Advice Please

Could I have your advice please?  I mentioned about a week ago that I was going to start on the front cover quilt from Sarah Fielke's new book, Hand Quilted with Love which can be seen here.  Since it is called Made To Measure, I am using hashtag #madetomeasurequilt on Instagram.


So far I have got to the penultimate main round and I am well and truly stuck.  Here is where I have got to.  That black round is OK I think but probably needs balancing afterwards with more paler layers but the stars in the corners of the black round don't quite seem to sit properly.  But if I put them against black instead of against white, I'm worried I'd lose the pattern of stars that drew me to this quilt in the first place.  Any and all suggestions would be gratefully received!


For reference, here is the original which I have changed slightly in places.

Comments

  1. Well obviously I'm no quilter but I think the white background for the stars is the problem and that you should try it on black. If it worked it would be amazing. If not, um well then you're on your own.

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  2. Could you change the colour of your star points in this round, then you could set them against black?

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  3. I can't see the problem, if the next border is pale, it will have the same effect as the original big stars on pale between the two black borders. (Border5?)
    Mind you, i am still in bed full of cold, so my judgement may be impaired!

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  4. It Seems odd,, because i'm not an experienced quilter, I like your quilt, but when I saw the original, I understood what you where talking about: the star pattern. I think you missed the little blocks that connect the star to the corner. In the original They are light coloured. In yours they have the same colour (Grey) . I feel a little bit awkard, answering your mail , just forget about it if its stupid. I like your WORK very much!

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  5. How about the same true black for the points on the stars and the background being one of the low volume prints that you used in your HSTs?

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    1. i agree with this comment. the points of the stars would stand out more if they were a little darker

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    2. My feeling too.... and the centre just a shade darker maybe...?

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    3. Exactly my thoughts! To me the stars stick out because they are so low volume compared to the saturated colors of the border. I think changing the points of the stars to the same black as in the border (or at least the same value black) would take care of the problem! And it's easy to try out - just lay some black triangles over the lighter ones to see if it works before taking the blocks apart....

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  6. What if you used a green background, like the green in outer corners of central block? Otherwise I adore the black/charcoal border.

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  7. If I see this correctly then there are another 3 rounds to come and hence also three stars in each corner. If you keep going with the white background then this should work if they contrast to the borders. But if you are going towards paler borders then the stars may disappear. You don't necessarily need a black background for the stars but you could make the star itself stand out; i.e. make it brighter.

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  8. I've read all the comments here and on IG and I hate to contradict such Oracles as Katy and Sarah but I am going to be honest, I thinks its the grey border thats throwing things. Perhaps the stars wouldn't be a problem if they related more to the ones in the earlier round. ie: if they were closer, like they are on the original. I know it means hours of unpicking....

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    1. I tend to agree with this as well.... the space between the 2 stars is too big... (unless you are going to make this Ginormous and keep that size gap going....)

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  9. The first corner stars were set with the light background which is the same as the rest of that round. Seems that the stars in the corner of the black border should be set in black the same as the rest of that border.

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  10. I sorta agree with Merran that the extra border's throwing it and the stars have moved that extra inch or so away from the last stars but I think if you go light on the next border that'll be fine but like judith said make the stars so much brighter than they shine rather than get lost. how about one of the red's from the square border
    and I dont know sh** about colours/matching so feel free to ignore me :)

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  11. I don't see the problem at all! Sorry! I love those stars which to me echo the central one. I'd stick a mid value border on like the grey floral or the pink one before the grey solid and then go back to the low volume border - might mess up the pieced border sizing though if you are doing them!

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  12. I'm not seeing a problem either. Its gorgeous! If it were me I'd make the next round very pale, and I'd go for light background on the stars but make the star points very strong coloured. Maybe one of the darker reds from the earlier round? Keep going its going to be so beautiful!

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  13. However you look at the quilt, it's a beauty. I feel the stars in the last border look disconnected and faded, maybe it's the extra border, maybe they need to have brighter centres, like the lime green used in the previous set. Why not make a couple of different stars and just place them on the corners?

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  14. I agree with Hadley!

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  15. Well I still think it looks amazing but if I'm throwing my ring in the hat, I agree with Dawn. Good luck - you'll work it out.

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  16. Make two sides of the next border but don't attach it - lay it next to the quilt and have a ponder about whether, once the black (which I love) isn't on the outside of the quilt, your eye stops being drawn to the contrast between the pale stars and the bright triangles. I think it will. I'm a great believer in not unpicking long sections until I'm absolutely sure I can't fix by adding something to balance it (or distract from it, depending on what I'm doing!). What does your instinct tell you about it? Or is that the problem - it isn't saying anything other than 'Uh oh'?

