Monday, January 11, 2016

Options : :

Thank you all for your input on my Lost Ship post from last week, as always, your comments were incredibly helpful. These days, due to a nasty cold I've had since New Years, I'm working much slower than I'd like. I had hoped to have a finished quilt top by now, but instead I'm here again today with more options to share! After taking the photos that I blogged last week, I continued with making blocks until I had twenty four, a much better amount to play with layout choices. I knew right away that regardless which one I chose, I'd need to make quite a few more blocks to create a balanced quilt. To help me determine just how many, I started experimenting, using both straight and on-point settings and discovered several possible variations for each. Still, the two options I mentioned last week were definitely my very favorites. Since many of you mentioned how nice it would be to see more than just the four blocks put together to help you decide, I'm excited to share more of each today. Especially for those of you who mentioned wanting to make these same blocks!

First, I arranged the blocks via the Country Living image.

Lost Ship Country Living Layout

While I like the look and think it would make for a beautiful quilt, allowing each individual print to shine. As the designer of these fabrics, of course a part of me LOVES that! Overall, I think it would have worked much better had I chosen to create my blocks with a consistent light and dark contrast, rather than simply choosing the color combo of cream + peach + coral to pair up with aqua + blue. As mentioned within the comments, I agree that more neutrals and a calmer color palette would work much better with this layout!

Lost Ship Country Living Layout

After making my very first block, this next layout is the one I envisioned and is the one that felt the most me.

Layout Favorite

This center pattern that is created when four blocks are placed together is exactly what I had in mind when I started this quilt!

Layout - love this!

It was the secondary pattern that emerged that I was most unsure about.

Layout Corner

Now this is where I surprised myself and ended up agreeing with the majority of opinions shared last week -- the diamonds or squares that form within this layout are now my very favorite parts of this option! I had mentioned that I would be tempted to add in a little more pattern to break up the big diamonds, most likely by adding in more of the blue and aqua prints to form smaller center diamonds.

Well, I was wrong!

Layout - squares

Over the weekend I made twelve more Lost Ship blocks to add one more final row. Before I sew them together to finish up my quilt top I have to work on the symmetry and balance within this quilt layout, but I really love it!

How about you? Now that I've shared more, which option do you prefer?

40 comments:

  1. I love your fabric...Fleet and Flourish. I am drawn to the first picture. As, I feel that is more movement. But, it is really interesting how the pattern comes together in the second picture. Just me. You are great! Susie

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  2. I luv the secondary pattern too. You have a great eye

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  3. I like the second option, like the second pattern that comes out and the fabrics pop out for me.

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  4. Funny - I didn't even see the secondary pattern you were first in love with until you just mentioned it in this blog. All I saw was the other secondary pattern of large square/diamond shapes and I really liked how it came together. And the last design really is you, no question!

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  5. Hi Maureen! Now this gets much more difficult! I can't decide which I like best, but I think I prefer the second one with the secondary pattern because that is really good! I could use this for a baby quilt I need to make soon, but I'm not sure if I can plan the colours well enough. Thank you for sharing your options and thoughts. x Teje

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  6. I love the second option. So much to look at, it will never get old or boring. Of course the fabrics help with that as well! I agree with you also that the second one is more "you". Very MCH. I can't wait to see it sewn together!

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  7. It's gorgeous, being able to see more blocks together made me change my mind on the country living design. I really love the fabric and that diamond in the center is really striking. I can't get over how much you get done even with a cold. I'm still working on the herringbone quilt that was a Christmas gift. I'm to the point of being panicked about putting the back on it. It's always where I get stuck.

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  8. I prefer the second option as well. While I do like the Country Living layout, I concur that it requires a bit more color control to achieve the effect of CL's two color option. Beautiful fabrics either way!!!!

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  9. I can't pick, I love them all! You accomplish a bunch more than I do with a cold, lol.

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  10. This is beautiful! I love your second layout.

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  11. For my eye the second (original) layout has more rhythm to it. It moves the eye along, but also allows it to rest. The first layout(Country Living) is very sparkly with the way you chose fabrics for your blocks, This can be very energetic, but also hard to find a focus point.

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  12. LOVE how it's turning out! It's got this combo Aztec/Americana feel to it. LOVE IT!

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  13. Love the one with the center pattern the best--hugs, Julierose

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  14. This is stunning! I love your second layout with the big squares in the center.

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  15. Dear Maureen! Beautiful are two variants of your new quilt. But the second option I like much more, and besides, is the more "your". Happy New Year from Poland! :)

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  16. I really like what you ended up going with! Its a wonderful layout, look and of course beautiful fabric!

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  17. I think you are going to have to make more than one quilt using these blocks--lol!

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  18. The second!! Love the secondary pattern. This just shows how completely different a quilt can look with a different layout or with different color/value placement. This is going to be beautiful!

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  19. Hi Maureen !!!
    I love both the patterns and the fabrics you chose are perfect for this Bloch!
    But...if I have to choose one...I choose the second one!
    Great job!!!!
    Dany

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  20. Your version for sure! Love it. Love the fabric

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  21. Great work! I really like your version best! I love the secondary patterns that jump out :)
    Debby E
    samtaylorcjsmimi at yahoo dot com

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  22. I definitely like the second option. Have you tried putting 4 light blue ships together to make a light blue secondary square of triangles alternating with 4 dark blue ship blocks? Do you know what I mean?

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  23. I definitely like the second option. Have you tried putting 4 light blue ships together to make a light blue secondary square of triangles alternating with 4 dark blue ship blocks? Do you know what I mean?

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  24. In this most recent version I feel like the dark bits are creating a sort of unorganized abstract line that doesn't seem organic.

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  25. I actually like the original Country Living layout best. It just seems to allow the fabrics to shine.

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  26. Loved the secondary pattern. Love it.

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  27. Maureen, do you have a pattern for this? I am wondering what size squares you cut? And what size was the finished block? And if you would be willing to share it> I've looked under Lost Ships and I cannot find directions, only pictures.

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