I have a few Lazy 9-Patches for making another Margarita Quilt. And bunches more strips cut too so I can make more whenever I'm in the mood. From the very beginning I was thinking I'd like to make a Double 9-Patch. [Don't know what a Double 9-Patch is? Look here.] I got excited to play with the blocks when I found this gorgeous floral fabric which I could use as a border. Here's a potential layout:
The blocks look good with the border:
But is it just me or is this awfully white? White, white, white. I do want it to have some zing.
Hmm, but zing could be a bad thing too...
I'm not in any hurry to put this together, just wanted to have some fun playing. I took some shots of kitties modeling the floral fabric, but those will have to wait for their own post. Meanwhile here's a sleepy Pokey to tide you over.
I haven't sat at the sewing machine in days. Instead I've been firmly planted on the sofa watching old episodes of The Office. I'm now finished with Season 4 and all I want to do is keep going. Netflix now has a great feature where you can get all sorts of tv shows and movies sent directly to your tv without having to wait for DVDs (so long as you have the proper device). Wheee, does that make it easy to marathon. Rather dangerous too. I watched the second episode of McMillan and Wife and just laughed my way through it. Wife just kept shrieking "Mac" throughout the episode and all I could think of was my friend Siobhan calling for her Scottish Terrier.
Back on the subject of fabric: Laurie Ann is offering up a gallon-sized freezer bag full of Christmas strips. If you like them, you can send her a brights fat quarter in return. If you're interested send me an email and I'll forward it on to her. [the strips have found a home, thanks. no need to mail me.]
Today I'm finally going to be good and get some packages in the mail myself. I hate doing chores. At least I get to go to the library too!
Yes, it's white, but it makes those bright blocks pop! I love the look, nice and crisp. The border is a new kind of fabric for you, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI love your little block with the different color in the upper left corner. Made my heart go pitty-pat to see it, such a great touch.
Love the white-- I think it looks a lot more modern, and brings it together.
ReplyDeletea narrow white strip and that floral fabric would look great in my eye
ReplyDeleteI love your 9 patches! I've got a bit 9 patch mad lately, though. I really like the white with it. It makes those bright little 9 patches pop.
ReplyDeleteI've started yet another 9 patch - I might just have to make it a double 9 patch!
I love that "zing" fabric, but I think the 9 patches get lost in it. They really do stand out well against the white.
ReplyDeleteI love all your 9 patch blocks. Your fabrics are just so bright and happy. The colors just pop against the white background.
ReplyDeletethat was my first thought... its so white !! But I don't like the print as a background either. Maybe a solid or a nearly solid one would work ???
ReplyDeleteBtw the colours are great, as always
I like the white. But if you decide to choose something else, try a Kona cotton in the "Bahama Blue", or "Ice Frappe". Because they are solids, they won't be competing with your blocks. Also, since your blocks have a predominantly "warm" feel, the solid blues will help balance it all out with a shot of cool.
ReplyDeleteAt least that's what I would do if the white was too white for me. But I do like it and not sure I'd change. What can I tell you, though? I'm a machine quilter so those solid white areas open up a nice space for some special quilting stitches!
I was thinking sort of the same thing as Beena. What about a white on white, or a near-white or something with a very subtle print on it. But I also like the crispness of the white -- bright like the nine-patches. I like the way simple patterns like the double nine-patch offer lots of possibilities. quilt on!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can add anything more than what others have said. I vote for Crisp white or a very pale Blue. I like the tropical feel that the boder favric adds.
ReplyDeleteGosh I love that border fabric, that is definately a WOW fabric. How about a nice tone on tone yellow to add to the festiveness of it all?
ReplyDeleteThe white is defintely very white! I go with the solids ideas myself.
ReplyDeleteThe white seems a bit too stark to me because there is so much of it in relationship to the blocks. How about trying a Kaffe Fasset fabric such as spots (maybe in magnolia or water) or aboriginal dots (possibly pear or ivory or even sweet pea if you don't mind it being a bit busier). I guess I think your border fabric looks like a Kaffe print and he always uses some sort of print for his backgrounds and I like the effect.
