
There is a purple fabric in the mock up which I would like to use but haven't purchased yet, but you get the general idea. I like the colours and the fabrics (a bit of an Art Deco feel I think) and will probably go with these when I get to the project.
The next step is to cut up fabric to the grid size and glue it to graph paper in the block design. I have limited fabric supplies, so I used photocopies instead.
The mock up is for Project 4 - Country Lanes Table Runner which requires 5 fabrics including a large scale floral print.
This is the large foral print I've chosen
These are the 5 fabrics I chose from my stash
I started off selecting the large floral print, then tried to chose fabrics which worked with it. I changed my mind several times and ended up making 4 mock-ups, before deciding (although I could change my mind yet).
My original plan was to use the calico print as the main background fabric, but as you can see - it just didn't work. The small print is too busy. I opted to use the light green as the background instead.
Better! In fact I removed the calico entirely, replacing it with the brown and used green & black for the 4 patch squares instead of brown & black. Hmmm - still not happy though
Hmmm - still something missing. I seem to have lost one of the 5 fabrics!
This is where I left it. I could work with this, but maybe I should purchase a different fabric or 2 to improve it. This block just seems really busy and messy.
Selecting fabrics can be quite difficult for me. While I liked the pre-cut fabric combination, once they have been chopped into bits, the result is not always so pleasing. On the other hand, the first one I did, the Interlacing Circles, was put together really quickly, no changes and I liked it instantly. Sometimes it just works and sometimes it just doesn't.
