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| RSC Butterflies on the design wall November 7th, 2017 |
I took the time to remake the yellow butterfly. The fabrics in my original one were just too quiet compared to those in the other butterflies and it just faded away. This new one in bolder yellows can hold its own better. (You can find my butterfly block tutorial here.)
The layout bears very little resemblance to either of the layouts I planned in January when I designed the butterfly and made my first block.
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| RSC Butterflies layout 1 |
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| RSC Butterflies layout 2 |
When I decided to stop at 9 blocks I had to rework things a little. I thought I might add some Spring Bloom blocks to help grow the quilt to a usable size. The green triangles were going to be prairie points.
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| RSC Butterflies layout 3 |
Yes, this was it. Definitely. Yet by the time I made the last butterfly block, I wasn't sure about those coloured blooms. How about white blooms, like dogwood?
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| RSC Butterflies layout 4 |
Much better. But what about this one?
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| RSC Butterflies layout 5 |
Hmm. Nope. I like the blooms in the corners better.
But wait. By the time I was ready to start assembling the top, I was in a more traditional mood and wanted to frame things with a border, and I didn't want blooms anymore. Without the blooms, those corners were awfully empty, not a very traditional look. The nine-patches came out to play.
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| RSC Butterflies layout 6 |
Layout 6 was the layout I shared in October. This weekend I started actually assembling the quilt and in full size in fabric on the design wall, I felt there was too much blank background so I tweaked things. I polled the household and everyone was in favour of coloured cornerstones too.
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| RSC Butterflies layout 7 |
This last variation is what is taking shape on my design wall. It is far enough along that I am committed to it now. The final border will have a little extra something to spruce it up a bit too.
Here's the thing. As I was looking through my EQ project file to extract these layouts to share here (there are dozens of iterations in that file, some of which are definitely in the "what was I thinking?!" category) I realized my mood has shifted back to the more minimalist, modern look and the lighter feel of the light borders. Today I am gravitating to design 4 above, or maybe even this one:
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| RSC Butterflies layout 8 |
It is definitely time to finish this quilt!
Linking up with
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
How funny--you came full circle! Well, either of those layouts is very pretty, to me. Of those two, I think I prefer #4, because it looks like butterflies flitting among the blossoms.
ReplyDeleteLots of options, too many can become confusing. I like 8 the best, it allows the butterflies to be the focal point.
ReplyDeleteAll of the layouts are beautiful, but I really like what you have on the design wall on this post. I just upgraded to EQ8 and I am looking forward to playing around with it on some of my blocks. I hope I do as well as you have done!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure however it turns out it will be great.
ReplyDeleteYou came up with lots of great options for the layout of this quilt. I'm not sure what I would choose, I love them all :)
ReplyDeleteYour butterflies are beautiful. Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteWow, they are all pretty! It will be fun to see your final quilt. It looks like you are enjoying the process of creating the quilt!
ReplyDeleteWow you really did transition over time! I gotta say I like 7 the best, although I liked each one the best when I saw it, LOL
ReplyDeleteHow interesting that your design process is so iterative! I don't think you can really go wrong with any of these versions :)
ReplyDeleteSo many ideas ... all would make great quilts, but yes, you have to do what YOU like and love! :) Sometimes it comes together with the waiting, and yes, sometimes we get mighty confused as we consider options. OK, I have figured out why #4 is not fulling sitting with you. It's the Dogwood. Now, if those were good ol' Trillium!!!! Might as well, let your Ontario roots come through! :)
ReplyDelete(BTW I really like #4, Dogwood or Trillium!!)
Wow - so many layouts with just a few tweaks. I like the white flowers rather than the colored ones, or the butterflies get lost. I like what's on your design wall, too.
ReplyDeleteI like No. 7 best, but all are pretty. I'm just grateful there are quilters like you who study, plan, and work to come up with such beautiful designs so the rest of us, me especially, don't have to do so much worrying about how to make pretty quilts! With help like yours, it is much easier. Thanks for being your determined self! ---"Love"
ReplyDeleteSo fun to see the evolution of your design! Love the last variation, especially the change in the corners. Tightens things up - it's going to be a great finish! Thank you for sharing on Midweek Makers
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, thanks so much for sharing your layout journey. It's really fascinating how a project will evolve, especially when it's large and/ or over an extended period of time. I can't wait to see the final version!
ReplyDeleteI like them all.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see all your lay-out ideas.
ReplyDeleteI guess when you buy a pattern you don't see all the variations the designer decided were the *one* until the finally settled on the one.
ReplyDeleteSo fun to take a peek in your wonderfully creative brain. Looking forward to seeing what the final version is.... but how about that last one with a hand quilted in green arc of feathers in each of the corners?
ReplyDeleteSo cool! I like seeing how your design progressed.
ReplyDeleteThey are all fun, but the one you decided upon is the best!
ReplyDeleteSo many different layout options. Those butterflies are so colorful and pretty. It will be a beautiful quilt.
ReplyDelete