Choosing colors for the mariner's compass

[Lori]

I've just gotten started on this project and have finished the first set of small buildings from stash, primarily Alison Glass fabrics that I had been reluctant to cut into. Now that I am at the Mariner's Compass stage, I am wondering what colors to choose! Any tips for choosing fabrics? For those of you working from stash, did you repeat the colors and fabrics from the buildings? My background fabric is a near solid.

[Barbara B.]

Look at all the photos that have been posted so far. My favorites use a variety of fabrics for the compass points, some even use a variety for the background. These choices didn’t occur to me so it is fun to see what others have done.

use Search The Forum box on the left to find many posts featuring Mariners Compass photos.

[Lori]

Thanks, Barbara, that's what I have been doing. There really are some amazingly creative blocks!

[BleuRose]

I had joined in at the beginning but found the compass to be too challenging so I stopped. It's basically a mess due to the computer paper I used. I think it may be easier for me to use vellum on this project. I don't know, but I want to run this by you first to see what you think is best.

[Helen W.]

I had joined in at the beginning but found the compass to be too challenging so I stopped. It's basically a mess due to the computer paper I used. I think it may be easier for me to use vellum on this project. I don't know, but I want to run this by you first to see what you think is best.

BleuRose, If you watch the videos, they are doing the foundation paper piecing using freezer paper, not copy paper. If you know
how to foundation paper piece already, I love using vellum. You can see thru it and then stitch on the line. Don't just stitch beside
the line line using freezer paper. Were you stitching on the computer paper lines, or were you trying to stitch beside the paper like
the freezer paper method. Was it the way you positioned your fabric that messed it up? If you are having trouble putting the
fabric is the correct alignment, you can alway go to a basting stitch and that will let you rip it out easily if it is in correct. If it is correct then just shorten down your stitches to about 1.5 length and stitch right over the top of the basting. HelenW

[Helen W.]

I had joined in at the beginning but found the compass to be too challenging so I stopped. It's basically a mess due to the computer paper I used. I think it may be easier for me to use vellum on this project. I don't know, but I want to run this by you first to see what you think is best.

Blue Rose, Don't let the mariner compass get the better of you. If you try again, and it just does not work, just try a different
method. You could take a piece of background fabric bigger than the mariner compass, draw a circle on it the finished size of the circle, use the printed pattern, cut off the seam allowance of each piece. use it as a template to do raw edge applique with
fusible on the back. Fuse it in place and edge stitch it. That is how I did my 60% size in flannel for the mariner compass. HelenW

[Sharon E.]

Just Beautiful

[BleuRose]

Thank you Helen W. for your ideas!