errors in thinking

I purchased this fabric from Hawthorne Threads, a fabric shop that I looooooove. Mady, The Happy Homemaker, turned me on to the shop, and I have spent quite a bit of time (and money) there as a result.

However, I'm not sure that I like my most recent aquisition. This isn't the shop's fault--It's entirely my own. I didn't pay attention to the scale of the design, thinking that the daisies were small--about the size of a penny. They're actually more like quarter-sized daisies, and I'm not a fan of the clay-colored background. There's a substantial amount of it (I was thinking of sewing a dress) but I'm unsure about how much I like it. Should I go ahead and sew the dress and hope that I like it enough to wear it?

What would you do?

Comments

[Amy O]

Carolina, thats a great idea! Making swatches would never have occurred to me, but youre right that it becomes more palatable as an accent. Once I draw out the colors I like, the rest wont matter. And I LOVE the idea of a crocheted edge! Of course, Ill finally have to learn how to crochet. But Ive been meaning to do that for ages.

[The Muse of The Day]

Let's see if I can be clear enough in just a few sentences. Put the fabric down on a table, with your colored pencils/ watercolors/crayons make color swatches on individual index cards of ONLY your favorite colors in the fabric that you wish there was more of. I like the turquoise, & the pink. If the yellow is not as flat in real life as it is in the photo I would make a swatch of that too. Now, decide on your pattern. If it is a skirt, see if you can make a center panel with the ugly fabric. Use the swatches to find other coordinating fabrics. If it is an unsurmountable task, then find a very natural fabric and use your fabric as an accent in the pattern. One option I would like to see is that fabric with a crocheted edge pulling out one of my favorite colors.
This would have been so much easier to explain in person. Good luck with it. Carolina

[Amy O]

I think I'll let it sit. After all, I'll have at least two weeks of it being packed away before I have to look at it again. Maybe I'll be inspired. Thanks for the helpful feedback!

[margo]

I think you should put it in your stash and look at it again later; my theory is that there is no such thing as ugly fabric: it's either for a different project or needs to be paired with the right trim or other fabric.

I wouldn't make it into a dress if you don't love it; but hey, it could be CURTAINS! or a zesty set of shopping bags! or part of a comforter for Little Bear! It's cool fabric, I think. . .let it simmer in your stash for a while.

[Rebecca]

I have had the experience of buying fabric I loved, letting it sit, and discovering later that it is, lo and behold, u-g-l-y. I have never "learned to love" fabric about which I was tepid. You just made some lady's day at Goodwill.

However, I think that would make a FAB shirtwaist with chartreuse buttons.