I'm contemplating getting ready to start my DJ project. I've had the book/software for a few years now and think it's about time to make a start.
I need help though to come to a decision about what background to use. I am 'thinking' using Hoffman batiks as the main fabric but can't think what best to use as the BG. I've hummed and harred over it and thought you folk may like to help me out and get me off the ground.. All suggestions appreciated.
Cheers Elly
I saw a fabulous quilt at a show, in fact I think it won the visitors' choice. I've put the photos I took in my Webshots album. I couldn't get far enough away to take a photo of the whole (and too many people around it anyway).
It was obviously bigger than DJ blocks, but the pale blue, almost sky tones, worked wonderfully.
I am just downloading the pictures, so they will be there in a minute or two.
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
Elly wrote:
The lighting wasn't very good and it actually looked more 'gentle' in reality. The Flying Geese block comes over best.
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
Sally Sw> I saw a fabulous quilt at a show, in fact I think it won the visitors'
Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
Oh my, that's nearly enough to send me on a DJ excursion!
Dannielle
Hi Sally, Thank you for sharing that picture. It does look beautiful. OH MY! My head is in a spin..
Sally Sw> I saw a fabulous quilt at a show, in fact I think it won the visitors'
Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
That's really pretty, Sally. . In message , Sally Swindells writes
Mine isn't really traditional; but I chose a background of very pale blue, green, pink and mauve areas on white. There seems to be no uniformity to it at all - I suppose there must be! I am using my colours like a trip around the world pattern. So, onto the pale background (regardless of where the colours come of the background fabric), I am using the very dark end of the spectrum of the same colours. So, I am using a round of very dark blue (these are all tone on tones), a round of very dark green, one of very dark red, a round of deep purple and a round of black. I haven't put anything together yet, so I can't get the whole effect, but I think it will look OK. . In message , Elly writes
The same quilt was on display at the big regional WI conference, but was just draped over the end of a room dividing screen. Every lady who passed it seemed to touch it (obviously non were quilters). Some stroked it and some just pulled it so they could see the back. I just shut my eyes and prayed she had a big washing machine - the display was in the room serving food!
Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk
Elly wrote:
One consideration: batiks are usually made with a tighter weave. So you might consider using a pale hand-dye for the background to keep the same consistency. Or if you want to reverse it, use a dark blue background with brights. Roberta in D
"Elly" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@n39g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
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Your project sounds like it will be lovely. I too like a lot of different colours and fabrics in my quilts. Further to what I put in Roberta's reply is that I also was looking at a pale sage green batik. It would work well with reds and golds and blues.
Have you got any of your blocks show> Mine isn't really traditional; but I chose a background of very pale
If you simply can't decide between light and dark backgrounds, do half and half and alternate the blocks. But test the red really well first, red likes to run! Roberta in D
"Elly" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Thank you Roberta, that sound like a great idea :)))) Elly
"Roberta Zollner" wrote:
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Yummmm! I love batiks, Elly. If you're thinking of using light-colored batiks, perhaps a black or dark navy background would be nice. If you're using darker batiks, maybe white, off-white/cream or yellow would work well.
I did a quilt a few years ago with light batiks on a black background, and I think it turned out well. Here's a link so you can see the effect: .
Elly, a couple of questions. Will you be sewing by hand or machine? Batiks can be difficult to do by hand, so do think about that. Are you planning to use a lot of different colors of batiks or just one main one and one background? If many, lights or darks.
The DJ blocks are so small that you really need a lot of contrast between your background and focus fabric in most cases. The individual pieces in the blocks are also, often very small, so large prints are pretty much lost. (there are a few blocks with larger pieces, which are fun to fussy cut larger prints into, though. )
I did my first DJ with only the book, and no on-line support. (Mostly before I got on line actually.) I also didn't know about the freezer paper template with master method of working. So there are lots of "creative" areas in my Jane. (Yes I need to get some pictures of it, and get them up in my webshots. I am in the midst of quilting it. Don't think it will make this next year's show though I would like to have it in. sigh)
There are lots of examples of DJ quilts in the various DJ groups, and I believe, links to many from the DJ website. I follow the DJRetreats list (yahoo group) and there are many on there who have done complete Janes as well as smaller projects with "test the fabrics before I commit to the full quilt" blocks.
Which brings us to another suggestion, select a background, a few blocks and try out the combination of fabrics. If you decide you don't want to stick with that particular group, you can turn them into a smaller quilt as a runner, wall quilt, or whatever. A full DJ quilt requires a big investment in fabric. And if you are using one fabric as background or focus you may need to buy it all at once. That is partly why I used an easily available muslin as my background. I knew that I could get more and it would be pretty much the same, no dye lot differences to deal with and it wouldn't be discontinued before I finished. (I also didn't know how much of the quilt I was going to do........ ended up doing the whole thing..... it is addictive. )
Always glad to answer questions, and discuss this amazing quilt and the phenomenon that has grown around it,
Pati, in Phx
Elly wrote:
I'm currently researching a photo sharing site. I can't make up my mind (not a frequent state of affairs!) - it's all a bit beyond my ken. I now have to have a folder for my quilts, my marquetry, my Dad's needlework, pets and Dear Jane. If I ever get it going it's going to be full! I really must do it. I feel such a wimp! MMmm yes, pale sage sounds very good for going with lots. . In message , Elly writes
Hi Patti, The webshots site is dead easy to use. I managed on my own without DH's input. Which is unusual. Just read and follow instructions on the page. I just have the basic membership which is fine for me at the moment.
(HOWEVER, although I've had loads of people look at it no one has yet left any comments and once a week I get an email from webshots telling me my stats and that I have zero fans and zero friends (Pet lip on here, come on guys!) ;)) It's the 3rd email I've had like that and I'm starting to get a complex!;))) lol)
I've just uploaded pictures from my little house groups exhibition which was on this past week (took down today) but I still have the editing to do so will go start on that now.
I'm getting a vision,,, cherry red backgrounds in center blocks , trip around the world fashiom changing to pale sage green ones.
Elly
Patti wrote:
Hi Pati, I hope to mix and match my techniqu=E9s depending on which is the easier option so I'll be doing both machine and hand sewing. Batiks are lovely to applique as they don't fray so much, also the thought behind working with small pieces. Though I know it stretches a bit so will have to be careful there. Good idea to make a smaller project. Could well be that's what it'll end up. I have the pc software version so can print off rotary, templates and foundation patterns and arrange them for setting ideas...... hmm should try it for colour too.
If I wasn't already doing a project with 30s fabrics (an Aunt Grace scrapbag) I'd have probably gone for that fabric... I'll most probably do no more than the patterns in that book for that project though I may draft up a couple more to make it a little bigger. They are 5" finish. Hmmm? maybe I could upload those pics too.
SIGH so many quilts to do .... which to work > Elly, a couple of questions.
Isn't the DJ planning, fun, Elly? Have you visited the Dear Jane group?
I think I might have a go at Webshots. My biggest problem is finding the pictures on my own computer!!! I tried photobucket, but it seems to involve a lot of steps, and I could never find my own site from their labels. Ah me!
I know you were tongue in cheek, but on the whole I think the comments come in the form of messages on the NG, rather than comments on the site itself. You'll have to counteract your complex on here >g<
In message , Elly writes
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