Sunday, April 13, 2008

Decisions, decisions

I spent most of the weekend working on the medallion. The checkerboard and mountains border was finished easily by lunchtime on Saturday. Then I spent the rest of Saturday and part of today trying to decide on cornerstones.

I didn't like the look of a large plain square at all.












I thought I'd like a diagonally placed four patch, but didn't like the way that looked either.



I tried a square in a square block next but that wasn't right.











Next came a double four patch. That was better - I liked the way it "finished" the checkerboard border. But I didn't like how it led my eye off into the corner.

What if I replaced the one four patch with a triangle square? Nope - don't like that.










How about one four patch and three plain squares? I think this is the best so far. It might work.

My final try was to cut more triangles and finish the outside mountains so they looked like the rest of the mountains. I had considered this idea a couple times earlier but discarded the thought without trying it. I didn't think I'd like that much light fabric in each corner. Wouldn't you know it - I like this one the best. Once I had it in place I realized it perfectly echoed the first border around the center.

Finally! I made the decision by mid afternoon today. Now on to border number six.

I decided on variable stars for the sixth border. I made five of them and set them into place on the design wall to see how I like them.

Hmmm . . . I like the stars . . . but now are there too many light fabrics next to each other where border five and border six meet? Maybe. So I tried adding a "Plain Jane" border like the one I added after round two. Hmmm . . . I'm not sure if this is an improvement. Maybe this fabric is too dark for this narrow border. Maybe I should try a medium tone for the Plain Jane? I haven't had time to cut that one yet to try out, so I don't know how that would look. I'll have to try that tomorrow. If I go for the Plain Jane I have five stars I can't use as the stars will need to be 8 1/2" finished instead of 8" finished.

Decisions, decisions . . . sometimes it's so hard. So I'm going to sleep on it and look at it again in the morning. I invite your ideas also if you would like to join in my decision making.

In the meantime I made another Dear Jane block - C-3 - Rayelle's Fence - so I could stay caught up with the group. This one was really easy. I just sewed two small strata, cut them into strips and sewed the strips together.

15 comments:

Tanya said...

Wow. Did you make up all those blocks just to try them out on the corner? Yikes!

I really like the dark plain Jane stip between the 5 and 6 borders.

antique quilter said...

yes it needs that border in there to anchor the stars...
I love it, think the fabric is fine...
like that it is the same as the inside one...again uniformity in a scrappy quilt :) just make some of the stars darker so it isn't such a contrast against the dark inner border..just mho !
Kathie who is dying to start a medallion quilt like this....hmmm will have to call Patty today and see if I can inspire her too!

sewprimitive karen said...

Oh, this quilt is SO pretty. Those outer stars look great.

Unknown said...

Hi! I like the light triangles in the corners, but what if you repeated the Plain Jane border you used after round one, I think that wouldn't stand out alone as the darker one does, but then again, you've gone this far on your own, I'm sure your decision would be the best! :-) Thank you for the opportunity to contribute. Iris

Vicki W said...

I love this medallion quilt and IMHO, your corner treatment was perfect!

Karen said...

Hi Patti,

Yes, I agree, I like the border between the mountain row and the row of stars. I like how it mirrors the earlier border of the same fabric.

Karen

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful. I've been saving photos of medallion quilts because I want to sew one soon.

Nancy

Stacy said...

Patti, that is one amazing quilt. I was wondering the same thing as Iris. Trying the most inside border, with the blue and purple(i think)? It may bring out some of those medium colors more and not be too dark. The whole thing is really something special. Love Stacy

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I like the dark border separating the stars - even though you have to start your stars over. You are so quick you probably won't even notice that little time glitch.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I like the dark border separating the stars - even though you have to start your stars over. You are so quick you probably won't even notice that little time glitch.

Pam said...

It looks beautiful Patti!! You sure are working hard on it and a it is really paying off - it will be such a wonderful quilt when it is finished!!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

I loved looking at your quilt testing and thought process! Isn't that fun! Your medallion is looking wonderful!

TiempoSoria said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!!

Teresa said...

Great quilt! I like your stars in the outer border and I know you will pick out the best option for the inner borders that suit you to a tee. You have done a marvelous job.

Elaine Adair said...

You have really WORKED on that quilt - the result shows it! Very nice.

One thing, earlier you had a Squarein a square on the corner. I thought it would have been wonderful on the border, kinda fitting near to the triangles - I wanted to reach out the adjust it for you, to see how it would look! LOL, Funny!

It is just smashing - congrats on a great job.