Inset Circle Quilt - Planned Overs - Secret Circles

When I create something with no exact design in mind I create units.
Working this way there are always a lot of units you do NOT use.



These are the units, off cuts and excess pieces of the fabric I used in the quilt that I did not find a place for.

Often this is the start of new work. I have backed some of these pieces with a fusible and I plan on doing some sewing with some of them.

It is quite obvious to me I will need to add some additional fabrics to make a cohesive piece.
One problem of working this way is you always have extra units and you have to decide when enough is enough.Working this way there are always a lot of units you do not use.



There comes a point when you have worked through the idea and what is left is not worth trying to do more with. I have a strong feeling there will only be one more piece from this group.

Of course I can also use these units to make very small pieces that can become a part of something such as a post card, journal quilt, or a small quilt to use as a gift.

Most often I choose NOT to put my energies into this type of project if I want to create REAL work.

Circle Inset Quilt - Design Process - Part 5

Today was a busy day.
I finished sewing the quilt together.
I am always amazed at how much better a quilt looks when you don't see the white spaces between the blocks.
Next comes the quilting. I think about how I am going to quilt something as I work on it.
Sometimes an idea comes and other times I have to wait - and the waiting can take a few hours, a few days or even a few years.
I expect to start quilting this one tomorrow. I will probably do a small practice piece so I can see that the thread, needle and design I plan on using will work.

Circle Inset Quilt - Design Process - Part 4

I added and inset the rest of the circles today. Some are barely visible as the contrast is so subtle. Others are very obvious because of the high contrast.
I feel to be successful a piece must keep you looking at it and continually seeing something new. I think that will happen with this one when I finish it.

I have started to sew the squares together.

I really enjoyed the process of insetting these circles once I got the hang of it.
You can be sure I will be using circles again in my work.

Circle Inset Quilt - Design Process - Part 3

You saw the collection of fabrics I started with.
Eventually I pulled all these fabrics from my fabric collection to make the choices of what fabrics to use. I did not use all of them.



These are the tools and supplies I am using to create this piece.



In this photo you can see I inset two more circles.



I have now added several more circles. Some are more obvious than others. I have done that purposely. I will add more, but I will not put a circle in each square.
How many circles can you find in this photo?


I am enjoying designing this and can't wait until I can sew it together, quilt it, and finish it.

Circle Inset Quilt - Design Process - Part 2

In this photo you see more squares and several fairly major changes. I have now added some blue. I feel it is getting there now and doesn't have too far to go.


When I got to this point I was quite pleased with it. I know it is often best to sleep on it for a while. After sleeping on it I gradually made a few more changes.



Often when I am evaluating a design I will convert it to grayscale to observe values.
I see a few things I want to change here.

I made a few slight changes since I took this photo.
I am also in the process of adding a few more of the inset circles.
It's a process and it can't be rushed.

Circle Inset Quilt - Design Process

I would like to share with you one way I go about designing something.



I am working on my design wall. I started with those two circle insets I showed you a few days ago.


I continued adding more pieces to this.



I am starting to remove pieces and move them around. Here I have added some fabrics that were not in the original group.





Here you are beginning to see some major changes. I have not shown each and every photo I took after making changes. Up to this point there are at least 15 photos and of course I did not show each time I added something or moved something around.


It is getting much closer to being a work of art. I made more changes and took more photos after this one, but I am saving that for another time.

When you see a quilt that is simply squares, it doesn't just happen. A lot of decisions are made while laying it out on the design wall.
Working with these hand painted and dyed fabrics with their irregular patterns just adds to the challenge.

While this takes time, it is one of the things I really enjoy - CREATING ART!

Insetting A Circle In A Piece Of Fabric

Today I tried a new way of insetting a circle into a piece of fabric.

I used 6 inch squares and inset 4" circles



This is the first one I did. I do like the colorations.




This is the second one I did. There is a lot more texture in the circle fabric in this one.

I did this with fabrics I had painted so they were a little stiff. I think it would have been a little easier with softer fabrics.



I am starting with these hand painted fabrics. I suspect I will add others.