ReplyDeleteI like the white but might change my mind if I saw it with another color. To me, brights go best with black or white.
ReplyDeleteLove that quilt! I can see all sorts of beautiful quilting in the white area. Amazing! Simple quilts like this are the best. Now I'm going to have to make one. ;>)
ReplyDeleteMaybe a white with a bit of something else going on...polka dots perhaps...or maybe several whites...like the ones used as background for applique...just a thought. I do like a clear white with the brights though. I think the blocks will stand up to the border fabric when there are more of them (a gaggle/a pack/a pinnacle of 9-patches perhaps?)
ReplyDelete(by the way, if Mac hears his name on TV he barks at the screen...silly dog...so of course Dh will rewind it...silly man....)
plain white is too white for me... tone on tone or a moda marble type if you want a neutral background ... no matter, that border fabric is THE STAR!!!!!
ReplyDeletehave fun contemplating the choices...
HEY! it looks like mine! those darn 9 patches are infectious! I had the same problem, I have the perfect green print for my border, but it has some cream in it, no white.So I tried setting them in cream, and it looked dead... I say go with the green fill. or something fun.
ReplyDeleteI went with the white, and now I'm trying to decide what to border them with.. maybe you should just bring them by, And we can work this out together!!!
I like this - I like it a lot. The white makes it zing. I assume you are doing more 9 patches?
ReplyDeleteThe floral fabric reminds me of the Kitsch bar you posted about earlier.
I used to love McMillan and Wife. Occasionally, just occasionally, ITV3 brings stuff like that back.
Good girl getting packages in the mail :-)
My opinion is that your hand quilting will give those white squares the life they currently lack. I think white is the way to go, to make those colorful 9patches stand out and be the stars they are!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great, Tonya. I usually don't go for a white background, but you do nice handquilting and it surely does make those nine-patches pop! I guess you're really *feeling* Florida these days.
ReplyDeleteJust to throw in another idea to the mix: Have you seen the new pastel garden line called Kashmir from I think it's Moda? Very light pastel printed fabrics.That might also work if you wanted color and a print as opposed to that nice white. The value is light enough from the Kashmir fabric line to still leave you the contrast against the 9 patch blocks. And there's a nice selection to choose from this pastelly collection!
ReplyDeleteOr you could keep the white and quilt it up with pastel colored threads? Just some more ideas...
I think the white looks great with the bright blocks. And all that space will be quilted remember, you can make it as bright and as bold as you want!
ReplyDeletei like the white too...those blocks just jump off of it! pretty border fabric too!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this quilt set on the white with the "tropical" fabric as your border.
ReplyDeleteReally does put me in the mind of being in the Caribbean with a margarita in my hand and my cabana boy waiting to get me another!!
I enjoy your site, it gives me a lot of inspiration. Thanks.
Hugs, Mimi
I have some 9 patches of batiks floating around here somewheres...and I might have to make them double-9s too. It look so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have an idea for your border... the border is great but as you pointed out - not so good next to the non-white blocks... SO... how about a THIN (1" or less) inner border of a sky blue (matching the blue in your border) THEN put your larger - bolder border as the outer border... I think that blue would tie them together, and make the border pop... ?
ReplyDeleteyou need a 'bold' sky blue.... not pale.. you want it to POP.
ReplyDeleteI like the white--makes the colors pop. But you could applique something in the white squared areas, or do some embroidery or redwork there to break it up.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on a Double Ninepatch too but it looks WAAAAAY different from yours as mine is in blacks and browns. It was going to be a wedding quilt, but the wedding-ees seem to have rejected it as "too country". So. On to Plan B.
ReplyDeleteHi Tonya,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this finds you happy and well because Florida sounds like it really agrees with you and the cats! I love this 9 patch margarita quilt AND the repro sampler. All those lovely fabrics... Wonderful meeting, visiting, and shopping with Gwen. Did you pinch yourself to see if the whole experience was real? :-) Isn't The Office great? I get so embarassed watching it. Michael is such a jerk.