I have been wanting to make an Irish chain quilt for a while now, and thought that a dark chain would look really dramatic with my AMH Folk Song fabric. Indeed it does look pretty dramatic.
Although the dark fabric looks black here, it is a peppered cotton and is in fact a dark charcoal (I think it might be called Carbon). Like many a super model I'm guessing, it photographs really well but in real life looks quite different. The result was way too heavy/dark for my taste.
This morning when I woke up and looked at the dark chain version, I knew that I couldn't love it no matter how much I wanted it not to be a waste of several hours of sewing. In version two I used Lecien Yarn Dyed Melange/Chambray in natural which I bought a while ago from Polka Dot Tea Fabrics for another project.
It is quite a different look but I'm much happier with it. I'm hoping that the chain effect will still be able to be seen when I have more of it completed. The melange/chambray is lovely soft material to work with and it looks like a linen without the bulk. This close up up might give you some sense of the textured look of the fabric.
Off I go now to spend some quality time with my seam ripper. Joy.
Really good to see both options... quite amazing the difference! But I agree, the lighter natural is nice, it really makes the AMH fabrics 'pop' now! And I'm sure from a distance you will get that chain effect! Linda
ReplyDeleteThey both look great, but yes the lighter fabric lets the AMH shine, while the darker sort of frames it more. I don't think I would ever have the patience to unpick what I had started if I didn't like it- good on you.
ReplyDeleteI think we've all done it-persisting and hoping it'll magically improve and you're right it's usually better just to bite the bullet and get out the seamripper. The black is dramatic but I agree that the linen look is fresh and better showcases those lovely prints.
ReplyDeleteI would also have been thinking that the black chains would look really good, but when I see the photo it looks kind of heavy and the AMH prints fade away, whereas the natural linen has allowed all the bold prints to take their rightful place
ReplyDeletePersisting with something you don't love sewing is just tedious, and takes forever! So glad you changed your plans - I love this new look a whole lot more too :-)
ReplyDeleteThose fabrics are just gorgeous.The light background is very nice with them. Enjoy
ReplyDeletei've learned the same lesson over time and a few quilts! i feel the same about fabrics i don't particularly like. i can't get past seeing the whole fabric to see the "color effect" instead. if i don't like it, it doesn't go in. or it has to come out! i think you made an excellent choice and not just because i prefer the second version, too.
ReplyDeletei've learned the same lesson over time and a few quilts! i feel the same about fabrics i don't particularly like. i can't get past seeing the whole fabric to see the "color effect" instead. if i don't like it, it doesn't go in. or it has to come out! i think you made an excellent choice and not just because i prefer the second version, too.
ReplyDelete