Winterkist Designer Challenge - advice please

So over on the Fat Quarterly blog, I am organising a Winterkist Designer Challenge.  What this means is that 10 FQ blog readers have been picked to play with some of Monica Solorio-Snow's upcoming Xmas line for Lecien and make a project to show off on the blog.  If you entered and weren't picked for this Designer Challenge, keep your eyes peeled as I am organising another one soon with another very exciting new fabric line.  So I have been cutting and pressing the fabrics and pretending I work in a shop which I like to do now that I'm a grown up (that'll be six and a half pence please) and I can't decide what to send to our ten designers.  Each person will be getting the equivalent of about eight F8ths but how do I divvy up the 30 different prints between them.  Do I send a random selection of colours and prints?


Or all five prints just in one colour?


Or a selection of prints in two colours?


Or a selection of prints in three colours. 


Or one print in six colours.  


If you were making a small-ish project using about eight F8ths, what would be most appealing or useful to you?

Comments

  1. When I first saw the challenge and started thinking about what to make, my thoughts definitely involved the gnomes and the rainbow colours... If you are making a gnome draft excluder (which I would have done... big one, then lots of littler ones) it would have been a big spanner in the works getting no gnomes... lol!

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  2. I think one different prints in different colors. That way they can use color to help design!

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  3. oh don't they look wonderful!

    Poysonelly, I'd go for selection of prints in three colours, like red green grey, or one print all colours ... but I think a total random surprise is also good! A challenge is a challenge, after all :)

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  4. If it was me I'd choose random since they're the same fabric line :)

    Sorry, everyone has said different things so far!

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  5. Oh Lynne... cut as you think is the best:) all of us has different ideas and you won't be able to satisfy each of 10 participants:)))
    For example, I would love to get bundle in two colors (red&green), but someone else would love to get rainbow colors:)))
    It's fun if we get surprise packages - that would be great challenge!

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  6. What fun! I think it depends on the fabric line if it works with 2, 3 or more different colours. I love orange and blue, complementary colours work most of the time. When there are light, medium and dark fabrics in a series I would go for 2 fabrics of each of these values.
    Amen.

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  7. I'd do a mixture - send groups out as you've got shown (if that's possible) that way you get the possibility of a real mix of both projects, colours and the way the fabric range can be used

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  8. well as you didn't pick me *sob* I'm gonna have to make my own family of santa gnomes into a big long pillow and put some wonky stars on it and I'd think a selection of 3 colours would be the way to go

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  9. I would prefer a selection of 3 colours, I like the effects that can be achieved.

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  10. If I were getting these I'd like a random, but vaguely co-ordinated set, i.e. no glaring clashes. How about laying them out and choosing one of those and one of those until they are all done, then you could do a bit of tweaking. What fun, I'd love to come over and play.

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  11. I like the selection of two and three colours. Did you know you can now get a ELC till complete with chip and pin and microphone - perfect for your shop ;-)

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  12. I think I would prefer random. More choice of prints and colours is good for me. Oh and I would cry if I didn't get a gnome!

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  13. *all* of them!
    (sorry, I can't choose, and they are all gorgeous!)

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  14. I think random is the way to go but I'd really like a gnome too!!

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  15. I think I'd dither for days if this was up to me! I'd be dithering between random and same print/different colours. (I can imagine lots of people being disappointed if they didn't get a gnome but imagine how thrilled someone would be to get gnomes in lots of colours!) I think random would work better for a challenge though (I'm assuming you want them to work for their fabric?!!) - could you get your child labourers to pick them out of a (big) hat?!

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  16. They all look gorgeous! I think I'd go for random - adds to the challenge.

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  17. I dont know, and its even harder to decide with that range as I'm a greedy cow and I'd want ALL OF IT... Looking at your selections there though, I think I'd be happiest to get either the three colour bundle, or the bundle with only one colour but all prints :-)

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  18. Here is a non-answer - any of them would work. :o)
    Meanwhile, stick with one combination (1 color 5 prints as an example) & send that to everyone. That might eliminate - "Oh I wish I had gotten ____ assortment instead." & will make for a cohesive grouping of finished projects.

    I guess if I had to choose, I'd choose 1 color/5 prints - I could take your blue sample & use Kona School bus with it & make my own 2 color mix...

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  19. You do what you need to do! I guess if I could express my preferences, I would prefer not to get a bundle like the last one--all one print in different colors. I love the charcoal prints. I love the gnomes. I could make any of those bundles work though and it will be fun!

