I’m plugging away on my UFO projects.
Monday I told you that I had more or less put myself on a “no sewing until I clean the sewing room” lock down but sometimes a I have to finish some things to really get the cleaned up. That’s the case with my Santa Fe String Star quilt. I have the center done. I have the borders done. I need to decide what to do for a background.
I decided to pull some fabric and see.
The original pattern calls for a red background. For some reason I was really hesitant about that. I thought a cream colored might be safer…what do you think?
As long as I was laying it all out I thought I might as well grab some other pieces of fabric too.
Here’s what gold looked like.Hubby says no way to that.
Yes Ruby had to join in and be her glamorous self.
Here was blue. It’s a batik. I don’t really have any other batik fabrics in the project but that’s okay, right?
Hubby liked this option so I took a closer up picture too.
I admit to kind of liking the blue….but wait, there’s more options.
This was a dull red.
..and this was the bright red I originally bought.
Me, I like the blue batik or the bright red. How about you? What would you pick for a background? I’m hoping to have this together next week….
You’ll find me right back here next week..the goal is to have this quilt top together AND to have the sewing room clean. Can I do it? I sure hope so.
Good Morning Jo!! Its Wednesday morning already! Seems like just yesterday was Monday, Ha! I like the blue, of course!! Have fun cleaning your sewing room and deciding which fabric to use!!
Hello Jo! I am leaning toward the blue for a background. I am trying to rearrange my sewing room, so I can sympathize with your cleaning. Have a great day!
I like the color red, so I am partial to both of the red fabrics. UGH, it would be a very hard decision, especially with all of the hard work on the star! You want it to be just right! If it is any consolation, my sewing room needs a cleaning too. I sure wish I got as much done as you do.
Love the blue! To me it’s very rich looking and will make your star light up!
The blue – it’s calmer and let’s the star shine. The red is a battle where to look. Also the blue kinda makes it look like the star is floating on water. Good luck.
My first choice would be the blue with the red second.
The blue or either red let the star pop out. The paler colors are mishmash. (no idea if that is a word)
The star and flying geese are so busy, they need a strong background color. The light backgrounds just wash all that string piecing out. I prefer the blue, although I would like it a bit more saturated. I like it marginally better than the red.
I like the blue.
I’m a blue person, I always love blue. However the dull red really makes your star stand out too.
Have only had one sip of that morning Dr Pepper, but loved that blue. The red would be another option. Fold those others and store them for another project.
Mmmmmmm! I think I like the dull red and the blue. The dull red makes it look like an old quilt. I guess that my favorite. The blue is very nice too!
The bright red would be my choice, it makes the pretty star pop!
Dull red
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I like the red or the blue – those two colors really make all those scrappy pieces pop.
I like the dull red.
I like the bright red best, the star stands out better.
Dull red is my choice.
Tough choices…… I like the dull red best, then creamy dots and then the blue……but blue is my favorite color. To me the dull red makes the star pop out the best but then that’s my eyes not yours. ha ha. Good luck on deciding.
Adding another vote for the blue background and heck, yeah, the batik is a okay in my book 😀
i like creamy dots – more modern looking
Bright red and Ruby always makes me smile…such a good dog!
I like the blue, then the dull red, but I know your choice will look great!
I actually like the red best. For me, the blue gets lost against the star and is too busy. I think all your hard work on the strings shows best against the red. It is stunning and I can’t wait to see the end result!!!
I like the dull red best. The blue color is great, but I think the pattern in the blue piece is too busy for the string star.
I think the star really stands out on the blue. And, after all that work in the star it deserves to be shown off. Look forward to seeing what you decide.
I am leaning towards the blue. My second choice would be the red
Do u have any cheddar fabric? I would love to see what that looks like. Otherwise, blue batik.
I am not normally a “red” kind of person, but I love the brighter red. The blue fabric itself is a pretty colour, but the pattern is quite busy. It seems to me it would be competing with the star and your borders for attention. Of course, whatever you choose will be lovely.
I like the dull red, but also like the blue, just think the large print will be too busy in the end.
Bright red!
Blue
I would maybe try black, the blue has too busy of a pattern……..
My 1st choice would be the red and 2nd would be blue. It’s looking great, Jo!
