Friday, September 2, 2016

Round Robin Final Border and a Round Robin Link Up


Cindy's Block from Stitchin At Home


It's the final round for our Round Robin, and I think it's spectacular to see all 4 finishes. 

Cindy did the original center, and it arrived to Sandra at MMM! Quilts. Sandra added the surrounding border, and mailed it to Tish at Tish's Adentures in Wonderland. Tish mailed it to me, and I thought, "How in the world will I do this?" I wasn't alone. I think we all had a superb exercise in design!


Close Up of the Corner Detail


Sandra's piecing above in orange, green, 
grey and black. Mine below in purples.


As It Arrived In My Mailbox


I pulled it straight from the envelope, and pinned it onto my design wall. It hung there for the whole month while I walked by it, and wondered how I could best contribute. It came down the the last day before I was leaving town, and this is how I worked at it.


Looking at anything from across the room helps me. I could see how stepping out the dark squares would continue the pattern. Adding dark corners would help with a frame.


I had used a large print because it was the one thing no one had used before. I think even a small piece benefits from a variety of print sizes. I first tried the prints at the corners, and then at the middles. It made a difference. 

Then I started adding some fabric ideas. Did I need a narrow border around the paper piecing Tish had just done? She had used a citrus green, and I had nothing to go with it. There were already several shades of purple, orange, green, and black involved. Putting the fabric up with block, and standing back from it once again proved a benefit. The dark purple batik popped the citrus green. But what about design? Each round had a 45 degree angle at its core, and I knew I had to include that it mine. It was already busy so could I repeat some element without adding more busyness to it?


It was then that I knew I could steal from Sandra's piecing idea. As she said to me, "Imitation is the highest form of flattery!" I had done a block similar to hers in Farmer's Wife so I simply measured her finished squares, and started piecing. I held my breath as each was finished, and was finally relieved when I saw it worked. It didn't detract or steal the show from the center. It complemented it. 

The only point I was having a problem with was the bland corner blocks. Once again, I reused the same design element of placing a floating diamond in the middle with some quick piecing, and it felt much more appropriate. Allow me to steal another thing from Canadian and British friends at this moment, but may I say I'm fairly chuffed with the finish.


Have you ever participated in a Round Robin? 
We would love to have you share it here! 

As we spend the next month or so finishing each of our Round Robin pieces, we'd love to see what you've done. I'll keep this linky open for the next year in hope that some of you will give this a try. Add your link from any URL where you have it posted whether a blog post, Instagram, Facebook, etc. A picture hosting site such as Google, Flickr, etc. is fine, too. Curious minds want to know! 

And don't forget that #BraveQuilter's link up is also open through September 10. Starting your own Round Robin would be an excellent start to a #BraveQuilter adventure!








Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.



Linking up with these wonderful blogs!
Thank you for hosting.
Please visit them to find more inspiration.

France Nadeau
My Quilt Infatuation
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Fort Worth Friday Frenzy
Nina Marie Sayre
Crazy Mom Quilts
Quilt Matters

12 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

The purples are such a lovely frame for the quilt top, and I do love how you extended out the dark squares to the final corners to complete the design. This was such a fun round robin to watch come together. :)

Ruth said...

I love use of dark colours you all added, it really gives such impact to them all - brilliant work and fun to follow along with you all!

Paige said...

I do the same thing, step back a take a look from across the room. I hope to participate in a round robin one day. The darker frame is very nice you have added!

Lara B. said...

This is perfect Julie! Reusing the same design element but in colors that anchor the center to the sides pulls the whole quilt together. Great job!

Gwyned Trefethen said...

Aren't Round Robins a fabulous way to stretch your technical, design and palette skills. I participated in several back in the early '00s. I received some wonderful quilts. The biggest gift was the learning and camaraderie.

France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creation said...

This is spectacular, indeed! This is excellent team work. I agree, prints make a difference. This must have been a fun challenge. (I've never participated in a Round Robin myself.)
Thank you for participating to my Fabric, Thread and Yarn link party. Have a great weekend!

Stitchin At Home said...

OH Julie I love it!!!! I I like how you extended the design to look like it's on point. The dark colours pull everything in. I simply love it!!!! This has been a fabulous experience and I believe we all Four of us did FANTASTIC.

Leanne Parsons said...

I love how this quilt looks so cohesive. It's like one person designed it :)

Jayne said...

Beautiful job! I've loved seeing this come together!

Sandra Walker said...

It was a challenge this final round wasn't it? I know we all except for that intelligent creative Cindy felt that! I love how this turned out. I did Seminole patchwork; should show you it sometime...maybe next month?! As for chuffed it is British but some Canadians with British roots like me, may use it ;-)

Kate said...

A perfect final border! Looking forward to seeing how all the others came out.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Wow. You gals did some great work. It looks amazing.