Bargello? Batik? Jelly Roll? HELLLLLLLLLP!!

Okay, so I'm FINALLY going to make my first quilt! I know, it's taken me long enough, right? lol Anyway, I bought Eileen Wright's book "Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts" and I'm going to make "Surf Song" from this book, which is a queen and is as seen here:

http://softexpressions.com/Merchant2.../4G0240-65.jpg

I know. I'm insane. Let's keep moving.

So I'm not necessarily tied to these colours, but I need 24 fabrics. 8 of one colour (the blue/green in the original) and 16 of another (the blue/purple) and I need 7 2.5" (jelly roll) strips of each colour.

So here's my dilemma. I'm not that great at matching fabrics. I've been at this for a week ever since I got the book in the mail, and I'm ready to tear out my hair! I DON'T want solids. I'm thinking batiks, but they're pretty expensive ($17.95 a meter here). Also, I only need 17.5", which would be half a yard (or even half a meter) but it doesn't give me much leeway for straightening the fabric (even with the half meter at 19.5"). So what would you do? Would you be looking at jelly rolls, fat quarter bundles, yardage? I'm thinking yardage, but trying to find 24 colours that all blend well is doing my brain in! I may have to just go to the LQS and do this:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0...86ovo1_500.jpg

and get them to pick it out for me :icon_giggle:

So, again, what would YOU do??

no help here, bargello's scare me :) Just wanted to say good luck. Sometimes it works out making something hard first, cause you don't really know it's supposed to be hard. Makes everything else a piece of cake.

Sorry, I'm no help - but Dee, You Go Girl!!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Doloris

no help here, bargello's scare me :) Just wanted to say good luck. Sometimes it works out making something hard first, cause you don't really know it's supposed to be hard. Makes everything else a piece of cake.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bkthomas

Sorry, I'm no help - but Dee, You Go Girl!!!!!

---

Geesh. Some help you ladies are... :icon_rolleyes: lol Just kidding! :D This particular pattern is NOT HARD! Seriously! You sew 48 strips together lengthwise (2 sets) so it forms a tube, then chop it up as the pattern tells you, rip it apart at the right seam, sew 'er back together and voila! Bargello! Almost makes itself...

lots of intersections to match. just pin. pin, pin and dont sweat it if some are not perfect. With all the shading it will never show. I've made a trip around the world, and that is the same concept. Just be patient. Thats a big endeavor for a first quilt, but you can do it with patience thrown in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Doloris

lots of intersections to match. just pin. pin, pin and dont sweat it if some are not perfect. With all the shading it will never show. I've made a trip around the world, and that is the same concept. Just be patient. Thats a big endeavor for a first quilt, but you can do it with patience thrown in.

---

I've actually gotten really good at matching seams, so i'm hoping that at least 90% of them will match lol I don't pin though, slows me down. I'm a stubborn one :D But I just make sure everything is ironed in the opposite direction and then make sure each seam is nested before it goes under the presser foot, pinching and squeezing as necessary lol

had to chuckle at your answer cause you sound about as stubborn as me. I hate to pin too, but usually throw a few in here and there to keep things matching.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Doloris

had to chuckle at your answer cause you sound about as stubborn as me. I hate to pin too, but usually throw a few in here and there to keep things matching.

---

Some days I'm not even sure why I bought pins :icon_giggle: I do use them on occasion, but I've mastered sewing without them for the most part. I did buy the drunkard's path template recently, so when I go to use that I will probably HAVE to pin. Boo. I'm not against pins, I don't think using them or not using them makes you a better/worse quilter, I just personally don't like having to stop in order to take one out lol It's more of a patience issue :D

Anyone have any advice as to fabric choices, or should I go throw my money at the LQS guy? lol

I would use yardage. I did a bargello quilt (still haven't quilted it though), and had to pick out 18 fabrics, 9 of each color family. I just went to a big quilt shop and spent about two hours pulling out fabric, lining them up on the floor and debating which colors went best. They didn't bat an eye at me...I think quilt shop employees are used to having quilters spend a long time picking out fabric.

Can you order your batiks from Connecting Threads? They have really good prices on theirs. I have ordered from them and was VERY pleased with the quality and their customer service is excellent too. Most of what I bought was around $7 a yard or less.

