This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge is to work with neutral value scraps. Or is that low volume scraps? Whatever you call them, they can add contrast to a quilt block or be used on their own for a muted, textural quilt.
Case in point: a quilt in all neutral value fabrics by Alex Anderson (from Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! The Complete Guide to Quiltmaking by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes). I love the soft texture created by the use of white and off-white in this quilt.
The bad thing about neutral value quilts is they are very difficult to photograph! This quilt was the result of a challenge among members of the Treadle On email list - a group of vintage and antique sewing machine enthusiasts.
The challenge was to figure out how to use one or more of the antique attachments for our machines. Inspired by Colette Wolff's book The Art of Manipulating Fabric, we used unbleached muslin for our challenge blocks. Many participants created textured blocks inspired by techniques described in the book.
I set the blocks together using a variety of off-white print fabrics. The fleur-de-lis block in the upper right corner is mine - I made it using ribbon and the under-braider attachment.
So today, as I made some Pinwheel blocks for the RSC, I couldn't help but think about making another low volume/neutral quilt!
For more neutral scrappy inspiration, check out the other RSC participants at Angela's SoScrappy blog.
That TO challenge must have been before I joined. I still don't know how to use my attachments. What a great quilt.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great quilt! I love The Art of Manipulating Fabric and used some of its techniques when I used to do crazy quilting. The idea of incorporating some varied techniques into standard piecing is intriguing! What a beautiful wall hanging, I bet it would be fun to do another!!
ReplyDeleteI guess neutral/low volume quilts benefit from either texture or pattern. Your quilt is lovely and I bet it looks even more so in person.
ReplyDeleteYour neutral blocks look great! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeletegreat neutral blocks. the challenge quilt is a so pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great showcase of low volume neutrals.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful blocks. That fleur de lis is perfect!
ReplyDeleteThose are some GREAT examples using the Color of the Month for the RSC!! I've made a brown and beige quilt, but never an all neutral one. Perhaps, the time has come...
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful neutral/low volume ideas here. I really like your challenge quilt, what a great idea. Little pinwheels are cute.
ReplyDeleteYour challenge quilt is beautiful. I guess we've both been thinking in neutrals lately or is it low volumn?
ReplyDeleteI call them quiet quilts (as opposed to their noisier cousins the brights, bolds, and colorful batiks).
ReplyDeleteOh my, this will be so soft and soothing. I love neutral (low volume) quilts and yours will be sensational!
ReplyDeleteWow! So beautiful. Love the texture in that monotone piece. Makes me want to do that!
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