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  20. I would go with one or two colors :)

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  21. If I was one of the recipients - and I am NOT :(
    I would love to see one fabric with the gnomes and then different colours in the patterns. Maybe a slightly larger piece with the gnomes and then the patterns.
    This way you could make a lap quilt with the gnome in the centre and the patterns as borders. Although if it is a challenge, it might be fun to send out a whole lot of different combinations and see what people come up with. So one person gets a single colour, another the two colour combinations etc.
    Really looking forward to seeing the results whatever you decide, especially as this is my favourite fabric at the moment.

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  22. I think a selection of 3 colors a piece would be about perfect for a small project. Looks like fun!

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  23. I prefer not to use the same print twice (in different colors) in a project. I like option two a lot. Option three would be fun but don't repeat a print. I won't be disappointed no matter what you send. Gnomes or no gnomes I think it'll be fun. The designer can also add a solid to help with the design, or add a pop of contrast, right?
    My top choice is monochrome but they wouldn't have to all be the same. That would make for some interesting projects with different looks and may help some people think about the fabrics in a different way.

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  24. absolutely gorgeous fabrics! i'm most drawn to the all blue pack and to the blue/orange pack...LOVE them.

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  25. Three colors. Although I totally agree that someone is going to be disappointed to be gnome less. Can you poll to see who can do without a gnome?

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  26. If I was doing it, I'd allocate some gnomes to each person and then pick the other prints for each person out of a hat :o) Good luck - I'd want to keep them all for myself!

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  27. I would want the monochromatic set :)

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  28. I like variety in projects, so my first thought is a random selection. However, prints in 3 colors would probably provide enough variety as well.

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  29. As someone who has participated in a similar challenge before, I would want a random selection of prints and colors. The more I have to work with the better. All one color or all one prints can be very limiting.

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  30. If I was playing along, I'd want the 3 color pack, but really I wouldn't care as long as my bundle contained a gnome print.

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  31. If I was doing this I would use the 3 color pack. It just gives it a little more focus for me personally.

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  32. I think I'd want a random selection in maybe a couple of co-ordinating colours or more. If you sent all the same print and someone was planning on using a gnome/santa and got say all the prints in the bottom selection they might feel their design ideas wouldn't work so well. The more you have to work with the better. I think it would also showcase the fabric in each design much better.

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  33. Oh boy, you've really opened up a can of worms here Lynne! I read a few of the comments and had to laugh. Everyone wants something different! I'd take the last bundle for my idea for sure, but I will be able to make anything work, honestly.

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  34. First Wow! I'm jealous you get to play shop with those yummy fabrics. I like the one colour selection! That way everyone gets anime ;)

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  35. Wow. That is tough. I'd likely go random, but I know that wouldn't suit everyone, so I'm no help at all.;o) Good luck choosing!

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  36. Goodness - don't know if all of our "advice" is really helpful at this point! It's so fun to read everyone's answers - especially why they favor what they do. My first reaction was the 3 color bundle but I agree with several other people that the gnomes are highly prized! Whatever you send will be great.

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  37. I would start each off with a gnome then randomize from there. I am so looking foward to this fabric coming out that I think I will get it all, I just love it.

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  38. If you can't make up your mind I'd shuffle them and deal them out like a pack of cards!

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  39. I would want a selection of prints in two or three colors, with some large scale and some small.

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  40. I like the 2 colour best, but as I am not playing, give 'em what you like x

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  41. Wish you were sending them to me Lynne, but my choice would be assorted prints in two colors. Part of the challenge will be to best use the fabrics/colors given.

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  42. My head hurts just thinking about it - eenie, meenie, minie, moe...

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  43. I'd go with a selection of colours and prints to help mix things up a bit =D

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  44. Any of the above! Those are lovely prints, and whichever you went for would clearly work!

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  45. I'd go with 2 colours - great potential to pull colors together, highlight prints, and be really clever with your project :)

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  46. Either a selection in 2 or in 3 colours. And then I'd add solids to let the prints shine!

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  47. Working with the 2 or 3 color scheme would be most pleasing to me!

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  48. Yolanda from Mountain House, CA21 June 2012 at 02:40

    I would love the set of the same color family prints. If you use a contrasting solid, the design on the fabrics will pop and bring lots of life to the project.

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  49. I would like three and then I would add some solids.

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  50. I love ALL the colors together, as in the last choice. Good luck choosing!

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  51. Three colours so there's good contrast and variety.

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  52. I think you were having fun photographing those fabrics too!
    I'd say three colours.

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  53. Hi! I'd opt for a selection in two colours, .-) mlise

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  54. I'd like the three or six prints :)

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