Manly Beginnings

I'm contemplating the start of another quilt.

I really should be cleaning the bathrooms or maybe vacuuming.  Both are desperately needed. The kids are playing so nice together and planning a quilt is so much more FUN.  : )

Have you seen Cara's Manly Quilt?  I love it!  So many people loved it, she's doing a quilt along (she's awesome like that.)

So the plan is to make a quilt for DH.  Shhhh.  Don't you dare tell.  My starting point is his favorite color, maroon.  I love the color combo of the plaid shirt (above) so I grabbed the blue and gray from that.  Now I have my three colors, but how to arrange them?

Slate Manly Quilt

At this point I grab my laptop or a paper and crayons, whichever is closer.  Today, it was my laptop.  I built a quick mock-up in Photoshop and started playing with colors.  I add the colors to my palette to make it easy to refer back to.  Then I use the paint bucket to click around and play.  So easy!  I came up with two versions I like.

Maroon Manly Quilt

I prefer the slate, but I really think DH would like the Maroon.  It is his favorite color after all.  At this point I get out my Kona color chart and pick my fabrics and go shopping.  Cara recommends Simply Solid Fabric and together they are having a giveaway here.

Come and play too!  You can do so much with this pattern.  It doesn't have to be manly.  It's all about the fabric choices.  The blocks are 12" and paper pieced.  I think it's going to come together really quickly.

-A