Do you have any fabric that is too pretty to cut?
I’ve got this 1 1/2 yard piece of fabric that I love. I’ve been saving it to make a quilt for my (almost) 5-year old daughter. She’s a big fan of purple and pink, so I think she will like this fabric.
It’s from the Just Wing It collection by MoMo, one of my favorite designers.
It features a large scale design of butterflies, trees, and flowers. Cutting it into smaller pieces would mean that I’d lose some of the design. So instead of cutting it, I’m going to use it whole.
I did the same thing with a piece from the It’s a Hoot collection, also by MoMo, when I made Bird Park.
Again, the large scale design would have been lost by cutting it so I kept it whole.
I’m still deciding what I’ll do with the borders for the Just Wing It piece. Whatever I decide, I want to keep it simple so as not to distract from the center.
What do you do with large scale prints?
21 comments
Some of the Echino large scale prints just beg to be made into bags – a nice big roomy one that shows off the whole print.
Putting it on the back as a feature is a great idea. It really worked with that It's A Hoot fabric, especially with those flying geese as an extra little thing to make your eye dance from one to the other.
Or … you could make her a very cute summer dress!
I love Momo as well, and have great difficulties cutting up the beautiful big prints! But this was a great idea! When I saw this I also thought about a medallion quilt (quite new for me, didn't think I'd ever make one, but the idea has slowly grown on me). Maybe with a simple design, fussy cutting? Thanks for showing what you make!
I love what you did with Its a Hoot – sometimes a simple design is all that is needed. I'm learning to be a bit wary of large scale prints because for me they feel trickier to work with. Having said that I like the idea of little 'scenes' happening within a quilt.
There was a great quilt in the Bloggers Quilt Festival with big poofy appliqued butterflies, you could use your fabric as a centre panel plus a border with appliqued butterflies flying away! I think it's nice to have some solid fabric so you can show off some wonderful quilting.
I think it's a great idea. Beautiful 🙂
I also love Momo!
I'm currently working on an Octagonal Orb quilt (from Oh Fransson) which has you cut the fabrics into little bits and then sew them back together. I'm using Notting Hill, and only AFTER I started cutting the fat quarters did I realize that some of the prints are actually really large scale and are completely GORGEOUS on their own so I was feeling like it was a total shame that I was chopping them up, but thankfully I have enough leftovers that I'll be able to showcase them just a little bit better on the back of the quilt. Maybe something like this: http://www.fromthebluechair.com/2011/12/print-gallery-quilt.html
I avoid large scale prints because, as you said, I hate to cut into them. I am so literal; unless I bought a fabric panel, I wouldn't feature it as a center. I would have never thought of using fabric in the way you did. I just love your idea. It looks like once you decided on a layout, it would come together quickly. The quilting is really great, too. I am going to look at large scale prints differently from now on.
Also, I like the suggestion of appliquéd butterflies.
Gorgeous! The end 🙂
I am just agonising over with what to do with a chunk of Oh Deer by Momo! Nicely done
I use large scale prints for bags, generally, then I get to see a lot more of them :o)
Very clever and beautiful!
Ha! They're all still in my stash! Love your idea, hope you com up with another to share. I have a book "Can't cut it" that has some neat ideas, but none of them quite "speak" to me. That'd be a great idea for a new modern quilt book! a modern version of can't cut it fabrics…
What a problem to have! 😉
Can't wait to see your clever solution!
I have sooo many gorgeous prints too lovely to cut into. Love your solution. Wonder what you'll do this time??!!
Brilliant, Nicole! Yes, I have a few pieces that I'm not sure what to do with either! 🙂
Hey Nicole, I just saw this via pinterest and thought of you. It's so clever!
http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/2013/06/understanding-scale-a-little-trick/#comments
Yes, thank you. I can't tell you how much fabric I save, because it's so beautiful. I love your work.
I really like your idea. The quilting on the one you show is great too.
Making them into bags seems like a good way to showcase the fabrics too. I'd probably think about an apron since I love aprons! 🙂 The style I usually make would definitely lend itself to large scale prints.
I saw a cute little butterfly block this evening at Blossom Heart Quilts. They are simple and uncomplicated. The might work for your daughter's quilt.
Here's the link: http://www.blossomheartquilts.com/2013/06/bees-and-boms-may.html
What a good idea. I have a lovely piece of echino I can't bring myself to cut up!
What a clever use of your too-pretty-to-cut fabric! I have several too-pretty pieces; you've given me an idea to think of them as "showcase" fabrics, so now I have a good idea what to do with them. I love your quilting.
Great quilt. I love this!
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