Wednesday 2 March 2011

Fire. I'll teach you to burn

So, before I ask your advice about my quilt-in-progress, I just want to tell you about Knit and Crochet Blog Week (KniCroBloWe? No, perhaps not ;-) ).
It’s being organised by Eskimimi of Eskimimi Knits, as a thing arising from the Blog Hub group on Ravelry (I didn’t express that very well, you know what I mean). Anyway, during that week, lots of knit and crochet bloggers are going to be blogging on the same topics but bringing their own personal neuroses creativity into it, it’s going to be great. If you have any interest at all in things of an interlocking loop nature, why don’t you join in? You’d be very welcome. Even if you’re not a knit/ crochet blogger normally, you could join in any of the days where the topics interest you or you have something to say, because there’s nothing the knit/ crochet blog community likes more than Fresh Blood. Come, come and join us (says she with a sinister expression, beckoning from behind cloak).

Also, if you’re not already on Ravelry and you have even the most passing interest in anything woolly – if you once admired the size of a huge ball of aran: if you’ve ever peered at your friend’s handknit shawl in handspun laceweight and said ‘I’d like one like that. Could you make me one for next week? I’ll give you £5 and try not to leave it in the pub': if you have a secret hankering for one of those poodle toilet roll covers which you can’t buy in shops: then do not waste another moment of this brief, confusing life, get over instantly to Ravelry and register, because it’s just a marvellous, marvellous site. Patterns, help, projects to lust after, everything. And we nice people in the Blog Hub group will mop up your blood and tears when you turn up, fresh from the triumph of having rushed to the forums 1 minute after signing up and started a topic with the title ‘I can’t believe people knit with Acrylic! OMGZ!!!!! Have they got no taste!!!?’ or, ‘Why would anyone want to crochet LOL? I suppose only because it’s so much easier than knitting’.

For lots more info on KniCroBloWe (I jest), get on over to Mimi’s lovely blog. If you haven’t already found her blog, then you’re in for a treat, I personally wish she would come over and take all my photographs for me because, well, look at hers, so she is very lucky she doesn’t live in Cambridge because I can imagine that might come to be a burden in time.

Now onto my quilt-in-progress. Could I have some advice, pls, nice internet people? I have pieced the top, this is it.
900 squares of pleasure
There are a couple more rows of blue on the top where it is hanging over the fence. In case you are not quite sure what my Vision was, it is supposed to look like fire (do you see, hey hey hey? At the bottom?). It is 60” square and I am thinking that what will set it off is a 5” border all the way around. People: I do not have it in me to piece a border. I am going to go wild and buy more fabric so I can do a solid border. But, what colour? What do you think? It is a quilt for my mother, and obviously I could ask her, but she will say beige and, this might surprise you, but I am not a beige person (I mean, I would consider it, but. Let’s think of ALL the other options first). I thought possibly grey? Or fuschia? Or navy? I will use either a solid colour or, one with a small print. I have looked in John Lewis and, nothing, so I shall have to poke about online. Sigh, internet fabric shopping, such a burden, my life, it is hard, whine whine whine.

(Go on, mum, tell me what you want. Leave me a comment. I’m ignoring you if you say beige, though).

16 comments:

Mumma Troll said...

Wow, how quick did you knock that one up, well done you. As far as colour, a fushia would look great, or a dark purple or navy too. The trouble with fabric, especially if you get the chance to buy new stuff, is that there is just too much choice.xxx

Kath said...

Ahh I love it!And I totally see the fire :D
I say go with a charcoal grey border, softer than black but will be a great contrast to the colours.
x

Chrissy said...

Looking really good. Maybe a deep midnight blue or dark purple would be my choice I think.

Anonymous said...

I am not a quilter and I don't do any fabricky or interlocking-loop crafts, but I love your blog. I think this quilt is beautiful and I love bright colors so I say go with a fuschia! Or navy would be nice, too. It would set off the fire at the bottom. I am definitely anti-beige. :)

My mother, on the other hand, is a wonderfully talented quilter. The Husband and I have just been gifted, perhaps you're interested enough to take a look at her latest: http://pagesofjulia.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/back-from-the-weekend-with-very-little-reading/

The Gingerbread Lady said...