I vote for either of the reds. Agree with others that it really makes the star POP! Once quilted will be gorgeous!
My sewing room is clean for about 5 minutes after I clean it up and get re-organized. Then the chaos is back.
I like the bright red. The solid look of that does not fight with the star as much as the ones with more of a print!
I like the idea of blue and the shade you chose but I think that pattern is too busy this project. What ever you choose, its going to be fabulous!
I like the blue, followed by the bright red.
I agree with Mary Jo about the bright red. At first your eye goes to the brightness of the red, but because it is a plain fabric it make the star (with its many pieces) stand out. Of course now that I look at it again, I am wondering how a dark black fabric in the background would look.
I like the dull red. Blue would be nice also, but I also think it is too busy. More of a solid blue. I am piecing a back for my Celtic Solstice quilt so that I can get it quilted. My neighbor girl is coming over this afternoon to sew on a quilt she is making for her mom. Will maybe start quilting it today.
I am a bright red lover, but NOT for this project. I never liked it on Bonnie’s site either. Just doesn’t go, for me. I like ANY color better than the bright red. I especially like the cream with red dots and the gold. The star is beautiful and I love all the flying geese for the borders.
I like the dull red as it gives it pop while not over powering the star.
Blue all the way JO!! It will look stunning. Can’t wait to see the finished quilt.
I like the blue batik myself. It pops out more colors I think. But I’m a batik freak and have a huge stash of them, so I guess I’m a little biased! No pun intended!
DULL red – DULL RED – DULL RED- DULL RED – DULL RED – DULL RED – :)
I like the polka dots!
I like the dull red or the blue.
I love the bright red, but it looks like the best color people around are telling you blue……
My favorite is the blue. It doesn’t compete with the star like the reds do, and it shows off the star fabrics. Your Hubby is right! (That reminds me of a family dinner years ago, when someone asked the women “What three little words do you most like to hear from your husband?” Aunt Virginia brought down the house with her answer: “You are right.”)
I am going to be the odd ball out (no surprise there!), but in looking at the pictures, I think the star pops off of the gold a bit better than the other ones. I got all the blocks pieces for Garden Party cut out and a Easy as Cake quilt loaded on the frame. I desperately need to clean my sewing room, but I am not sure when that will happen. Headed down after supper to try and make some progress on something.
Dull red! Good luck organizing your sewing room……..just a necessary task.
I think the bright red really makes the colors in the star stand out.
Interesting how people see different things. Right off the bat I did not like the cream or the gold. Also do not like the bright red; I find my eyes seeking out the light fabrics in the star to get away from it. My favorites are the blue and the dull red. The dull red makes it look like it’s already been around for years and my eyes see the circles made by the fabric pieces in the center of the star. With the blue, I see even more circles yet it’s very restful.
i love the bright red. it really brings out the star and the piecing in it. be bold, go bold.
I really like the bright red. It makes the color pop!!!
I like the bright red. It makes the star and the geese pop.
I like the darker colors better, especially like the shade of the blue one, but the print on it seems too busy for me with all that’s going on in the star. I like the dull red better than the bright red, but I’m not a fan of bright res. Whatever you pick, it will be beautiful, I can’t wait to see the top completed.
I like both the gold and the dull red.
I like the blue batik.
Definitely not cream or yellow, I agree with your husband. The blue looks OK but the bright red shows the star up best. After all the work that you put into making the star it deserves to shine, doesn’t it?
Bright red makes all the star fabrics pop!
I would use the blue or bright red for the background. Maybe a “walk on the wild side” with the bright red would be fun. I love Civil War and Kansas Troubles type fabrics, but always enjoy when I sew with brights to change things up a bit.
I’m with your hubby on the blue! The dull red would be a 2nd choice. Thanks for asking!
I like the dull red also. I find the blue too busy and you lose the star.
The blue is my favorite, followed by the creamy dots. I love the stringy star!
Bright red! :)
Have you thought about a border around the star? Thinking lighter fabric like geese background if you use blue and maybe dark border with the red. With a border, it would make the star “pop” on almost any color of fabric. Just thinking…..No matter what you use, it will be and already is a wonderful quilt.
If it’s not too late to comment, dull red would be my choice but whichever you choose I’m sure it’s going to look great.