These blocks are from the next quilt on my list from the book Scrap-Basket Beauties. It’s called Triple Star and I was really looking forward to making it because I love star quilts and it’s different from any other star quilt I’ve made. Unfortunately, my fabric choice didn’t work. For these quilts, I’m only using stash fabric and I started with a jelly roll from the Meadow line by Blackbird Designs. This fabric was hard to work with because it had a lot of lights (off-white and tan) and some mediums in blue, rose, brown and green. A light background wouldn’t work with all the light fabrics and none of the darks I tried looked good either. I ended up using a butterscotch colored Bella solid. It seemed to have enough contrast with both the lights and the other colors so I thought it would be okay.
After piecing a few units, I began to question whether it was going to work and asked myself if I should continue with these fabrics or use something different. All the pieces were cut, so I pressed forward and hoped for the best. Sadly, the further along I got, the worse these looked. There just isn’t enough contrast to make the stars stand out.
Oh brother—it just went from bad to worse! When this picture popped up I see that the bottom center block is pieced wrong!! I have 20 blocks made so after I fix the mistake, I’ll sew them together into a top. Without a border, this will make a good size quilt for donation. So, I’ll continue to press forward and finish it up for someone who can maybe use it to stay warm.
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It’s frustrating when things don’t turn out as we imagined. The colors in your quilt are so soft and soothing. Someone will be very appreciative of your hard work.
I agree with Ramona completely. Don’t be so harden yourself and enjoy the process instead. When I make a quilt for donation, it makes me feel so good to imagine how the recipient will feel.
I, too really like star blocks. I haven’t seen one like yours with the friendship block/star center. Really nice pattern!
A wow sashing could help and the quilting/thread can also help it pop. Don’t give up hope yet!
Someone will love the blendy look. A lot of my friends do that on purpose. I’m a contrast person myself, but there is a bit of contrast here, and the colors are soft and pleasing.
So sorry for your disappointment. I do agree with your assessment that the lack of contrast is making the blocks not work. Perhaps you can add a dark sashing between the blocks and use the result for a donation quilt.