Much
about creating, whether it is sewing, quilting, embroidery, or any other
artistic form, depends on having the ability to visualize the project in your
head. I don't know about you, but it is getting harder and harder for me to do
that every day.
Sometimes,
it is easy to bypass a pattern or embroidery design simply because it isn't
presented in a color combination of your liking. The quilting or embroidery may
be lovely, but a yellow banana is much more appealing than one that is brown.
Imagining designs in your color palette can be even more challenging. Here are
two examples.
While
visiting one of my favorite local shops, the owner was in the process of
piecing this quilt top. Because I am fond of green, pink, and ivory colorways
and like machine applique, the pattern was particularly appealing to me. Until
I saw it.
At
any other glance, the photo on the pattern cover (above) was not one that I would give a second look, but
seeing it in colors I like made me purchase the designs on site.
On
another visit to a local shop, I saw this wall hanging on display. Again, the
colors and fabric prints were spot on.
The pattern (below) was okay, particularly if you like shades of blue, but I would never have purchased it had I not seen it created in another colorway.
The
next time you see a particular embroidery design, technique, pattern, or shop
display you like, try to imagine it in thread colors and fabrics you would use.
Here
are some ways to gather ideas:
- Visit
fabric, embroidery, and craft-related shops. Their displays often inspire a new
project or color combination.
- Take
a photo and jot down notes. Include them in your embroidery journal.
- Browse
online blogs, forums, customer galleries, and project pages. The same designs
used differently in layouts and color combinations provide numerous
possibilities.
- Sites
like Pinterest, Flickr, and Facebook often showcase creations from the artistic
world.
Who
knows what you might discover!
What is the most unlikely pattern you have ever purchased?
Debbie SewBlest