Modifying a Block

I happened across the work Janet in Colorado did on this little block and I thought she did some clever things that I wanted to point out...

This is a very busy block and most any seam treatment you do on the lower left is going be overpowered by the prints.

Janet chose to solve that by simply covering the area with a lovely lace. Next to it she added a "path" of gimp which echos the curvy lines at the top right. The path soften the pansy patch but still lets a few pansies show... She added a pansy and more pink to the lace... then the soft ferny seam carries the eye right to the exquisite pink and white lacy seam which brings your eye back down and perfectly frames the lovely bird.

All in all the addition of the lace and the lacy seam treatment give the block a very romantic look... Nicely done Janet!!!

There are lots of ways of modifying blocks and I will add them as I run across them. Sometimes just placement of a motif or putting something strong next to something you want to be less important can make a great difference.

Although I greatly prefer what Janet has done, another option would have been to divide and conquer. You could run a wide ribbon (rick rack or braid) clear across the pansy patch and the curvy patch. The curvy patch is cut in two and looses some of it's impact.

By then embellishing the ribbon etc. it will become the strong focal point in that corner replacing the need for additional seam treatment on the busy patches.. There are many times that modifying a block is just exactly what it needs...