So for the sake of a little try-out, I drew a table in Microsoft Word (I'm still waiting for EQ7 to arrive!) and dropped some colours into it from a Design Seeds palette. My question is this - let's say I pick a palette like this one with five colours, is it a bit blah to use the colours in equal amounts?
I'm wondering if it would be better to use more of the dark colour, fewer of the pale colours and then just a very few pops of the bright colour?
That's a tricky one that I do not feel fully equipped to answer at this time x
ReplyDelete(Actually probably depends if the 'dark colour' is just one print or a few dark prints - if more than one, I'd go for a number 2).
Number two for me.
ReplyDeleteInteresting!
ReplyDelete- obv this depends on your colours - if they are all closely related then I would go evens or no.2.
If they are dynamic, like those here I would go the opposite way and go majority pale, then a few bright, then a very few dark ones to accent - to me the darks dominate too much and don't 'belong' to the palette in the same way, if you get me? Of course it all depends on what 'colour' you want to dominate :)
Of the two pics you gave us, the second one pops more. But you may need to buy enough fabric to do either option then play once it's in front of you. I'm sure you'll figure out something to do with the leftovers ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how different the two layouts look. The first evenly spaced - showcases all the fabrics, whilst the second for me - is totally dominated by the deep purple, the bright pink hardly grabs your attention at all, though it stands out beautifully on the first.
ReplyDeleteI definitely prefer the 1st. I like things to have pattern and form, in a very OCD'ish way.
I say, ugh on both! Get some brights in there to liven the whole thing up!
ReplyDeleteI like the second one best - the coral gives your eye a place to rest and enjoy all that beautiful purple!!
ReplyDeleteI like the colours of the second one, the quantities I mean, but I'm dead fussy and I prefer the layout of the first in that no two colours are right next to each other...
ReplyDeleteObviously you're limited by the palette available in Word, but, to my eye, it looks like you need a bright in there to lift the whole thing- the grey, blue, lilac and coral are all reading as mid-tones, so you need a bright to freshen everything and add a bit more contrast. Having said that, if you add black, mid-tones (due to the contrast with the black) can read brighter, so if you're in love with those colours, adding a bit of black could enrich them all nicely.
ReplyDeleteLiking your second one for sure!
ReplyDeleteYour friend who wants advice(believe it or not) picked the same colors I was going to shoot for as well! Hope she doesn't mind sharing;)
I like #1, mostly for why Sarah says - no two alike touching.
ReplyDeleteI just realized you deleted the post about fabric requirements...curious if I pick a palette from Design Seeds, if I will only be purchasing 5 fabrics. So for now, just perusing palettes....
I think you're better off to create a background of similar values, then scatter the remaining colors sparingly across it to move the eye around the quilt. You could do this two ways - either start with the first option and remove some of the dark purples and reds so it isn't such an even distribution, or start with the second option and add another dark color (perhaps the darker red you used in the top left) and reduce the number of blue, gray and purples. The blue is your light, so I would use it the least. Generally speaking, you don't want your quilt to be balanced, you want it to move.
ReplyDeleteI don't like my colors touching. No doubleness in my world. Lol
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could border it in the dark or bind it in the dark, to make the dark pop more.
ReplyDeleteMy answer doesn't address your question exactly. I think what's missing is a zinger or two to your palette. A turquoise and/or pink square, something unexpected, plus a very light and a very dark will add more interest.
ReplyDeleteI made a quilt that was basically pinks, greens and yellows. The addition of a few unexpected coral, teal and gold fabric pieces, which were not exactly part of the scheme, added interest and beauty.
I think I prefer the second choice. Less of the bright colour. Can't wait to see more about the dead simple quilt!
ReplyDeleteLynne,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sending people my way! Their have been so many different perspectives I think I realize now that there is no "wrong" way to go.
That said - I am voting for your second version here...I am loving the dark purple of course! Oooh I can't wait to layout my own palette. This is so much fun!
Rebecca Lynne
I vote the second! I am getting excited I picked my colors! Interesting thoughts about doing a odd number. I might need to cut one color out. :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the 2nd for me and I like the fact that some colours are the same next to each other.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a personal choice. A lot depends on the colors themselves. My choices are a variety of medium colors, I have way more than 5 choices.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's totally a personal choice. That being said I like the balance of the first layout. Maybe I just like to play it safe though ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Lynne, being the backwards thinker that I am, my question is this....is the actual dead simple pattern to be just squares or do you have something else up your sleeve?? I have never really planned the colours of a quilt this way...I usually sort of throw fabric around and dive in. It's all very interesting.
ReplyDeleteBack to the topic at hand...I like number two better because some of the same colours touch...gives the squares a more asymmetrical look.
I really like the second option the best. I like the un-equalness (?) of the colors.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! In the 2nd option the dark purple really dominates and it took me quite a while to notice the pink, I think because the grey and lilac are of similar values and the contrast between them and the dark is quite marked...I wonder what it would be like with really bright pink (more cerise, say) than the one you've currently got. Also, it depends on whether you intend to use plains or prints - prints of different colours and values would probably add more movement and interest to the design and would perhaps be easier to work with...I feel the solid palette would be less likely to work by accident/good fortune and would need planning and rearranging. I also wonder about adding a bright turquoise or rich teal to the mix, just a few to add a 'top note of interest'! I'll give it some more thought and get back to you if anything else comes to mind - off to find Rebecca's palette!
ReplyDeleteI've been digging through my stash and came across some fabric purchased well over A YEAR ago. It is a Kaffe fabric and I actually purchased half yard solids of ALL the colors! I think I've found my inspiration colors! I'll try and photograph them soon. Can't wait to see all the palettes!
ReplyDelete