I have been so busy with the kids off school for the holidays that I failed to document any randomness this week. I did purchase this lovely scrap bundle from Karen Lewis Textiles when she was tempting me on IG.
And then I was suddenly inspired! Nicky recently suggested that some geometric fabric I bought would make a great quilt pattern and so I starting drawing it out and want to English Paper Piece it. I've been think about colours and how to use Karen's bundle, I have an idea of what I want to do but need to think some more and maybe try sketching it out to see if I like it.
I don't usually spend time planning, I'm more likely to just start playing around with fabric and going with my gut. This one needs a bit of thought though and I'm having a hard time visualising it, so I would love to hear from those of you that plan; how to you decide what fabrics or colour schemes to use? Do you sketch it out, colour in your design or is there some other thing I should do?
p.s. this great paper I'm using is a free printable, you can get it here!
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I use a mix of techniques but pretty much all are computer based. For EPP projects, which I do a lot of, I usually draft up a copy of my desing in Inkscape. If it's a small design I'll play around with colour combinations there - they won't match the fabrics but will give me an idea of whether or not the idea I have in my head is going to actually work. For larger projects I pretty much use EQ7 as my design wall. My hubbie bought me a copy a few years ago and I must admit that while I really don't use it as much as I should for designing or drafting final patterns I do find it great for playing around with fabric options.
Let me know what you come up with. I LOVE Karen's bundles. I wish Robert Kaufman would grab her and print bolts and bolts of her patterns on Kona, right? I mean, I love the handmade goodness of her screen printing for sure, but it's so hard on my pocketbook so I would love to buy in quantity. Robert Kaufman, are you listening?
Also, this was great randomness, by the way. So if you come up with some good ideas, I also got five "trimmings" bundles from Umbrella Prints and would love to know what to do with them. I'm thinking I might make a bunch of Modern Handcraft's hexies so I can machine stitch them to something. Happy Thursday, Lucy.
Planning is one of the most fun bits for me, enjoy!
Love that irregular geometric you're using for your EPP inspiration. You could try taking it to a printing store and having them enlarge it on a copy machine to the size you want to work with. Then you can cut apart the print for the EPP papers. Good luck!
I like to sketch mine out with colored pencils but sometimes I just wing it. I'm known for crazy designs.
I do all my planning with a pencil and paper and try to think in terms of values for the fabric placement and then colour. Although I usually have a sort of colour scheme in mind, which makes it easier. I tend to just shade different shapes and then make a sample block to check my templates work (and line up!) and the colour placement is what I want. It's a long process of mulling, sketching, mulling and then more mulling before I get to any cutting out or sewing! Have fun!
I collect some fabrics I want to use, then I have to find a pattern I love. I 'm lacking the ability to draw my own, except for a couple of times! I look for ideas in shops& here...then go with my gut!!!
Not the 21st for me! I'm in Eastern time zone.