Look at Jinny Beyer palette, there are 150 colors in it, and sure to be 24 blues that you could get that go together. Or Fossil Fern has many colors. I got a box of 100 fat quarters, all different. These collections could help you get the colors to match without running all over the place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gayle8675309

I would use yardage. I did a bargello quilt (still haven't quilted it though), and had to pick out 18 fabrics, 9 of each color family. I just went to a big quilt shop and spent about two hours pulling out fabric, lining them up on the floor and debating which colors went best. They didn't bat an eye at me...I think quilt shop employees are used to having quilters spend a long time picking out fabric.

---

I'd probably have him (or her) helping me lol My LQS has two employees, a man and a woman (at least they're the only two I've ever seen working there!) and they don't get very busy so every time I go in we have a good chat so I don't think they'd let me just poke around without needing to know what I'm up to this time lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wantaquilt

Can you order your batiks from Connecting Threads? They have really good prices on theirs. I have ordered from them and was VERY pleased with the quality and their customer service is excellent too. Most of what I bought was around $7 a yard or less.

---

I've looked at Connecting Threads, but they don't have enough blues and greens :( I've looked at some of their regular cottons and I could probably pull enough from there, but it's trying to pick fabrics that's making my brain hurt lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

Look at Jinny Beyer palette, there are 150 colors in it, and sure to be 24 blues that you could get that go together. Or Fossil Fern has many colors. I got a box of 100 fat quarters, all different. These collections could help you get the colors to match without running all over the place.

---

I've looked at that actually! I'm certainly contemplating it! Don't remember where I saw it though, may have been Fabric Depot. It's certainly cheaper than batiks and would still fill the "not a solid" requirement. I didn't know they had 150 colours though. Wherever I looked they certainly didn't have all of those choices... Hmm. I think I need to look into this further... lol

I'm going to suggest www.thousandsofbolts.com
You can search by color family and then narrow that down to fabric types, i.e. batiks. Their prices are good, I'm not sure if they ship out of country, but there are ways around that.

Ohh also post on the Group here called Bargello Quilts -- Denis I know can help you :-) he's Brillant (where I can't spell it even) geeze

I have the Jenny Beyer Charm and Twice the Charm from MSQS -- Jenny does a bargello in I believe it's from her Reds in her Monochrome line - It's not a solid -- BUT look at the line of fabric - Monochrome - stunning

Think it is just JennyBeyer.com?

;-Deb

I can not WAIT until you do this -- then tell me ALL how to make it hahhahha

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Musical_Starling

Geesh. Some help you ladies are... :icon_rolleyes: lol Just kidding! :D This particular pattern is NOT HARD! Seriously! You sew 48 strips together lengthwise (2 sets) so it forms a tube, then chop it up as the pattern tells you, rip it apart at the right seam, sew 'er back together and voila! Bargello! Almost makes itself...

---

yes you are right about this... I plan to make a trip around the world using this same process.
Until I saw this way, I would never have attempted all those squares..lol
Patty

I'm not much help on the picking out fabrics - I take way too much time on that part, but it is so fun! I also don't pin much either and found a method to do the drunkard's path without pinning - this video shows an easy way to do without pinning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlwVGoL4zV0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by K. McEuen

I'm going to suggest www.thousandsofbolts.com
You can search by color family and then narrow that down to fabric types, i.e. batiks. Their prices are good, I'm not sure if they ship out of country, but there are ways around that.

---

I've been looking there, and picking out 16 blues and then 8 blue-greens is hurting my brain lol But the one thing I DON'T like is that I have to buy a full yard :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HdWench

Ohh also post on the Group here called Bargello Quilts -- Denis I know can help you :-) he's Brillant (where I can't spell it even) geeze

I have the Jenny Beyer Charm and Twice the Charm from MSQS -- Jenny does a bargello in I believe it's from her Reds in her Monochrome line - It's not a solid -- BUT look at the line of fabric - Monochrome - stunning

Think it is just JennyBeyer.com?

;-Deb

I can not WAIT until you do this -- then tell me ALL how to make it hahhahha

---

lol I posted about the pattern in the group, and it was Denis who found the final measurements of the quilt for me so I knew the book was a good buy. And now that I have it, the book was an AWESOME buy! Quilts, wall hangings, even a table runner and placemats. Love it! I looked at the monochromes, but not enough of each colour :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scrappy quilter

yes you are right about this... I plan to make a trip around the world using this same process.
Until I saw this way, I would never have attempted all those squares..lol
Patty

---

I only found out how the "around the world" blocks are done recently, and when I saw it I was totally floored! It was like "So THAT's how they've been doing it all along! Sneaky buggers... lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ilive2craft2

I'm not much help on the picking out fabrics - I take way too much time on that part, but it is so fun! I also don't pin much either and found a method to do the drunkard's path without pinning - this video shows an easy way to do without pinning http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlwVGoL4zV0

---

I think I'd totally botch that whole business up! lol I'll try it, but I'm not expecting any perfect curves without pins. Don't see it happening lol Thanks for the video though, I will try it at least!