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  17. I agree with Hadley too. In the original the white background to the star blends with the following white spot border and they are then framed by the following black border. Trust yourself it's looking great and will be a fabulous quilt. :) Xxx

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  18. P.S. Another option would be to make slightly smaller stars for the black border (don't change the fabric choice/keep the pale background) and put a skinny border on the two sides which touch the triangle border to create a 'stop' between the black line (the one that runs down the middle of the two rows of triangles) and the pale background. You'd have to sketch it out to make sure the measurements and proportions worked and I'd only do it if I couldn't get the next border to work ;o)
    Hope that makes sense, I haven't been awake that long!

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  19. I agree with the other comments to keep the pale background but make the stars stand out more. My first thought was to make the points black, but maybe any brighter colour would work.

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  20. I really like the stars on the white background. I think it is a beautiful quilt.

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  21. I reckon if you keep going it will come together in the end by the time you have a few more corner stars in the following rounds. It's just that you're staring at it in isolation. You want it to stand out.

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  22. For my 2pence worth! I agree with Hadley! I think the next pale border will balance it all out like the original.
    But, I'm useless at colours, balance and matching. Thank God for Kerry's class at FQR, it might enlighten me!!

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  23. Yes to Archie the Wonder Dog's comment about making the next bit and laying it alongside before unpicking. I reckon it will come right!

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  24. It is lovely....but; by changing the run of stars...you broke that connection to the stars...I believe that is the problem. You need that run to make sense of the stars in the quilt.

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  25. I'd try a black background with white stars in the corner. I do think with the next round on though it might look different and may balance out. Sorry can't be more help!

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  26. It's hard to tell sometimes until you actually make the block in question. Why don't you make one black block and lay it on top of your pieced quilt. Then you can see and compare. Keep us posted on what you spchoose. It's a nice looking quilt!

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  27. 1. I think yours is lovely as it is & I would only add to it if it wasn't "big enough."

    2. I do see the "missing" stars, but only in direct comparison.

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    1. Never mind numbers 1 & 2, the missing stars are in the next round. So you aren't finished... (I was responding on gut reaction, not close examination. I went back for a second look.)

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  28. I see what you mean. The last round with those star corners, the black is washed out looking.
    Don't change a thing! That washed away looking star wiil be a ghostly effect when you finish the quilt. But if you truoly don't like it then intensify the color in the black points. Sometimes I've used a regular ink pen in the past to draw tiny darker circles on a fabric that wouldn't stand on it's own. It was enough to make it without rippping and redoing everything.
    It'll interesting to see how you go around this dialog in your head. Smiles, Jane

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  29. You have two issues - color of the last round's corner stars, and additional rounds (to make the quilt larger?) that changed the spacing of the corner stars. The second issue might not be a problem if you continue the same spacing on future rounds. The first issue, well, if YOU don't like it, that's what counts. I think it looks fine with a light background. Another alternative to keep the emphasis on the stars but make it less stark black/white is to make the last round's stars with a colored background (maybe a red?) and make the points of the stars a darker black, possibly even a solid. They'll stand out more, but still not feel quite so contrast-y. Whatever you choose, I love the way it's progressing!

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  30. I'll just say, it's gorgeous, although I do agree that a darker color would like better. Can't wait to see the final!

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  31. how about a black on white texty print - gives you both but tones down the white?

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  32. A few things, but I am not sure I can explain this so it makes sense!
    • You took out the squares of the first border after the first corner stars (does that make sense?). The light square connected the star pattern, so your eye follows it.
    • You added another border after that first border, and it does not have the corner squares either. (Again, breaking up the diagonal pattern that draws the eyes along the stars.)
    • You adjusted the balance of black bands from the original, and the brightness of the corner stars. I think the fabrics you used in the first set of corner stars would look better here, because I think the back is making the corner wash out. But maybe adding those corner squares would change that, so that the eye follows the pale corner diagonals?

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  33. I wouuld change the bkground to black. Not knowing what the next star color is going to be for you. I would do the next rolls star bkground lite, then the next star bkground dark(the final row) to make it fit in

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  34. I read some of the other comments, but I think your quilt is going to be fabulous. My experience with medallion quilts is that sometimes it just doesn't look right until you move on to the next level. I don't think there is a problem at all with what you have going on. Your next level will most likely have a similar background to the corner stars that you're worried about, and that is exactly like the pattern. I say keep moving! You're good!

