Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Dead Simple Quilt: Finally a Layout

Flora Inspired Palette

Remember this loveliness?  Hmmm...mmmm...  Well, I still love it oh so much.  But I've decided to add these:

DSQ Patterned Fabric
Top to Bottom: Miscellany Flora, AMH Garden Party Teal, Love & Kisses by Prima

Together I am hoping these bundles of fabric lust will equal...

DSQ Computerized Layout

I'm not a huge lover of the rectangular shaped quilt.  I started with this layout as a balanced square at 12x12 rows...but shifted it to 12x13 as a challenge to myself.  That 13th row may get "lost" by the end.  I don't know why but I prefer square compositions.  Strange?  Perhaps.  I've just read in Adventures in Design, a great book highly recommended by Piecemeal Quilts (without whose advice I would not have the teal in this design!), that square compositions require you to create direction.  That a square "...needs you to fill the space; it's in limbo until you take action." (p. 24)  Hunh, who knew?  Well I like taking action - so let's do this Square.  

I've already started cutting and can't wait to sew all these lovelies together.  What compositions do you prefer to create?  Have a square versus rectangle preference?

Linking up to Lily's Quilts!  If you haven't checked out the Dead Simple Quilt Along check yourself...you don't know what you are missing!

- rebecca lynne

p.s. For my newest followers...if you are interested in creating a similar computer layout using nothing more complex than Word or Pages feel free to download my layout tutorial.  

11 comments:

Lynne (Lily's Quilts) said...

I prefer to make a rectangular quilt but that's only because that makes it bed shaped LOL

Patti said...

Your layout looks fantastic! I'm a rectangular gal for reasons unbeknownst to me(I can't believe spell-check left that word alone!). Can hardly wait to see it finished. I'm going to look for that book too. Sandi is so helpful with many things for me!

Annabella said...

Love your layout and interesting that you like square quilts as I`m just about to have a square finish. My first! You`ll have to pop over tomorrow or Thursday and take a look. Love love that AMH fabric!

Katie said...

I tend to like squares and circles for layout.

I also need to look into that book. It sounds interesting and definately better for me to read than some of the fluff I have been reading lately.

Perfect choices for prints to include. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Kelli Fannin Quilts said...

I am like Lynne, usually making rectangular quilts so they'll fit a bed. Maybe someday I'll be adventurous... that looks like an interesting book.

Rebecca Lynne said...

I don't lay my quilts across my bed actually - they are usually on my couch or folded at the bottom of a bed over a duvet cover. So maybe that is why I don't really mind that they are square? Plus, I'm short, so I don't need a long quilt to cover me. Heh heh...5'2" baby!

Allison said...

you don't strike me as a person who has trouble taking action :D I really haven't put too much thought into square vs. rectangle. {although squares are good for baby swaddling I think} I do prefer *large* quilts. I don't want to simply drape one over my lap, I want to wrap my quilts around me and be completely covered up :)

Anonymous said...

I like 'em all! I enjoy designing square quilts because I like the symmetrical look, but I like rectangles because I am NOT short and I like to keep both my toes and my chin covered. The fabrics you chose are delicious. Glad you're enjoying the book!

Flo @ Butterfly Quilting said...

Mmmmmmm....that is funny...I never think a square quilt looks finished, so always add a bit to make it rectangular!

Pam @Threading My Way said...

I so have to make time to delve into quilting. When I do, I'll tell you whether it's squares or rectangles.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

With the exception of my circle quilt and baby quilts (always square for some reason!) all of my quilts are rectangular and I've never thought about it but I am tall so I need a long quilt so that it reaches my toes!