Brown gets a bad rap most of the time. Some people don't like it and have no brown fabric in their stash. I think it is rich and warm. I have shown my little drawer unit full of 2.5" batik strips before, click here if you want a refresher. Last night I decided to pull out all of the brown related strips. I can see I want to cut some more dark strips from my batik stash. I'm thinking another 16 patch quilt but even a jelly roll race (which I call Random Plank because I cut random lengths instead of using full length strips) would be nice with these fabrics.
One of my favorite famous quiltmakers and author passed away last week. I taught many classes from her "An Amish Adventure" book in the early to mid 1980s. I even bought the second edition of the book. I always loved her fabric combinations in her quilts. I took one of her workshops when she came to our guild and she autographed 3 of my books. I'm happy I had the chance to meet her.
20 comments:
Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Roberta Horton. Along with her sister Mary Mashuta she has long been a "quiet influence" in my quilting trajectory. I too have some of the books you show but my favorite of hers is her "Scrap Quilts: The Art of Making Do" which I think was influential in deepening my appreciation for scrap quilts. Back in 2014 The Quilt Show honored Roberta and her sister with one of their "Legends" episodes (#1513) which I will make a point of watching again once their new site is up and running.
That book on the top is one of only two quilt books that I have READ, not just perused, from cover to cover.
Oh how sad that Roberta passed--I have that "Fabric Makes the Quilt" book and have always loved that idea...I made many using that theory as my guide...
I love browns, all forms--from the lightest beiges to the darkest mahoganies...
I've never, for some reason, used much in my quilts--I wonder why...anyway this will be just such a warm looking piece...
have fun putting it together hugs, Julierose
UPDATE: The Quilt Show did a blog post about her passing last week (I'm the one behind the times!) and on the post provided their Legends episode with both sisters. You can see it here:
https://thequiltshow.squarespace.com/blog/in-memoriam-roberta-horton
As you may remember, I'm one who doesn't really like brown, but seeing your selection today shows that mixed up with other colours they can be attractive. 2 weeks ago I cut and sewed strips for my first JRR (I call it a stroll) kids quilt top. I joined the strips with vertical seams and used different lengths of fabric, ending up with 1720". I sewed the 1st 2 seams together as normal then cut it in half, turned the strips around, sewed together and repeated this each time. I didn't want the effect I've seen on other tops where matching fabrics meet together. Because of the extra length I then cut right across the middle and joined the 2 pieces together. I really love the outcome and now putting on a small border, after taking a break and knitting 8 kiddie hats :)
SEW sorry to hear of Roberta's passing! She was such a wonderful influence on the art of quiltmaking.
My opinion of brown depends on my mood, which brown, and surrounding fabrics. In general, those that lean toward rust or yellow are not so much in my favor. Rich chocolate, or those that lean pinkish I like.
I can't believe that of all the quilt books I have - no Roberta Horton!? I'll have to remedy that.
I have three of her books (not the Amish Adventure) and have learned so much from them. Like my Gwen Marston books, Roberta Horton's are part of my core library for inspiration. Lucky you to have taken a workshop with her! I'm with you - brown is not as flashy as some colors but it is rich and wonderful and helps ground the rest of the rainbow.
I have to confess- browns are not my favorite. Reminds me of the 70s. Dull and muddy is how I think of browns. I need to go to a fabric store and check out all the browns and re-educate. Oh, wait, most of them have closed and the others are not open.
I've always loved browns, as they are earthy colors - I'm an autumn girl myself, so all the colors of the earth....browns, greens, golds, rusts and reds, blues of all hues - these are my favorites. Can't wait to see what you come up with! Deb E / CA
I made a quilt from strips of brown that had accumulated over the years. Some were from "ugly" collections at retreats, etc. Anyway, the result was a wonderful quilt for my nephew and was very easy to make. https://quiltdesignsbycandace.com/patterns-for-sale
I shortened the first strip up to 18 1/2 inches and it lead to a very nice quilt. You can see my version here. It's Brian's quilt. https://floridafarmgirlsworld.blogspot.com/2017/06/sew-i-did-it.html
Can't wait to see what you do with those rich colors.
I never have enough of the brown tones. Here is one of my fav brown-toned quilts I made for a friend
https://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2017/10/art-with-fabric-blog-hop-and-george.html
I am always Battling the Blue fabric - constantly giving the stuff away.
I just adore your combinations.
My condolences on our fellow quilter.
I agree with you about brown -- both that many quilters don't like it and that it can be lush and rich and warm. One of the destashings that came my way last year had a LOT of browns. Looks as though it's been a while since you've made a Random Plank quilt (love the term)!
Headed over to your link for a refresher - what a fantastic set up for storing your strips. Do you have the same for KF Collective fabrics?
I only caught the news about Roberta Horton three days ago, her book
An Amish Adventure was the second quilting book I ever bought and had me hooked on Amish quilts!
I am one of those quilters that doesn't like brown although I have quite a few browns in my stash. I remember when I worked at the quilt shop they had a kit people could buy of a brown and pink quilt. That was a poplar combination 15 or so years ago. I ended up making a brown and pink quilt for a woman I worked with for her first grandchild. Then I got into making a lot of brown and green and brown and blue baby quilts.
That is too bad about Roberta. I have her An Amish Adventure book. I remember she put out of line of homespun fabrics and there was a lovely orange plaid that I was always fond of.
I've always loved Brown fabrics. I so agree they are rich and warm And have combined them with blues many times. My home decor reflects that in every room. I love greys also, especially a soft dove grey.
Gosh, it hurts to hear another creative quilter leaves us.
JJM
I’m with you - fall colors are my passion and I love warm browns!! I’m currently working on an appliqued brown background border for a maple leaf quilt and reveling in it! I have a LOT of brown fabrics. I enjoy seeing your work and am amazed at your productivity! My blog can be reached through gladiquilts.net.
I'm a brown fan too. Those will be lovely in a quilt.
There was an overload of browns and oranges in the 70s that made a lot of people turn away from them but I never completely abandoned them. Many of my first quilts were made with browns (my daughter said I made everything in the same colorway so I had to expand) and now I add orange to a lot of quilts. It helps when you call it chocolate.
I confess to not liking brown and I have little of it in the stash.
Lucky you to meet and learn from Roberta Horton. I have several of her books and I enjoy looking at them from time to time.
stay as warm as you can Wanda!
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