Thousands of Bolts also sells by fat quarter on a lot of their fabrics. If you buy a whole yard it does add to your stash. ;)

I know!!! Folks been holding out on us how EASY some of this stuff is?????

Tubes and cutting them --- WOW eye opening

Course I'm waiting till you finish so you can write a "Bargellos" for dummies lesson for this blonde :0

Debbie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by K. McEuen

Thousands of Bolts also sells by fat quarter on a lot of their fabrics. If you buy a whole yard it does add to your stash. ;)

---

I wish I could afford the extra for my stash. But considering I need 24 colours, it's a little outside my budget for this quilt lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HdWench

I know!!! Folks been holding out on us how EASY some of this stuff is?????

Tubes and cutting them --- WOW eye opening

Course I'm waiting till you finish so you can write a "Bargellos" for dummies lesson for this blonde :0

Debbie

---

lol Her book is almost like a version of "Bargellos for Dummies", it's awesome! She has diagrams and everything! Girlie thought of ALMOST everything! lol I will still be taking pictures though, not letting this one go undocumented because it may be the only time I'm crazy enough to make it lol

Dee......it's going to be beautiful....love that pattern. Now I want to make one! Can you use the Bali pops batik jelly roll sets? The colors would already coordinate with each other. If that won't work I think I would let the LQS people help you coordinate the colors.......sometimes "new eyes" helps.........you probably have a headache from trying to pick out colors!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pcbatiks

Dee......it's going to be beautiful....love that pattern. Now I want to make one! Can you use the Bali pops batik jelly roll sets? The colors would already coordinate with each other. If that won't work I think I would let the LQS people help you coordinate the colors.......sometimes "new eyes" helps.........you probably have a headache from trying to pick out colors!

---

It's super simple to make! Even in the book she says it's the easiest pattern and there's almost no waste because all 24 colours repeat evenly. I could use bali pops, but I need 7 of each colour and there are 24 colours so I'd have to buy 7 packs unless there are doubles, and then I'd still need 4. Yuck. lol I'm thinking I'll probably hand the book to the LQS and just let them pick because I think I've looked at so many colours and variations that I'm just making myself more confused lol

I find shopping online for fabric to be almost as overwhelming as going to a fabric shop except you can't touch the fabrics. I'm with you..I'd end up going to the LQS also.

Oooo ... look!

http://www.keepsakequilting.com/prod...rap%20Bags.htm

"Each scrap bag has 12 quarter-yard cuts (three yards) of assorted cottons similar to those shown."

I made a french braid quilt that had the colors blending. I usually buy yardage.I'll run around the store with all these bolts of fabric in the cart side by side until I'm satisfied...usually an all afternoon adventure.( But I love it 0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WendyI

I find shopping online for fabric to be almost as overwhelming as going to a fabric shop except you can't touch the fabrics. I'm with you..I'd end up going to the LQS also.

---

I know. I have a "touch screen" laptop, and yet I still can't touch the fabric. No fair lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by K. McEuen

Oooo ... look!

http://www.keepsakequilting.com/prod...rap%20Bags.htm

"Each scrap bag has 12 quarter-yard cuts (three yards) of assorted cottons similar to those shown."

---

Oooh! *bookmarked* I'll be going back to that one later lol Still not quite enough colours for this quilt, but looks perfect for the table runner pattern in the book :D Thanks!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cindyinohio

I made a french braid quilt that had the colors blending. I usually buy yardage.I'll run around the store with all these bolts of fabric in the cart side by side until I'm satisfied...usually an all afternoon adventure.( But I love it 0

---

My LQS isn't big enough to have carts lol I'm thinking yardage from LQS as well because I can buy a half meter, which is 2" bigger than I need, and maybe if I ask nicely they'll square it up a little before they cut it off so then I shouldn't have to lose much to straightening it at home and then I'm only buying 12 meters as opposed to 24 yards. I checked with one local shop (not my usual place but another one) and they have batiks for $17.99 a meter. Don't see that happening lol But I will try with my usual shop, see if they carry them and how many limbs I have to chop off in order to pay for them lol