Friday, June 25, 2010

My cheater print.

- fat quarter -

I just finished a digital fabric design which I'm planning to enter in Spoonflower's contest next week. I'm not new to fabric design, but I am new to digital printing. The fabrics I design for work are screen printed in China on huge rotary drum printers. I have to pay close attention to repeat dimensions, screen registration, color separations, and lots of other fun technical stuff. With digital printing, much of the technical stuff is irrelevant. You still need a nice repeat, but you aren't locked into the size of the rotary drum and there are no screens which means colors are almost limitless.

- detail -

Anyway, when I saw that Spoonflower's contest next week is cheater prints, I figured this was a great time for me to try out Spoonflower's service. This cheater print serves two purposes. One, I think it's adorable and I would love to make a quilt out of this fabric. Two, those squares are 2.5". So, each fat quarter yields 56 unique prints. Yes, that's 56 one inch hexagons with no repeats!

-detail-

If you are thinking I was inspired by my favorite fabric collection, you guessed right. I hope it isn't too literal. I wanted to keep the scale small and tight to make for cute hexagons. I ordered a FQ of this fabric so as soon as I receive it, I'll let you know how it turned out. Sorry for the watermark, but I'm just trying to keep what's mine, mine. I'd love to hear what you think! I'm sure I'll be begging for your vote on Spoonflower next week. ;-)

42 comments:

Mary Grace McNamara said...

You've got my vote! I love cheater prints and this one is fabulous!

MGM

K-G Knitter said...

I LOVE IT! The colors you chose are so lush, and I love the print. Should you decide to sell it, please let us know. I, for one, am now totally in need of some of your yummy design! :)

Unknown said...

If its going up for sale I would sooooo buy it!!! It's great!

Unknown said...

i lOVE it!!! and may even pay the high spoonflower price to sample some!! great job!! :)

trish said...

I absolutely love it!! I have never seen a cheater print (only on your blog-when you posted the Japanese fabric). Will you be designing fabric for such a thing? Sorry for my ignorance, I am a bit new to this. :o) Love love love the colors and patterns in your post!!
Sincerely ~ Tricia

Jamie said...

Very cool - and a great way to get some more unique hexagons!

DianeY said...

You won't have to beg for my vote! This is perfect! Absolutely adore the colors & all the designs

kelly lautenbach said...

I would SO TOTALLY BUY this! :) Love it!

craftyjemima said...

Beautiful - I'm almost having palpatations thinking about all those hexagons!!

Nerys x

Corinnea said...

Ahhhh, very cool. It has the "flavor" of a line I love but not so literal as to encroach! I would totally buy it even though I have promised myself to stick to my or others scraps..... wow, this is good enough to break a promsie for! I'll vote for you for sure!

Megan said...

All I can say is I want some!

Wendy said...

Beautiful!!! Love it!!! Want it!!!

Jodi said...

Excuse my ignorance, and I understand if you don't have time to answer, but I'm new to quilting - have been reading this term "cheater print" and I'm not sure what it is! Please clarify - maybe I'm not alone in my wonderingness. It is beautiful, that's for sure!

Melanie said...

Hi, Jodi! A cheater print is one fabric that looks like it is made of several fabrics sewn together. They are called "cheater prints" because you could just quilt it (or tie it, etc.) and it might look like you sewed multiple fabrics together, which would be "cheating". They were quite popular in the 70's.

Melanie

Live a Colorful Life said...

You have my vote because I would definitely order this fabric. The colors and designs are just perfect. And since I am recently hooked on 1 inch hexes thanks to you, it is only fitting that I would make some out of this great fabric if it were available!

Rachel said...

That's gorgeous, I've never bought from spoonflower but I'd buy that.
- from someone with a small stash but a desire to make a scrappy hex quilt :)

Anonymous said...

Well done! That's a great design and I love the colors. Can't wait to see the printed fabric.

Unknown said...

It is just absolutely gorgeous!! You did a fantastic job with it. The color and design are fabulous. You can count on my vote.

In Awe of Applique said...

It's beautiful and fresh and very modern...I love it!!

Deb said...

I think that it's great fabric - fun and colorful - and would make excellent hexagons!! You'll have my vote.

sjr585 said...

love it!!

Stephanie said...

I LOVE this!!! Great job.

pinsandneedles said...

Love, love, love it! I would buy it! You would have my vote. So inspiring!

Jodi Ingram said...

Adorable!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Anonymous said...

This is wonderful, it would definitely get my vote :-)

Val Miller said...

I'll vote for ya!!! Just let me know when and I will be there. Really cute cheater - that I would totally buy - who wouldn't vote for that!!

sojournerdiaries said...

I LOVE IT! I would especially love some of those on their own. Would we recognize any of your other prints?

Valentina said...

Melanie! Can we order a FQ off you? I LOVE it and will definitely send a vote your way!
How adorable!

Jen BK said...

A-Dorable!!! I'll be happy to vote next week.

Anonymous said...

Love it! I would vote for it and buy it!

Annette said...

Love your cheater print! I'd so purchase this!

Christina said...

So cute! I'll definitely be voting for you!

AnnieO said...

The colors and scale are terrific! Clever you, designing for yourself AND for the hexie fans everywhere.

Little Miss Shabby said...

I want some! =) This is fabulous--you'll have my vote. I hope that you decide to sell some of this goodness! And defintely not too close to the original--just close enough to be fab!

moreygirl said...

You have my vote too! When can I get some for myself?!

Angela Nash said...

I absolutely love it!! The idea of custom cheater prints for your hexagon making is wonderful!

Sunshine Girl said...

I love this!! I can't wait to see it printed. You have my vote!!! We need to get together soon for fabric shopping and tacos. I have been itching to buy some fabric!

Sherri said...

I think this is my favorite cheater fabric ever. Please let us know when we can vote!

Sharon M said...

I would vote for and buy your fabric. I might even start doing those little hexies! I finished 1600 yo-yo's for my neice's wedding quilt in three months but that was in March so maybe I'm ready for the hexies now. Let us know when to vote.
Sharon M artwarelv@embarqmail.com

Rohaise said...

It's a great print - I'd love to buy it from Spoonflower! In the meantime I'll definitely vote.

Sarah said...

It's gorgeous! I will go and vote right now!

trooppetrie said...

I am new to quilting and you make it look so easy, thanks