Project Simplify - Day 51
August 10, 2011 I have this thing (yes, another quilting foible) where I like directional prints to be going the same way (usually, not always ... I'm getting better about this).
See what I mean? This kinda drives me a little nuts. It just looks ... wrong.
Ahhh, this is soooo much better!
Mixed up directions used to ALWAYS bother me (please note that they only seem to bother me on MY OWN quilts. For some reason, they don't have the same effect on me if I didn't make the quilt - go figure).
But when my love affair with Japanese quilt books & magazines started, I noticed that Japanese quilters didn't seem to pay attention at all to that sort if thing. They are interested letting direction just happen naturally (randomly) to create movement & tension and visual interest. They don't seem to get all uptight about the "matchy matchy poo poo" stuff!
So now I try to not let it bother me as much. There were a few stripes in the last quilt and I deliberately ignored them and let the laws of randomness rule.
But for this quilt, I kinda want everything to line up. So I'm gonna make them. Because I can. ;)
Do you care about print direction in your quilts?
Project Simplify 
Reader Comments (15)
That used to bother me too - so I understand. Then I started mixing plaids and prints and life was never the same - broke one rule and it all went downhill from there. Actually, life is much more interesting now! :0)
I care too much! But, look how much better it looks-seriously! Most times I will not buy directional fabric-esp. for the border :/
I'm with you on this one - I like my prints to go in the same direction!
I have no idea but I could leave a comment the last two times. So first you have a wonderful little daughter the best first blogger ever! Second I love your new FWQAW blocks! And third I totally agree with you about the prints. If it's the 'wrong' direction I always wanna redo it but honerstly sometimes I'm too lazy for it;-)
Hildy
Well I'm not a quilter but I could never let things go in different directions, no way!!!
Vivienne x
I think it's part of being a quilter...we like putting things together....properly! HAHA!
You go girl! I'm with you! ;0
Absolutely. My hubby tells me I have Sewing OCD because I will fuss with fabrics till they are all the right direction and no two same fabric pieces touch... That's why I come here. Affirmation. lol
Hi, I am same with you. But find sometimes breaking the rule is fun too!
I also bought buttercup jelly roll and 1/8 bunddle, so can't wait to see how will this quilt looks!
Linda from Australia
I am "matchy matchy poo poo" all the way!
I care deeply. Directional prints must MUST go in the same direction or I have fits.
Yep - I like mine all in the same direction too. Do you think we're all just a big bunch of control freaks LOL???
I thought I was the only one who was crazy like that. Actually, maybe we are the normal ones and everyone else is crazy.
Yep, I'm just reading this entry two months late. And I can totally relate to this! It bugs me when my directionals don't match, but I'm sure that my seam ripper likes it. I'm trying to not be so controlling over this, but still... and how about animal and people prints with their heads or arms chopped off?!
Direction in a quilt block? I care about direction in the fabric itself! So many tossed prints (and especially the Japanese ones) have things all upside down and sideways. Upside down trees or cats is very disconcerting (for me, probably also for the cats). I like prints where all the recognisable elements are the right way up.
this is a good reason to use polka dots. they are never the wrong way up and you don't accidentally cut the head off something at the edges.
PS, I don't actually make quilts... but I use a LOT of quilt cotton for other stuff. and sometimes my other stuff is quilted.