Dancing Eyes

 
I received an interesting comment last week from Peski Patti (no blog).  I would be so interested to see if you agree with her or not.   Let's get a dialog going as to our preferences.   I will quote her comment here: 

"One thing I don't care for in a quilt is a block or two that make my eyes 'brake'. It is usually a darker block than the rest. My eyes like to roll over the quilt with no interuptions."

I have always been in the habit of making sure that I include those "brakes" to the eyes in my quilt tops.  I love the effect of "dancing eyes", where your eyes roam from one seemingly discordant block to the next.  In my Neptune quilt above, don't your eyes seek out the blocks that contain the navy blue?  See, I like that effect.  I think it makes the quilt top actually interactive with the viewer.  The person studying the quilt is forced to become more engaged with the design, in my opinion.  You just can't help looking for those odd ball blocks.

So what do you prefer?  Do you like it when your eyes are soothed by the uniformity of color and value in a quilt top, or do you like the "dancing eyes" effect?

Thank you Patti, for giving me something to think about!

Comments

[Linda]

First off, I love 'dancing eyes'. It is just gorgeous. And yes, I think making eye rest does force you to look deeper into the design. I like that. I also think there are some instances where you really just want that soothing flow thing going on in a quilt. So my vote is, it depends on the quilt and its use and where you are going with it. (Is that a wishy washy opinion?!?)

[tracey petersen]

I love a little of the unexpected - some thing not quite symmetrical or something that looks a bit messy. Control and order seems more unnatural to my eye.

I also like this quilt top, a lot!

[Penny]

I think it depends on the quilt and how the brake is done. If it is a subtle brake, I love it. A jarring one is something else. YOUR quilt is wonderful.

[Cindy]

I love to include blocks that catch your eye. In fact, I love one or three really oddball blocks. I think it makes you stop and look at the quilt a little closer.

[Peggy Nordentoft]

What happened to your Beach Cottage quilt? I'm anxious to see a photo of it!

[Nancy, Near Philadelphia]

I'm with you. But I think Pesky is right if there are only one or two brake blocks. I like your quilt top very much and especially like the brakes.

[Pam]

I think it totally depends on the quilt. Necessary in this one - would be flat without it. Would have ruined Elizabeth that you just sent off. Both are beautiful and done just right. The pattern and fabrics tell you punch or blend...

[Cara]

I have feelings both ways...I think it just depends on the quilt. If there is enough breaks that it is even I love it, but if it starts looking like only a handful of blocks they just seem to stick out to me.
So I guess I don't fall either way lol.

[Chris]

I definitely like the Dancing Eyes effect. I want my eyes to travel over a quilt and I think those darker blocks or the ones with less contrast make your eyes travel around the quilt. Makes a much more interesting quilt. Love that fabric too!

[Donna Coulter]

I think that's what is so great about quilting. You can have it anyway you want!! I happen to like those quilts that have your eyes dancing from one block to the next but I agree there are some quilts that are wonderful without it. I tend to gravitate toward scrappy quilts so my eyes are using dancing up a storm!!

[Sandi]

I prefer quilts that make your eyes move across them. Perfectly planned, smooth, placid quilts are boring. However, I'm not fond of quilts that have too much activity - quilts also need to give the eye a place to rest with some "white" space - a solid of any color, or larger expanses of a less busy print. This quilt (are you going to call it Dancing Eyes now? - that would be a great name!) is one of my favorites.

[Sandi]

Oops - I should add, the dancing eye blocks require very careful placement so they DO make your eyes move across the quilt and not get stuck in one spot. It requires laying out the blocks and stepping back to see the whole effect. I find that it works best to take a picture of the quilt and look at it in a smaller format.

[CarlaH]

I like the dancing eyes effect on your Neptune quilt because you have also used the dark tones in other blocks. It there are only a couple of totally different blocks I find it too jarring - I guess I am very traditionalist. I would also like to see where you are at with Beach Cottage.

[Carol]

I think the breaks add interest to the quilt. Joanna at Fig Tree Quilts says for quilts do 90% of your fabric line and 10% of something totally different to give it good contrast and interest.

[Allyson in Alaska]

I don't think the darker blocks makes your eyes brake. Rather, it gives them a place to rest. That's what keeps it from being a blended quilt. I think it would be boring otherwise.

[Amber]

I like bits of dancing blocks but if there are only one or two then it's too jarring and the blocks look out of place. Your neptune quilt has the right amount and they're placed just right. I think if you don't have the dancin block it can look too blah and even tone.

[Pesky Patti]

Hey Nicole...I like this pattern. No sudden stop, just an occasional tapping of the brakes to make sure I got a good look at it!!!

[Helen in Switzerland]

I think she's right - but with the proviso that brakes can be a good thing too. (Diplomacy, diplomacy - everybody is right....!) Actually when I looked at your blocks the other day when you first showed us them the one that disturbed me was the pink with dark blue on the 'outside' - those dark blue outsides still don't sit right with me - and now there are 4 of them. The dark blue dominates anyway, but when it's in the inside section it works as a positive brake. The dark outer triangles are too much for me I'm afraid. Does that make sense? Sorry if i just wrote gobbledygook!
Otherwise it's lovely!!!

[Sherry]

I would be more on the "dancing eyes" effect --- especially since I love scrappy quilts.

When there is too much "blendy" in a quilt it doesn't draw my attention as much as a quilt that has alot of contrast.

Of course, having said that I must add that too much of a "good" thing can become very bad, very quickly.

I love your quilt top.

[erica]

This is a stunning quilt. And yes, I like interesting blocks that make your eyes skip around searching for all the interesting bits. To me, personally, that's what makes a for a good quilt design. We aren't making just plain blankets here. If our goal is for something comfortable that our eyes can just skim over, why go to all the trouble of cutting up different fabrics. Just put some batting between two pieces of fabric and be done with it. I'm not saying anything against that. I love a good comforter and sometimes think that works better if you are designing a bedroom as a whole. But If your goal is to have a well designed quilt it should be interesting to look at and give your eyes something to do. But of course, that's my opinion. And in quilting there is room for lots of different opinions. That's what makes it such a great hobby.

[Jean]

Remember all those lovely Sharon Yenter Blended quilts? Soft, soothing, restful. Then there are the quilts with "brakes". Dynamic, interesting, fun. Just like with people, there is room for both personalities.

[Anita]

Dancing eyes!

[Patty]

I like the "brakes". Last year I tried to make a quilt that wasn't high contrast but just couldn't stand it. It just didn't look right to me so I replaced a couple of the blocks with ones that had more contrast. Love the quilt now. I can appreciate blended, low contrast quilts but like batiks, they aren't my favorites. Glad there are lots of choices in fabric out there. Enough for all of us.

[Trish]

Your quilt is visually very pleasing. The navy blue makes it "pop". What pattern is that you are using? Beautifully done!
Trish www.quilttalesandcattails.com

[Deitra Mixer]

I think both effects have their own merits, and it depends on the design, and the intended purpose of the quilt. I tend to agree with you, that contrasting blocks make your eyes "dance." But that is sort of my preference in a lot of areas. My whole house is done with eclectic found objects and a "nothing matches but everything goes" look, and I like that in a quilt, too. :)