Saturday, October 21, 2017

Sewing for Others is Rewarding but Sometimes Stressful!

Do you find that to be true?  I get the biggest rush out of knowing someone truly loves something I have made for them but if you aren't fully acquainted with them and even though they have told you what they like, there are always those niggling doubts.  Is this too bright? too light? too busy? too plain?

This month, Kathleen wants an old fashioned Christmas sampler and here is the fabric pull she provided for us and she said we could make the block of our choice:

Here are the colors I came up with from my stash as close as I could get.

I have chosen to make the Double Star block using part or all of these fabrics.

Now that I have the block mostly sewn together, I have one more decision to make.  What to put in the middle!  I couldn't make up my mind so I would love to take a poll.  Which center do you like the best?  Kathleen for whom this block is being made requested old fashioned forest greens, cranberry reds, old golds and creams instead of whites. 

Which middle do you think looks best?  I love LOTS of input!  Please vote!

1.  Shiny gold floral print

2.  Swirly gold shiny print

3.  Gold with red dot

4. Green plaid

5.  Leafy green

6.  Red and green

7.  Dotted red

8.  Mottled red

9.  Red plaid

I'd love to hear from you!
Linking to:
Crazy Mom Quilts
Busy Hands Quilts
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!



27 comments:

  1. Hi Janice, I agree with you about making something for someone else. I'm currently quilting a friend's quilt. I think number 3 gold with the red dot best compliments the block. The red dots bring in the red on the points and the gold just helps it to pop. Good luck.

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  2. Hi, Janice! I like the dotted red as the center. It brings in the star points. Just about any of the cranberry reds would work. JMHO, of course. Any of these options would make a beautiful quilt.
    Cheers,
    Sylvia@Treadlestitches

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  3. Green plaid!! Looks great :)

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  4. You certainly went to a lot of trouble presenting the various options for the star's center......my instinct was to choose the yellow with red dot because it liven's up the block. BUT...then after pondering for awhile.....I wonder if when viewing multiple blocks, it would present too much of an bull's eye affect. The polka dot print DOES take over a bit. The swirly gold #2 was just interesting enough to hold up to being the center patch, yet (and this could be the angle of the photo), it seemed to help allow the other patches to stand up and be counted too! I'd recommend laying out several blocks with these two patches in the center before making your decision....OR use one of the duplicating mirror gagets to view one block and see how you like they way it looks....as seen over and over. I'm anxious to see the finished piece.

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  5. If it is for someone else - try to channel what she would like most, but if you want to channel me it is the first one.

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  6. I gotta be different, I am going to tell you ones I don't like- 1,4,6,9. That's because I couldn't make up my mind on the rest, LOL Yes it is stressful making for someone, they might not like the print you choose either! I much prefer to make the item and then they choose it-like Etsy, or my craft shows;)

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  7. The polka dot is MY favorite, but I have the color sensibilities of a four year old. So my choice is for the stripey red/cream/green fabric...it gives some snap but quietly. Your greens look to have more yellow than Kathleen's bluish green selection so I would avoid using the green centers.

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  8. I like the green plaid to keep the "old Fashioned" approach that your client wanted. Either way-nice choice of fabrics. mary in Az

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  9. I like number 1 and number 8 best. I agree that sewing for someone else is stressful :) I can't help but question every decision lol

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  10. I like 4 and 8 - no reason - just like them

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  11. My eye leans towards #7 or #8. They seem more old-fashioned and country to me. I totally agree about feeling the stress for sewing for others! We want it to be perfect and loved always!

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  12. Oh, that's a hard choice. I don't think you can go wrong with #2, #4 or #8. It is stressful sewing for others if you aren't sure of their taste.

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  13. With her love of oldfshioned, I would choose 2 or 8, both would blend in and not be intrusive. Good luck!

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  14. I personally like either of the swirly golds--but the first one is my very favorite--hope this helps...it is so hard to know what someone else would like...but shimmery golds always say Christmas to me...hugs, Julierose P.S. this is a lovely block, by the way really nice...

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  15. Number 3, Gold with Red Dot, is my favorite! I think it helps make the red "arrows" that point into the center really sing :)

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  16. I would say 4, 7 or 8. Like you I find making for other people is difficult.

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  17. I definitely picked #1 until I got to #7 and then I couldn't decide. I like them both but if I had to pick one I think I would go with #1. Good luck

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  18. The key is that she wanted an old fashioned look. So the golds, to me, are a bit out of sync for that. I'd go with the dotted red, or the mottled red centers. Great block, btw!

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  19. Two is the best yellow, don’t like the greens, eight is the best red. In my opinion that is, but what do you like?

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  20. I am a sucker for shiny things, so I have to vote #1 :)

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  21. Lovely block and so many options to choose from. My vote is Mottled Red, followed by Gold with Red Dot.

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I LOVE meeting new quilting friends and always respond to comments so I'd love to hear from you!