The baskets will finish at 10" x 12". As they are now, the layout would measure 40" x 60" but with sashing and a border the measurements will increase.
I wonder if these baskets will drive someone nuts. There are at least three or four different basket shapes and the plaids are cut in several different directions: on the diagonal and on the straight grain with some plaids horizontal and some vertical.
My thought at this point is that these baskets need some space between them. Shall I sew two 1" borders around each using different fabrics, or the same fabrics/color, or....? I remember my Cheri Payne Baskets of Plenty (here and here) around which I sewed the same fabric. The result was a very static quilt which I thought looked awful. (I still have those borders to unstitch.) Anyway, I was thinking perhaps dark greens, different shades of browns, greys, maybe reds, maybe even blacks around these baskets. Maybe.
This is the basket I'm currently stitching. The colors in the photo are a little brighter than in the actual block.
There's no great hurry to decide because I have more applique to do for these, but I think it's good to start thinking in advance.
I'm linking this post to
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuations
> Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts
> Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
On a health note.
I've had one, long, ongoing headache since the middle of November when I first had vertigo. The vertigo is still gone, but the headache persists, with varying intensity. I went to a neurologist on Friday who diagnosed the headache as New Daily Persistent Headache. What a name! He thought that when they put tubes down my throat for surgery in October they may have hit a nerve or two. He offered two options for treatment, either of which he said should break the cycle: an oral, 2-week round of the steroid prednisone or an injection on either side of the base of my skull. Ouch! I chose the oral route, but there hasn't been much change yet. He said it may take a week or so. I hope it works because I'm mightily tired of having a constant headache.
I hope you're healthy and happy and doing well!
--Nancy.
The Baskets are SO adorable. Pls do not put dark green sashing tho. How about---no sashing? Keep it so light and cheery as is. Do borders. Maybe a small checkerboard [mini 9 Patch] in red/ bright, w self cream sashing. Your vision was to capture the light happy joy of summer's fun zinnias. PS I m seeing gingham used a lot this spring, so happy, so fun.
ReplyDeleteHeadache: I have been Rxed ongoing small dose prednisone for a few years now--to manage joint pain, but it has helped my migraines immensely. So be hopeful.
love
lizzy
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about sashing and borders, Lizzy. Without sashing, the quilt will be too small and I really think each of those baskets needs its own space to be seen. But, the idea of keeping it light is appealing. (Sometimes I don't think I explore enough options and, instead, go with my first impression.) And I'm not sure I was thinking of dark borders/sashing, but more in the medium range. When I get the other baskets finished I'll start to try out different fabrics and colors. (And I love how you often plead against green!)
DeleteHoping that med gets rid of those headaches for you--so difficult to even think with that going on. I agree with Lizzy about no sashing at all and perhaps that little border...gingham would be sweet with these pretty baskets...hugs, Julierose
ReplyDeleteThanks for your hope for my headache, Julierose, and for sharing your thoughts about sashing and border for the baskets. I'll wait till I have the other baskets finished before I play and decide what to do. So far I still have a headache, but the doctor said it could take a week or more, so I'm still hopeful.
DeleteI love your baskets and all their variations. And if you love them, don't worry about what anyone else thinks. My first thought for sashing was to use more of the plaids from the baskets - maybe a border around each basket that would look like a double sashing?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie. I don't usually worry or even think too much about what others think of the quilts I make, though I would if I were making a quilt FOR someone and they weren't happy with it.
DeleteI like your idea of plaid sashing with a border around each basket. It's an idea I'll play with when I finish appliqueing the last baskets.
Love your baskets! I pray the oral medication works. If you need to follow up with the injections I hope it is under guided imagery. Drink lots of water in the mean time and try to lie flat. Especially if this is due to loss of spinal fluid. Robin @ quiltyladyrratgmaildotcom 😊🌴
ReplyDelete.
Thank you, Robin.
DeleteThe oral medication hasn't yet worked but it's only been a week so I'm still hopeful. Thank you for the suggestions to be more comfortable. I never thought to ask the doctor about guided imagery for the injections. They just sounded so awful I didn't want to do it--and hope I don't have to!
These baskets are so "Darn Cute" all together. Just so sweet. I know it's taken you a long time but it's worth all the effort. I have no suggestions for sashing or borders because it doesn't matter what others think, it is your color and fabric choices that have made this quilt sing. I hope the oral medication makes all the difference for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Robin. I haven't been consistent in stitching these baskets, which is why it seems like it's taken a long time to finish them. It seems like I pull them out when I don't have other stitching to do.
