#30

I've been turning down the volume lately. And not just on the radio. I've been making quilts and pillow covers in a much more muted palette. It all started with this quilt . I made it with this question in mind," What happens to pattern when the values of the fabrics are really close together?" It seemed that answering that question was easier to do if the fabrics were white or primarily white, simple and graphic. Since then I've used this idea of obscuring pattern by severely limiting the palette to create these pillow covers and coasters .
I took this idea one step further recently by drafting a slightly more complicated pattern and applying the same palette.


Actually just the fact that I drew out my idea and then created templates for that pattern is amazing. I don't think I've ever done that before. I'm used to just piecing stuff together without a whole lot of thought as to whether pieces fit together. But I felt like working so"quietly" required precision.


One of the cool things about creating these template pieces is that I can enlarge them as much as I like. In this version the individual blocks measured about 9x9", but if I doubled the size of the template pieces then they'd be 18x18" which I think would have a different kind of impact. Maybe at that size or larger the scale of the prints used would have to change? Maybe it would be easier or harder to disguise the pattern? Maybe the overall energy of the pattern would decrease? Increase? The possibilities are so much fun to think about...and try.