I thought I would have been able to choose a background from the previous post, but it wasn’t to be. It occurred to me to think about what I wanted. I do want the background to be a player. I don’t want it to just fade into the background, so to speak. I also don’t want it to overshadow the foreground fabrics.
So, I spent some time on Sunday pressing greys and trying different greys with my octagons. It meant that I didn’t sew, but it also meant that I was carefully and deliberately engaging in the process.
![Grey Batik](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4065sm-300x273.jpg)
Above is a batik that I bought at The Granary. It has a bit of blue in it. I thought it wouldn’t work, but I do like it. It gives movement to the background. The dark grey bits remind me of swirling fog.
![Grey Batik](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4066sm-300x216.jpg)
It isn’t directional, which is a bonus. The blue doesn’t show up very well in the photos.
![New Wave](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4063sm-300x291.jpg)
This background goes with the blue flower in the upper left of the photo above. It is from the same line. I may even have bought it at the same time. It is a true background, in the sense of it doesn’t add anything.
![New Wave](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4064sm-300x270.jpg)
Again, has a directionality, but I wouldn’t say it is directional — or the directionality wouldn’t look weird if the pieces were cut different ways.
![Grey Dot](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4061sm-300x278.jpg)
Dots are always a safe bet. This dot is the right size not to interfere with the other dots, even the red ones.
![Grey Dot detail](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4062sm-300x223.jpg)
Not directional.
![Angela Walter fabrics](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4059sm-300x275.jpg)
I am not sure why I bought the amount (2-3 yards) of this. I think I was expecting the color to be a little different. Since I was pressing greys anyway, I decided to press this, but I don’t think it is appropriate for the project.
![Angela Walter fabrics](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4060sm-300x229.jpg)
Very directional. I don’t want to worry about the way I cut so that the lines of dots lined up. I am not sure I would want to worry about that.
![Pearl Bracelets Grey](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4057sm-300x268.jpg)
Lots of movement. If the pearl bracelets don’t interfere with the foreground, then the fabric adds a lot of movement. I would err on the side of this being too busy for the piece, which is a little busy anyway.
![Pearl Bracelets Grey](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4058sm-300x242.jpg)
Not really directional. I only have a yard of this and would have to buy more.
![Ta Dot Grey](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4055sm-292x300.jpg)
I have a boatload of this fabric, because it is a good background and I had the foresight to buy plenty.
![Ta Dot Grey detail](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4056sm-300x206.jpg)
Not directional.
Between the the choices above and the previous choices, I think my favorites are below:
![Grey Batik](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4065sm-300x273.jpg)
![Grey Dot](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4061sm-300x278.jpg)
![P&B Happy Go Lucky Grey](https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PICT4048sm-300x268.jpg)
Of the three above, I think the batik is the most likely. I don’t have enough of the Happy Go Lucky, and can’t get anymore so that doesn’t seem to be a real option.
The grey dot is perfectly fine, but doesn’t really add anything to the piece. If I decide I don’t want to add the movement I discussed above, then that fabric would be a good option.
That leaves the batik.
My SIL commented that I only showed the light blue on one of the backgrounds. This time, I used the same octagons for all the different backgrounds. I did rearrange them, however.
Russian Rubix posts:
- Saturday October 5, 2013: Russian Rubix Backgrounds
- Saturday September 28, 2013: In a Clear Space You Can See Across the Room
- Wednesday September 11, 2013: Chosen Colors
- Thursday August 26, 2013: Russian Rubix Templates
- Susan: Tuesday August 20, 2013: History Quilter Podcast Episode 39
- Monday July, 22, 2013: Russian Rubix
Process is messy.