DeleteYou're right, it doesn't matter what others think of the quilt, the colors, the borders, and I think maybe the questions I posed were things I'd been thinking over and wondering about.
The variety you have with all these baskets is what makes them unique and interesting to the eye. Whether to add sashings, cornerstones and borders depends partly on what final size you want, and more important what will my your heart sing when looking at the finished quilt! Go with your instincts and all will come out right.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Pat. I like the variety of plaids and orientations, too. I was just thinking that some folks might not (and that's okay--their own response).
DeleteLizzy suggested no sashings but the quilt will be too small so I really do need to add sashings and border -- or make more blocks, which I don't really want to do.
I so often second guess myself because I've made quilts and clothes that I started out thinking would be wonderful and, when finished, look awful, or mediocre at best. I can't really envision or imagine what a finished quilt will look like till it's finished. It's a little challenging.
I like the every-which-way orientation of the plaids -- such a charming design!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nann. I like the varied orientation to the plaids. So glad someone else does, too.
DeleteThese are wonderful baskets. I love the shape, the flowers, everything. I would take different colors of a solid and audition each for sashing. At least 2" wide or maybe 2-1/2" . A soft color that would balance out all of the dark. Not sure what, but you'll know it when you see it. Good luck. San / Gypsy Quilter Designs
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet comment about the baskets. Also, thank you for your ideas about sashing width and colors. I'll remember this when I start to pull out fabrics to audition after the last baskets are appliqued.
DeleteWhat fun baskets! I like the zinnia flower addition!!--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Terry.
DeleteI think your baskets are delightful! The different orientations of the plaids make them fun and interesting. I'll enjoy seeing what you do next with these! Sending good thoughts that your meds will help the headache - that sounds frustrating.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Little Penguin Quilts. I'm glad you like the plaids going in different directions. I have several baskets to finish before I can try sashing and borders, but I'll definitely post about it eventually.
DeleteThanks, too, for the good thoughts about my medication for the headache. No help yet, but I'm only halfway through the dose, so I'm being hopeful.
I loved seeing your pretty plaid baskets again! I thought your Cheri Payne quilt looked just perfect, I wouldn’t change anything. I hope you are feeling better and that the medication is helping.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Rebecca. You can tell I'm not a speedy quilter by how often I post progress on the same quilts! Maybe one of these days I'll pick up some speed.
DeleteThanks, too, for your comment about the Baskets of Plenty top. One of these days I'll pull it out again and give it more serious consideration.
The medication is not yet having any effect on the headache but I'm only halfway through the dose, so there's still hope!
LOVE all the different fabrics in your baskets!! Adorable. I know they will all land where they are supposed to. Stich on.
DeleteLoving those basket blocks, Nancy! The variety of plaids, basket shapes, and different directions of the plaids give it a fun, whimsical feel. The lovely, fresh flower colors make it such a happy, spring feeling quilt to me. I've read all the comments about how it doesn't matter what other people. think, and I totally agree. You do what feels good to you. But when I "think out loud" on my blog about things I'm not yet sure I've settled, I sometimes get input from someone that I had never considered. And sometimes I like it better than what I had in mind. So I will share my thoughts, but will not be offended in any way when you do something totally different. LOL
ReplyDeleteThis is just the musing in my head when I thing, "what would I do if this was my quilt?" When I look at the blocks and get that light, Spring-like feeling, I don't think I would add any color to the sashing. You have a variety of neutral backgrounds, a variety of plaids, and a variety of flower colors--and they are all working together beautifully. I think I would choose one unifying neutral and use that for the sashing. It would give the added size to the quilt, but would not add any visual "weight" like more plaid or colored sashing might do. And a final plaid border could add to the size without getting in the middle of all of the "lightness" of those happy, springy blocks. Just what my brain says I would do if this quilt was mine. But it isn't, and I will enjoy seeing what your brain decides to do. :)
So sorry for this ongoing headache issue. The diagnosed name of your condition made me laugh. Maybe the people who make up names for the medications we take could help come up with something a little less "stating the obvious". Hope your steroid course starts helping very soon!!
Those baskets are so wonderful, I love them all. I think the plaid is an ingenious touch and adds so much interest. How clever of you, Nancy. Meanwhile, I am so sorry about those headaches. What an awful thing to be having and I, like all your stitchy friends, am sincerely hoping the medication will do the trick and cure these once and for all. To pain free days ahead!
ReplyDelete