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  35. Your quilt has more color and I like color, the black makes everything "pop", which in my opinion is a good thing. It's beautiful! deanie dot dreams at gmail dot com

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  36. I think your quilt looks great! your colours are abit brighter, so more to my taste. Your stars will not POP like hers but she used much darker colours only for her stars. I think your choices will let the color scheme blend better, while the shape of the stars will allow them to pop. This will be more apparrent when you add the remaining borders. If you are reallly unhappy with it, I think making the corners of your stars green (like the central star) would add some contrast but maintain your great color scheme. Don't obsess! its beautiful!

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  37. I think that you need to reverse the order of fabrics in the corner block, with a darker center and lighter pointed stars, set on black. The stars that you made will look good on the lighter boarder.

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  38. I think what you have will work in the finish, but if you's like the black background to be consistent, just reverse the color in your stars. Put the lighter color (pink?) on the star tips and the darker (navy?) in the center. Sorry for the color quessing, but my computer does not give me the true colors.

    Your quilt is beautiful, and will be a real success whatever you decide.

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  39. Honestly, I don't see your problem. I think the changes you have made to the original have been very smart, especially adding the cornerstones to the first inside border. Trust you instincts!

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  40. I like what you have. You have brought your quilt top this far. Maybe you just need to trust your instincts and proceed as planned. JMHO ... Pat

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  41. I'm sure if you arrange it so you can kind of see the colours of the next round around one of the corners, you can tell if it stands out okay, maybe just use a solid in the right shade and hold the whole thing up together. If that makes any sense...

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  42. Not that I would ever think I could give you advice, but I would just make the points of those stars darker so they contrast more and Bob's your Uncle!

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  43. Try using the grey/blue fabric of the previous border as your background for the stars in the corners. The contrast won't be quite so stark. Good Luck

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  44. Lovely quilt! Suddenly medallion quilts are popular again - yay, I love them and I'm also working on one. If it was my quilt I think I would make the corner stars in light/bright fabrics on a black background.
    Whichever way you go, it's gonna be gorgeous!

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  45. I am late to this party and I am sure you are well on your way but if not, I wonder if red points on a black background like the rest of the round? I would make some samples and set them on top to decide. But even before that I would lay out the next round as these stars might be great with your paler next round. Whatever you decide, it is a great quilt.

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  46. I agree with Bloempjes-op-14 the key to the stars working without changing the background to black it so add the small corner blocks in the rows between the star rows. That is what causes your eye to connect the starts in the original quilt.
    Your quilt is going to be lovely!!!

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  47. I just love your fabric choices so far--it's really beautiful. And I agree with Hadley too--although I'm down with a cold as well...

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  48. I think that the cornerstones in the original keep the layers linked together...maybe it's not the stars, but the corners you need to consider....it's lovely anyway!

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  49. Could you use that lovely red for the background of the stars?

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  50. You could have more suggestions here than you know what to do with but I am going to add my bit anyway. What you have done looks fabulous but I think I would add stars in the corners of your plainer borders like your blueprint. The stars radiating out of the corners make it special . It looks pretty darn good to me otherwise.

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  51. I agree with the earlier commenters who said that if you do want to change it, darker star points might be nice. But really, it is lovely as it is. Stunning in fact.

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  52. As far as I can see you have added an extra border between the two borders with stars. In addition, the original has corner stones in the "plain" (ie not pieced) borders, you have omitted these. To me it looks like the extra border makes the distance between the two stars too big, and without the cornerstones you have nothing to "link" them together. If you want to keep the two borders and not add cornerstones, the only way out, as far as I can see, is to use a fabric with a little more green in it for the background (of the star) and fabrics with a little stronger value in the actual star. Best of luck whatever you do and I really look forward to seeing the final result!

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  53. How about flipping the colours in the corner stars. Make the points the orange and the centre the dark then there is contrast between the black background and the star is not lost. Maybe make one and compare it to see what you like. It is a beautiful quilt and a lot of work went into it. It is important that you like the finished result.

    Barb@Witsend

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  54. I think that they should be reversed. The star should be white with a black backround. They look a little misplaced in the white.

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  55. try outlining the star blocks with a thin black border. It would tie into the other black border and make them pop.

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  56. I love it! The colours are fabulous! Love the medallion concept, how big are you going? The star blocks are too pale. One of the colours from the same row would tie it together to be a cohesive unit. Of course if the next row is pale it might work. Have I waffled enough?

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  57. Looking again at the original, she does have the stars lighter making a lovely secondary pattern of a lighter square in the corners.

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