Jelly Roll Race Background

Jelly Roll Diamonds on Ta Dot Grey
Jelly Roll Diamonds on Ta Dot Grey

I have been hard at work figuring out what to do with the Jelly Roll Race background. I tried the Ta Dot Grey as someone suggested.

I love that fabric, but think it fights with the fabrics in the actual diamonds. Not a good fit.

I don’t have enough of any one pale grey solid to make the sashing and I don’t want to go out and buy more fabric. (really, I just don’t want to go out) Also, grey is very hip and chic right now and I don’t want this quilt to be easily identifiable as being made in 2012. Kind of like 1980s hair. I want to avoid that look.

SherriD's backgrounds
SherriD's backgrounds

SherriD, the ever helpful did some Photoshop magic to show the contrast between chocolate, black and white backgrounds. This is a good example of another way to “make visual decisions visually.” The darker colors do make the diamonds glow a bit. When I saw this rendition, I thought about the black. I pulled out some black from Pat Bravo’s Art Gallery/Pure Elements solids and laid out some diamonds on that to get a better view.

Diamonds on black
Diamonds on black

I wasn’t that excited when I saw the effect.It isn’t horrible or anything, but not the look I am going for.

I decided on white. I am using the Pat Bravo Pure Elements Linen. If you haven’t tried Pat Bravo’s solids, they have a gorgeous hand to them. They feel very silky, but with the stability of cotton. Lovely fabrics.

I cut some 1.5″ strips and worked a bit on sewing them together on Friday. Check back for more details on that process.