A parte mais fundamental na execução de um quilt está na escolha dos tecidos. Em primeiro lugar, convém seleccionar tecidos da mesma categoria, ou seja, só tecidos de algodão, só sedas, só fazendas ou só flanelas. Isto não só dá coesão ao quilt, como facilita em termos de lavagens e de resistência das fibras e das costuras. Depois, há que pensar no fim a que o quilt se destina. É para um bebé? Como vai ser o seu quarto? Os pais gostam de interiores tradicionais ou modernos? É para um homem de 60 anos? Para uma rapariga cheia de vivacidade? Ou para um casal que adora viajar?
Seguem-se as cores e os padrões. Se tiverem interesse em ler um pouco sobre a roda das cores, este artigo e este artigo podem ajudar. Ou então podem fazer como eu e confiar nos vossos instintos. Em relação aos padrões, o ideal é atingir um equilíbrio entre padrões grandes, médios e pequenos. Eu gosto de misturar estampados figurativos (flores, bonecos) com motivos gráficos, de preferência monocromáticos (riscas, pintas, quadrados). Mais uma vez, faço aquilo que sinto que resulta. Isto não pretende ser uma lição — estou apenas a contar-vos como o meu processo de escolha funciona.
As fotografias que mostro hoje são um exercício: imaginei que iria fazer um quilt para uma cama de grades e escolhi combinações de tecidos em função de situações imaginárias: para raparigas, há os incontornáveis cor-de-rosa e azul-claro, mas também verde e violeta; para rapazes, tentei evitar flores e escolhi motivos gráficos em azul e verde; para pais convencionais, as clássicas cores pastel; para pais que não têm medo da cor, encarnado, amarelo e cor-de-laranja; para pais alternativos, tons de cinzento, mostarda, verde-água e verde-azeitona.
Feita a selecção dos tecidos, há que começar a cortar e a construir o quilt!
The most important part when you're making a quilt is choosing the fabrics. For starters, you must remember to stick to fabrics that have the same weight, i.e., quilting cottons, silks, wools, flannels. Avoiding mixing different weights gives the quilt coherence and helps with future washings and the way fibers and seams will wear out. Then you have to think about who/what/where the quilt is for. Is it for a baby? What will the nursery look like? Do the parents prefer traditional or modern interiors? Is it for a 60-year-old man? For a very lively girl? Or maybe for a couple who loves traveling?
Then colours and patterns come into play. If you're interested in reading about the colour wheel, this post and this post are helpful. Or you can do as me and just trust your instincts. As for patterns, the best is to achieve a good balance of figurative prints (flowers, novelty) and graphic motifs, preferably monochromatic ones (stripes, spots and gingham). Again, I do whatever feels right. This isn't suppose to be a lesson — I'm just telling you how my process works.
The pictures I'm showing today are a kind of exercise: assuming I was going to make a cot/crib quilt, I picked fabric combinations with imaginary people in mind: for girls there are the imperative pinks and light blues, but also greens and violets; for boys I tried to stay away from flowers and went for graphic prints in blues and greens; for traditional parents I picked the classic pastel colours; for parents who aren't afraid of colour there are reds, yellows and oranges; for alternative parents I chose shades of grey, mustard, mint and olive green.
Once you've got your fabrics selected, it's time to start cutting and putting the quilt together!
Feita a selecção dos tecidos, há que começar a cortar e a construir o quilt!
The most important part when you're making a quilt is choosing the fabrics. For starters, you must remember to stick to fabrics that have the same weight, i.e., quilting cottons, silks, wools, flannels. Avoiding mixing different weights gives the quilt coherence and helps with future washings and the way fibers and seams will wear out. Then you have to think about who/what/where the quilt is for. Is it for a baby? What will the nursery look like? Do the parents prefer traditional or modern interiors? Is it for a 60-year-old man? For a very lively girl? Or maybe for a couple who loves traveling?
Then colours and patterns come into play. If you're interested in reading about the colour wheel, this post and this post are helpful. Or you can do as me and just trust your instincts. As for patterns, the best is to achieve a good balance of figurative prints (flowers, novelty) and graphic motifs, preferably monochromatic ones (stripes, spots and gingham). Again, I do whatever feels right. This isn't suppose to be a lesson — I'm just telling you how my process works.
The pictures I'm showing today are a kind of exercise: assuming I was going to make a cot/crib quilt, I picked fabric combinations with imaginary people in mind: for girls there are the imperative pinks and light blues, but also greens and violets; for boys I tried to stay away from flowers and went for graphic prints in blues and greens; for traditional parents I picked the classic pastel colours; for parents who aren't afraid of colour there are reds, yellows and oranges; for alternative parents I chose shades of grey, mustard, mint and olive green.
Once you've got your fabrics selected, it's time to start cutting and putting the quilt together!
(photos: Constança Cabral)
