Moving Further Down the Rabbit Hole

Posted on July 9, 2017 by craftycreeky

Last week I was in a bit of a quandary about fabrics to use for the latest border on my Down the Rabbit Hole QAL, I posted various options and ideas and had lots of really helpful comments and suggestions which helped me finally make my mind up!

This was my first attempt which I just wasn’t happy with…

…I felt it was too contrasting and dominating with the rest of the quilt. There were a few people who suggested my background fabric might be more of the issue, too fussy, I did contemplate it for a while, but knowing my fabric choices for the outer border, I think it will help bring it all together. It brings together the soft grey in the centre circle and the silver grey rabbits that are going to be hopping round the edge. It’s also got the touch of olive in the rest of the quilt.

I cut out wedges from lots of different fabrics, trying various combinations, as soon as I tried the mid purple with the blue/green I knew I had one decision made. They both have what I call smudgy colour variations, so they look fairly plain against the passion flowers, without the colour block of a plain fabric.

For the centre wedges I’ve chosen a lighter purple and light creamy gold, I’m hoping this will link up with the rest of the sunflowers which will be stitched into each corner next month. I was hoping in the very centre to use an olive green, but I couldn’t get it to work, however I think this one with a dark purple background and an olive branch works well.

I’m stitching them all down now, I’ve finished two and I’m well on the way with the third one. My hand applique stitch definitely improved with the third one, practice makes perfect! Although this may also be due to stitching the first two on Friday night whilst sipping gin with my daughter! She’s home from uni for the weekend and we just sat and chatted, putting the world to right, drinking gin with elderflower tonic until midnight. I love those evenings just enjoying each others company.

I’m linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, a celebration of anything hand-stitched. I’m also linking up with Quilts My Way for Quilter’s Monday, why not follow the link and see what everyone else has been stitching.

About craftycreeky

I live in a busy market town in Yorkshire with my husband, kids, dogs and chickens. I love trying new crafts, rediscovering old ones, gardening, walking...anything creative really I started this blog after my New Year resolution worked so well. My resolution (the first one I've ever kept!) was to post a photograph of my garden on Facebook every day. My hope was that I would then see what was good in the garden and not just weeds and work, which was my tendency. The unexpected side-effect was that I have enjoyed many more hours in the garden. I am hoping that 'The Crafty Creek' will have the same effect. Happy creating!
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25 Responses to Moving Further Down the Rabbit Hole

  1. claire93 says:
    July 9, 2017 at 9:56 am

    wow! looking wonderful, and you’re right, the background fabric for this section is lovely too (I was wrong lol).

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • craftycreeky says:
      July 9, 2017 at 10:10 am

      Thanks Claire, you’re not wrong at all, it might have looked better with a different background, I decided I like the passion flowers and I didn’t want to have to buy yet more fabric! I’m happy with it and I think it will work in the end 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. katechiconi says:
    July 9, 2017 at 9:59 am

    It looks great, and I’m so glad you didn’t change the background. The purple centres work well too, having impact without standing out too much and throwing things out of balance.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • craftycreeky says:
      July 9, 2017 at 10:05 am

      Thanks Kate, to be honest I don’t think there was ever any chance of the background changing, I really didn’t want to buy yet more fabric and I like it! A plainer background would also have made the dresdens even more dominating.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. CurlsnSkirls says:
    July 9, 2017 at 11:42 am

    “You’re got it! By George, you’ve got it!”
    (Paraphrasing from “My Fair Lady”)
    😍

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Gail says:
    July 9, 2017 at 11:43 am

    The Background is perfect and the muted colours in your Dresden plates look wonderful with the rest of the quilt. This quilt is stunning.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. CathieJ says:
    July 9, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    I think you made the right decisions. The background fabric ties everything in and your applique is so pretty.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Carole says:
    July 9, 2017 at 1:50 pm

    Definitely the right decision. I lost my mojo for about ten years once because I tried to make myself finish a project that I didn’t love. It’s still a UFO to this day.
    Love the new project. It looks like a lot of fun 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Carole @ From My Carolina Home says:
    July 9, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    That is stunning, love your final choices.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Melody A. says:
    July 9, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    it looks Gorgeous!@! glad you made your own decision about how it should move forward!! LOVELY!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. MrsCraft says:
    July 9, 2017 at 11:13 pm

    It’s stunning, you definitely chose the right colours.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Robin says:
    July 10, 2017 at 1:13 am

    Oh yes. . . you picked out the perfect fabric. It is so satisfying.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. Patricia says:
    July 10, 2017 at 4:29 am

    Oh my! Your work is so beautiful! I am so in awe! The pattern and color selection totally wowed me! When I grow up, can I quilt like you? 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. kathyreeves says:
    July 11, 2017 at 9:46 pm

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the final combination!

    Like

    Reply
  13. Quilter Kathy says:
    July 12, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    You found the perfect combination of colours, and fabrics!
    So glad to hear you are noticing an improvement in your applique… maybe there is hope for me?!?
    I smiled reading about “putting the world to right” while enjoying lovely drinks and conversation with your daughter…that’s just the best!

    Like

    Reply
  14. Texas Quilter says:
    January 17, 2018 at 2:23 am

    I want this pattern. She now has a book out, waiting to see how much the shipping would be. Expensive! Your colors are exceptional!!!!!

    Like

    Reply

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