Oh, oh, oh! Tell me where your mother lives: NOW. And tell her to lock her doors and windows because i LOVE it. I think practically any colour BUT beige would make a great border, it depends on how you want to influence the overall look of the quilt. Charcoal grey will make the fire stand out but blend in with the upper blocks. Fuchsia will stand out strongly against the grey/blues and frame the quilt squarely (from a visual point of view.) Either way, I hope your mum hates it so it can be mine (bwoahahhaahhaaa! Evil laugh. Swooshing of cloak.)

Linda said...

Black or dark grey or navy blue would be my choices. I always think a dark colour makes the others pop.

Hi! Delurking to add my 2 cents worth. Love your blog

Gracey is not my name.... said...

Gorgeous! I thought dark blue when I saw it, so navy would be my suggestion....and it doeslook like fire, but my first thought was fall...that's how it looks here in New England when the leaves are on the ground and we have a bright blue sky...

Vivianne said...

Purple. And LMAO at your Ravelry comments :-D

Susie said...

Thank you everyone. I can't tell you how relieved I am you aren't all insisting I use beige ;-). I'm 60/ 40 at the moment between fuschia and navy, but I'm also loving Moomin Mamma's suggestion of charcoal grey, I hadn't thought of a dark grey. I shall go and poke round fabric shops and see what speaks to me.

Pages of Julia, I love the quilt your mum made! It's a tshirt quilt, I love them! I would like to do one myself at some point!

Gingerbread Lady, she lives in North Derbyshire. I will tell her to put Milo the Husky on guard against you turning up with your Cloak of Evil. he is excellent at repelling invaders by such terrifying actions as licking them, looking up at them winsomely, putting his paws on their shoulders affectionately or holding hands.

Karen said...

I have to say that *I* want two borders! One a small (2" or less) light color/colour: think a matte frame. The larger one a dark, like the navy you're considering. You could try a few options by putting it up on the wall and using colored papers, if you have some, on a corner of the quilt, to judge the effect.
I am that quilter mentioned earlier - shocking - since I came here all unawares to comment!
So I might mention this overview pic:
https://picasaweb.google.com/kkucker/JCQuilt#5530473163845542018

Marushka C. said...

It is extremely lovely! I can't decide which of the border suggestions to go with -- I want it interesting but not so it distracts from the real action of the main section. Can you hold various clothing items next to it to give you a sense of what color works?

Susie said...

Aha! Marushka, good idea! Thank you!

Karen! Hello. That's a lovely pic of the quilt, it really is fabulous. How did you quilt the top? Did you machine quilt it in a swirly pattern? (Tell me you didn't handquilt it ;-) ).

I like it so much I will forgive you for introducing the Double Border Dilemma ;-). Off to think!

Karen said...

Ok, apologies for the double-barrel border. I just think the fire & sky will pop out with the right combo. I won't say how easy it would be!
I did not indeed hand quilt! I pieced it and secured with safety pins. I just straight-stitched through all the borders, then I could remove the pins and focus on each block. Pins there, then mostly FM quilting and following the designs of the shirts.

Rachel said...

I've been thinking about joining Ravelry for a while, but hesitating because I don't think of myself as a 'craft' person, just someone who happens to pick up a needle and thread/hook and yarn from time to time. With your encouragement, I ventured over there, and... it really is a big, scary place for someone as clueless as me :(

I tried, Susie, I really did!

Susie said...

Rachel, it is scary the first time! ;-).

Why don't you just go and have a poke round the patterns: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns

And then if you look on the right hand side at the browse categories bit, you can look at the most popular scarf/ jumper etc patterns and download them. It is worth it for the patterns, I promise ;-).

There is always someone on Ravelry though who has spun 1500m of laceweight at their first attempt and knitted a shawl in a day. Stay away from those people until you are feeling stronger. Ravelry is for everyone! (They don't pay me ;-) ).

Rachel said...

I think you may be mistaking me for someone who can read patterns, but I'll persevere...