tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post1709879501654440860..comments2024-03-28T08:39:05.413-04:00Comments on joy for grace: Proportion, Size, Symmetry, Balance -- How Does a Quilter Decide?Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-58076704034688788132016-07-20T14:12:33.763-04:002016-07-20T14:12:33.763-04:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this topic,...Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this topic, Shelley. I think if I used purchased patterns the finished quilt sizes would already be worked but but I tend to make up my own patterns (for better or worse). I'm not much of a fan of little/throw quilts, either, and tend to like ones that are at least large enough for a twin bed.<br /><br />I think it's interesting to hear how others choose and I appreciate your participating in this discussion.<br /><br />Thanks for hosting TGIFF!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-82026890915862879402016-07-18T13:18:55.620-04:002016-07-18T13:18:55.620-04:00Interesting blog post. I have not made too many qu...Interesting blog post. I have not made too many quilts where I just started making blocks and they took me to what ever size they wanted to be. I do tend to make purchased quilt patterns larger most of the time as I do not like little throw quilts.This can be my downfall since I now have a couple 100 inch square and larger quilts needing quilting.I really do not make little baby quilts either. As usual by the time I get a baby quilt finished, the poor child is not a baby anymore. I like them to be used and to wear them out. I love the Red Wings quilt. Thanks for sharing and linking up with TGIFF. Shelley Folkertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16553180449195134184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-20022604372912983912016-07-16T10:34:49.554-04:002016-07-16T10:34:49.554-04:00Hi, Linda. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on th...Hi, Linda. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. It's true that we rarely see a whole quilt unless it's in a show or we've photographed it to share somewhere. (I certainly wouldn't make a point to lay out a whole quilt just to see whether the number of blocks on the ends matched.) Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-20142523583351121782016-07-15T21:49:31.408-04:002016-07-15T21:49:31.408-04:00I appreciate all the thought that you have put int...I appreciate all the thought that you have put into this issue. But I go with "how is it viewed in use?" If the bottom is hanging off the bed and the top is under a pillow it doesn't have to match. Just like 2 diamond earrings don't have to be perfect matches because no one can see both sides of your head at the same time!!Linda Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11570928275680336896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-86925293304184748672016-07-15T00:31:27.062-04:002016-07-15T00:31:27.062-04:00Hi, Bridget. I think we all make quilts that sati...Hi, Bridget. I think we all make quilts that satisfy our own vision of what the quilt should look like. For me, I prefer not to make square quilts (unless it's a barn raising log cabin). And I like long, too, to tuck under my feet. I think 54" would be a good size for a baby quilt. Thanks for your compliment about my quilts. I appreciate it.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-39997404701557908032016-07-15T00:27:04.698-04:002016-07-15T00:27:04.698-04:00Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts o...Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts on quilts sizes and proportions, Linda. When quilts are smaller than twin bed size quilts I usually think of them as quilts for babies or toddlers, no matter the color or pattern. That may be because when I use a quilt for a nap, I usually lie down instead of sitting and draping a quilt over me. (I might agree with your daughter about your quilts....)<br /><br />Yes, cohesion and balance! Somehow we have to make quilts that work for our own eyes.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-61864447134996107392016-07-15T00:22:35.729-04:002016-07-15T00:22:35.729-04:00We are alike in this, Janet, except I still strugg...We are alike in this, Janet, except I still struggle with borders, especially if I need them only on the side, or only on the end. I need to just keep looking at quilts to see how others solve that problem.<br /><br />I did finally cut off part of a row on this quilt so it is not balanced. I tell myself it now has a top (for the head) and a bottom (for the feet). I just needed to get the binding on so I could hand sew it while I sit with my husband in the hospital. I'll get over it and be more attentive the next time.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-89299852813853472232016-07-12T17:28:02.773-04:002016-07-12T17:28:02.773-04:00Hilarious! I make quilts that are square most of ...Hilarious! I make quilts that are square most of the time...Lots of reasons why, the fact that they are easier to get to look balanced just by making odd numbers of rows. I also never plan on getting a larger bed because I don't want to make bigger quilts, too hard to get to look balanced. I guess I don't mind a quilt that is longer because I like to wrap the quilt up and around my feet :) I do not make smaller quilts. A few for the sofa and a few baby quilts (is 54" square a small baby quilt?). Saying all of that I love your quilts just the size they are :)<br />BridgetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-12245008034666355202016-07-12T17:26:26.666-04:002016-07-12T17:26:26.666-04:00Interesting post Nancy, and something I have not r...Interesting post Nancy, and something I have not really considered in depth like this! I mainly make throw size quilts, sewing until I run out of fabrics or get bored, substituting fabrics like you, usually I have a recipient in mind, but sometimes I'm just 'doing it for the process'. I try & aim for over-all balance & cohesion whatever the finished size. My daughter though, always says I don't make my quilts 'big enough'!Linda @ kokaquiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01942832808800906728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-10956453877990738562016-07-12T01:59:55.930-04:002016-07-12T01:59:55.930-04:00Don't know how I missed this post, Nancy. It d...Don't know how I missed this post, Nancy. It didn't show up in my reading list until now.<br />I know that I am very conscious of balance when I make quilts--large or small. If I need a quilt a certain size for a bed, but that size would make the design asymmetrical, then I may go smaller to preserve symmetry and then add a border to bring it to size. It is true that once a quilt is in use no one will notice the balance issue, but I still have a hard time getting past it. : )Janet O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05083607398709252597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-14898406036869456452016-07-11T19:46:54.072-04:002016-07-11T19:46:54.072-04:00I'm with you, Tami: remnants, upcycled thrift...I'm with you, Tami: remnants, upcycled thrift store shirts, and scrappy. That doesn't usually limit my size because I substitute fabric of a similar color when I've used all of one. Smaller quilts are great because they're usually quicker to make. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-22540438116314187402016-07-11T19:28:17.258-04:002016-07-11T19:28:17.258-04:00I think you are one of a few to finish the post to...I think you are one of a few to finish the post to the end and leave a comment. Thank you, France.<br /><br />In this last quilt I think I went with your preference to go for balance over size. I think it's interesting to learn how other quilters choose. For anyone who uses a pattern there's not much of a decision about all of this, but when I go my own way and create a pattern the decisions are more open-ended.<br /><br />Thank you for hosting Fabric, Thread and Yarn. I just discovered it this week.<br /><br />Thanks again for reading the whole post and leaving a comment. I appreciate it.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-11426928364028032282016-07-11T19:22:14.120-04:002016-07-11T19:22:14.120-04:00It's hard to imagine one of my quilts being in...It's hard to imagine one of my quilts being in some future book, Kevin. If that should ever happen, people can come read my blog posts about this quilt, huh? (If blogs still exist at that time....) ;-)<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts about quilt sizes and how you decide. <br /><br />Thanks, too, for your kind words about Red Wings. When I was making it I wasn't thinking "red, white, and blue" and even now I don't clearly see those colors because of all the creams and caramels in the light parts of the blocks. But it would make a beautiful quilt of valor if the lights were whitened/lightened a bit.<br /><br />It is my own pattern. I first made the red and cream "wings" blocks then played around with what to do next. It just evolved.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting and leaving such a kind comment and for following. I appreciate it.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-36912515466884155592016-07-11T19:13:46.297-04:002016-07-11T19:13:46.297-04:00Thanks for hosting Midweek Makers, Susan. And tha...Thanks for hosting Midweek Makers, Susan. And thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts on quilts sizes, proportions, etc. They are good ideas to consider.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-2174213110124442582016-07-11T19:10:14.630-04:002016-07-11T19:10:14.630-04:00Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts abou...Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts about balance, design, and quilt sizes, Teresa. It's good to find I'm not alone in wanting balance. Thanks, too, for your kind words about Red Wings.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-4434708581473231162016-07-11T16:18:31.491-04:002016-07-11T16:18:31.491-04:00I am mainly a fabric remnant repurposing quilter s...I am mainly a fabric remnant repurposing quilter so the remnants of fabric ultimately decide how big the quilt will be. Sometimes I do set out to make a bedsized quilt but I really love the baby/lap quilt sized creations. Tami Von Zalezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11065017061040785838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-48287075902473313492016-07-11T12:23:43.899-04:002016-07-11T12:23:43.899-04:00I guess I'm a trooper... lol It was insteresti...I guess I'm a trooper... lol It was insteresting to read. I see your point about balancing. I would keep the last quilt as it is, for the sole reason that it's already made. My second option would be to cut both ends as cutting only one would make it unbalanced for me too. <br />For me, the sizes of the blocks and balance always decide the size of the quilt. I prefer that to reaching the perfect size. :-)<br />Thank you for participating to my Fabric, Thread and Yarn link party. Have a good week!France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17984624117899878826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-15579200465705756022016-07-10T23:29:34.698-04:002016-07-10T23:29:34.698-04:00I find your post interesting, and I keep thinking ...I find your post interesting, and I keep thinking one thing.......perhaps your quilts will find their way into a book in the future, and people will ask questions......and unlike the quilts in the books you mentioned, you can leave the answers as to why you made your quilts the sizes they are? For me, I do what feels right, and let it go. Your "Red Wings" quilt is stunning to me, as you KNOW I love QOV, and this would make a wonderful quilt for a veteran. Is this your pattern, or someone else's?Kevin the Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08408141611525523677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-60857943678386328502016-07-10T12:43:04.619-04:002016-07-10T12:43:04.619-04:00I don't get too caught up in finished overall ...I don't get too caught up in finished overall size. I tend to make them large enough to snuggle under, paying more attention to proportions than anything else. If they end up long, well, then it's perfect for someone who's tall! And we humans have gotten taller!<br />Thanks for sharing at Midweek Makers!<br />SusanSusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10020294112107230403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-60358080358357416992016-07-10T09:46:55.657-04:002016-07-10T09:46:55.657-04:00You are full of thought-provoking questions today ...You are full of thought-provoking questions today my friend! It was so much fun looking at your quilts, I almost forgot the question :*). Love your Red Wings! I am very much like you in needing balance in the design and will make a quilt longer or wider in order to get that. I don't make many bed quilts either, usually a good cuddly lap size around 60" by whatever length the pattern ends up needing.Teresa in Music Cityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650995129191593324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-86296837142994689392016-07-09T20:10:51.640-04:002016-07-09T20:10:51.640-04:00Thank you, Martha. What kind comments.Thank you, Martha. What kind comments.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-13351571014419520942016-07-09T19:35:41.009-04:002016-07-09T19:35:41.009-04:00Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Martha. Afte...Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Martha. After reading yours and others' comments I think I probably need to focus less on proportions and just make quilts! I always think of you as an exacting quilter so it surprises me that you don't give much thought to sizes and shrinkage. <br />Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-24510969656271397062016-07-09T19:01:40.021-04:002016-07-09T19:01:40.021-04:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Karin. Perhaps ...Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Karin. Perhaps experienced quilters --like you-- unconsciously consider these things but those of us who are newer to quilting -- me -- have to think about them a little more. If I used others' patterns for quilts I don't suppose I'd have to give much thought to size and proportion but I make it hard for myself, I guess. My husband told me the other day, "You think too much." I told him it's because I'm an introvert. ;-)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-86084106610105739332016-07-09T18:35:26.364-04:002016-07-09T18:35:26.364-04:00Loretta, you are so right. About the only time we...Loretta, you are so right. About the only time we see a whole quilt is when we finish it, photograph it, and show it on our blogs (unless it's entered in a show, of course). I can't tell you how many times I've reminded myself of that. Maybe I'm just going to throw symmetry out the window except when it fits to make a decent sized quilt. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you, too, for your kind words about my quilts and for the suggestion that the size in the second Red Wings photo works. Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3572317733773180899.post-2451413846327277802016-07-09T18:30:26.848-04:002016-07-09T18:30:26.848-04:00Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Wendy. I apprec...Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Wendy. I appreciate it.<br /><br />I've noticed that some block sizes make some proportions harder to achieve. I think the bigger the block the more restricted the sizes are. Of course, some quilts benefit by a border, which can help alter the size.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12136584654825212359noreply@blogger.com