Favorite color schemes

I've actually given away every quilt I've ever made, but this year I'm changing that. I've just started an Irish chain, in jewel tones, and have decided to name it This One's Just for Me. It's emerald, amythest, sapphire, garnet, teal, and touches of hot pink on muslin.

I think a lot of quilters (myself included) get caught up in making our loved ones happy, and that's where all the best quilts go. That's why this year I'm treating myself. It's time, and I'm worth it.

Vicky

I am, for the second time, making a quilt for myself in a pattern I designed -- same pattern, too! The "problem" is that I gave the first one to my sister when she got married. She had watched me work on that quilt all the way through, and admired it a lot, but did not ask for it since she knew it was going to be the first quilt I was actually making to keep. Well, then she got married, about a month after the quilt was finished, so I rolled it up, stuck it in a big bag, and gave it to her. She was stunned, and uses it every day! So, I am making it again, this time in different colors, of course, and a large size since I plan to use it on my queen size bed, and KEEPING IT. Since I do both piecing and quilting by hand, it's a good thing I'm not in a hurry!

One thing I have always done with knitting, quilting, tatting, and crochet is that I do give lots of it away, but never to people who whine or wheedle or beg or drop huge hints! For those people, I offer to teach them how to do whatever it is so they can make their own. I also never sell any of my work, although I have certainly donated various things to charity auctions -- and one afghan I made enough money on its own in a silent auction to buy a large swingset for a private elementary school, and that pleased me a lot!

When I was working I was very lucky to have a job where slacks and sweaters were the usual clothing for work, and was able to dress very inexpensively but very nicely! I always had slacks in charcoal, navy, camel, black, and burgundy, and made my own sweaters, which were always nice and fit better than the ones I could buy. For several years I always had a sweater going, and there were a bunch of us who always took knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, etc. to the office and spent our lunch hours in the lounge swapping stories and working on the latest whatever.

Vicky, I sure hope you can show us a picture of your Irish chain when you're finished (or even at various stages along the way!). It sounds beautiful.

Compared to a lot of quilters here on RTCQ, I'm a very slow quilter. Lucky if I complete one full-size per year. With me, I've only started feeling comfortable giving quilts away because I'm always afraid someone may not like the colors I've chosen, etc. However, I started getting over that by making a quilt for my dad, since I was very familiar with his color preferences. I'm now working on a 3rd one for him--all some variations with a blue basis. Then I made a quilt for my young cousin. She was 5 years old at the time, and saw the stack of purple blocks I'd received through one of Terbear's "Your Pick" swaps. She quietly informed that purple was her favorite color and that I could make a quilt for her. Well, who could resist that? She got it for 6th birthday.

The quilts I made before I got brave enough to make them for other people are scrappy. I have three of them. My goal is eventually to make a quilt for myself that ISN'T scrappy. (Although honestly, even the quilts I made for other people which were color controlled are somewhat scrappy because I like to use a variety of fabrics--even if the fabrics are all in the same color scheme.

This is the year that I plan to make a quilt for myself. I have two or three quilts in the works and as soon as they are finished I will start one to keep just for myself.

And I love blues, purples, greens, and even yellow.

Judie

Even though I love rich deep colors, they're usually not cat-hair- friendly, so I don't make them for myself. (isn't that a ridiculous criteria?)....But for some reason, I tend to gravitate toward red. Not just in fabric but also in my clothes closet. I made a Laurel Burch fabric quilt once, and sashed it with Moda marble black. That thing was a nightmare. I bet I used up four lint rollers on it before I finished it and gave it away.

Sherry

It's a repeating theme. I've seen it here for years that most of you never, ever make a quilt for your very own bed. I hereby give you permission (if that's what you've been waiting for) to make a quilt for YOU. I did. It is scrappy because I love scrappy. For the most part, it is bright colors but I threw in some peaceful ones because it certainly did need some resting places. It keeps me warm at night. It makes me smile when I make my bed. It makes me happy when I invite a quilter friend to come see its pattern and quilting. Yes. Do. Make a quilt for you. You are worth it. And do make it 'cat hair friendly'. Polly

Even though I love rich deep colors, they're usually not cat-hair- friendly, so I don't make them for myself. (isn't that a ridiculous criteria?)....But for some reason, I tend to gravitate toward red. Not just in fabric but also in my clothes closet. I made a Laurel Burch fabric quilt once, and sashed it with Moda marble black. That thing was a nightmare. I bet I used up four lint rollers on it before I finished it and gave it away.

Sherry

do make it 'cat

Polly, I *am* in the process, now! I had so many lovely leftover 30's scraps, I started a nine-patch alternating with white. (blends with cat hair). I kept working till I ran out of scraps, and I think it's going to be exactly right for our kingsized bed. It's simple, and country, like me. And it's frugal, like me. And I think I *will* smile when I make the bed. :-)

Sherry

I've got MY top done. Saving now to have a long armer do the quilting.

I look at my stash and I think - why did I buy this? I just looked at the colors in my friend's scrappy quilt and I'm jealous!! I don't have those colors in my scraps! It's part of why I don't make more! My only new year's resolution this year is to only buy what will make a great scrappy quilt in MY colors this year!

Judy from Mass

do make it 'cat

I took this advise several years back and have made quilts for myself. I just finished that GMFG for our bed but am afraid to put it on right now. I currently have the Tea Leaf (aka Joseph's Coat) that I made several years ago on our bed. Because of DH's Alzheimer's this quilt looks like it has gone through a war zone. I have had to make any number of repairs to it and right now it suffered another disaster. He burned a BIG hole in it smoking in bed just last week. That repair is major and I plan to fix it again this week. To keep my mind off this problem I have spent the last several days making 1/2 square triangles. I counted the quilts the other day that I have saved for myself over the last 20 years. I have 14 currently. Like others here I make my quilts just for the sheer pleasure of making them. If my quilts find a good home I am always happy. I have only sold a few. Those were specially ordered quilts. I have even lost 2 and for the life of me cannot figure out how that happened. julia

Most of my quilts are very rich in color! I intend to make one of neutrals someday. I keep many of them and give many away. The joy is in the planning, buying and making.

I agree with your last sentence. The joy *is* in the process, not the finished product. On the other hand, with all that work, I do tend to get emotionally attached to them sometimes. Just certain ones. Not that I can't still give them away, but only to certain people becuase I'd be plenty mad if I saw them outside in the doghouse or something. This actually happened to a quilter I know.

My very first quilt ended up at my exH's house..(i used to keep it in my car), anyway...he wrapped his hot rod engine with it. Yep,,,burned to a crisp. it was a hand pieced, hand quilted granny's flower garden...full size. Of course!

i have made several for myself. One on my bed now in my favorite fall colors.

amy in CNY

Debra

My art for sale at:

Lime green, royal blue, and yellow or orange! And, no I haven't made one yet. I am a little afraid it would singe my eyes to look upon it. Debra

My art for sale at:

I had a retrospective exhibit a couple of years back. When hanging the show, it became obvious that I have a predeliction for blues. Most of my projects were analagous blue violets to yellow greens with touches of yellow orange to red orange accents.

juliasb wrote: