From the photo below, without enlarging it, it's probably hard to tell that the sashing fabric is not black.
I searched through my fabrics and found three dark greens that are similar enough in color to use together. (Cheri prescribed a scrap selection of blacks and from what I can see, she used at least five.)
I think these dark greens will be perfect -- dark enough to be almost black, but not. And I think the borders on all the blocks will look just fine against these greens. And there shouldn't be a problem choosing colors and fabrics for the applique along the top and at the bottom corners.
I have yet to choose a color/colors and fabrics for the corner stones.
These 35 blocks and fabric will be shelved for a week or so while I cut and sew sashing for another quilt.
I'm linking this post to Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication. Thanks for hosting, Susan.
--Nancy.
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LOL I understand your reasoning, and I will admit that black is not for everyone. On the other hand, I sometimes have to talk myself out of using black because I always think it looks good, so I probably overuse it.
ReplyDeleteYour dark greens will be great. The blocks look really good against it. Good choice!
You know, Janet, every time I see black in a quilt I'm always impressed with how good it looks. I don't know why I have trouble choosing to use it in my own quilts. I don't think you overuse blacks at all. In fact, I can hardly remember one of your quilts with black, but then maybe that's because it's the perfect choice and doesn't stand out.I think the greens will work. They're almost dark enough to be black.(The top photo shows a truer color than the close-up.)
DeleteYes, we choose our colors for all kinds of reasons and right now, black isn't going to be for you! ;). The green looks good!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cynthia. It's interesting how colors affect us, or at least how they affect me. And black -- I love it in others' quilts. Maybe another time I'll choose it. I have a little stack of blacks now, too.
DeleteI almost never use black in my pieces...I can't help that it seems so funereal to me...altho' I do use black and white quite a bit...
ReplyDeleteI like your choice of the dark greens--nice save;))) hugs, Julierose
Thanks, Julie. I think the greens will work. I love black in others' quilts but yes, I agree, it can look funereal.
DeleteYour quilt, your rules!! Can't say I blame you for NOT choosing black sashing. Happy finishing!
ReplyDeleteLOL. Yes, indeed, my rules, Joyful! Though sometimes when I'm making a quilt from someone else's pattern I do try hard to follow the pattern, but I just don't always succeed.
DeleteWishing I could send you some NM sunshine to banish the gray skies. Your green substitutions are perfect and you get brownie points for finding them in your stash. ;) They set off your lovely blocks beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karin, I would love some of your sunshine. We had a sunny day yesterday but today and the next few days are predicted to be cloudy again. I think we may have some sun again on Saturday and Sunday. Of course, I wish I could send you some of our rain!
DeleteThanks for your thoughts on the greens. They are really dark and very close to black so I think they'll be fine. I probably won't work on that quilt again for a few weeks.
I don't use much black either--maybe for the same reason being in MN. The greens look like they will be great in your quilt!
ReplyDeleteAh, so maybe it is a weather/environmental decision for some of us not to use black, Karen. When it's grey outside we need all the light and bright we can get!
DeleteThank you for your thoughts on the greens. They're so dark, they're almost black.
I couldn't use dark green or any green. My most disliked color, but it is your quilt! And it looks great in the photo.
ReplyDeletelizzy
PS You know me, I d use cheddar or pumpkin or dark indigo.....
DeleteLizzy, I did not know you do not like green. I'm surprised because it's right beside blue on the color wheel, so close as to be sisters. I know you like blue because I see it often in your home and in your quilts, and I see red, and cheddar/pumpkin colors, but now that I think of it, I don't remember seeing greens anywhere (except maybe in leaves....).
DeleteI like some greens but not all. I have a hard time using the ones that have too much yellow in them but I love teal and the greens that lean toward blue.
I guess we all have favorite colors and ones we really don't like at all. Thanks for sharing!
I think the dark greens look great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan!
DeleteI do occasionally use a bit of black fabrics in my quilts but I wouldn't chose to use it in strips or for binding. All because years ago at school a history teacher told us that if telegrams sent in World War 1 had black borders they contained news of the death of a service man. Strange how things stick in our minds and add significance to even the colour choice of a quilt binding!
ReplyDeleteThat's really interesting, Allison, and especially interesting that you remember that bit of information. We have so many associations with colors, some we remember and some are, perhaps, subconscious. Thanks for visiting and sharing that information, Allison.
DeleteBefore I forget, Nancy, I would love to see you make more of the Baskets of Plenty. I really enjoyed following your process for the ones you have done. I also like seeing another of Cheri's works here with these blocks. I find it hard to choose binding and these dark greens were just the ticket. Black gets overused sometimes I think.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn. Technically I've made all of the Baskets of Plenty that Cheri gave patterns for but several were squatty so I'm going to try to improvise using the patterns she gave us to make a few more baskets. It should be fun but also challenging and I'm sure I'll probably end up posting about them as I go.
DeleteI think the greens will work. I'll know when I lay the blocks out and cut some sashing pieces in a few weeks.