testing, testing

Its so nice when something works out just as you'd planned it. And I'm telling you, it doesn't happen often. But occasionally, and idea that you've been carrying around in your head forever just happens to make its way out of your brain and into your hands and then finally gets made and looks just exactly the way you thought it would. And it is so, so satisfying. 

Case in point, this pillow I made the other day.

I've been mulling this idea over in my head for aaaaaages. I kind of love the tv test pattern. I remember it well from my childhood days. My little brother and I would get up early on Saturday morning to watch cartoons, and we'd creep quietly into the living room, so as not to wake my parents (though now that I'm a parent and I reflect on that for a moment I'll bet we were not quiet AT ALL and totally woke my parents up). We'd turn on the TV, and find that there were no cartoons on yet, just the brightly coloured test pattern humming away as the local tv station got ready to start the day. 

Wow. That's how old I am. I can remember a time when there was not constant, 24 hour programming on every channel (even if it was just reruns and infomercials). Ah, the 80's; a time of innocence and wonder indeed.

Anyhow, fond memories of the test pattern have been bouncing around in my head. And if ever there was a patchwork pattern waiting to happen, the test pattern is it. But its funny how it goes when you are very into a certain technique or style of working. I see patchwork everywhere. When I was more into knitting I thought also that the test pattern would make an awesome scarf. But these days I see it as patchwork. I would LOVE to make a full sized quilt version of this, but I'm not quite such a masochist, so I decided to settle for a throw pillow.

Doesn't it just pop! I LOVE these colours. It was quite fun to do, and frankly the hardest part was finding the appropriately coloured solids fabrics. I had a few in my stash, but it did require some rather extensive searching in all my local fabric shops to find just the right shades. I needed three different kinds of black. The whole thing was a bit of an exercise in seeing, which was good for me too, and reminded me of the time I spent working as a fabric designer, having nit picky (and very enjoyable) conversations about different shades and tones. This blue was too grey, and this one was a tiny bit too green, and that yellow just needed to be smokier. You know? Ah, good times.

I worked from the image I found on wikipedia, but did not try to print it out because there's no way that the print out would have matched the screen. I relied on my own (somewhat faulty) colour memory, a whole pile of swatches and the good old hold-it-up-and-squint method. Such fun. Really, I'm not being sarcastic. And I'll tell you that greyish-bluish square in the bottom left hand corner was the hardest to match by far. I had to settle for close. Because really, nice as this cushion is I'm pretty sure that no one will ever use it to calibrate their television screens. 

I'm going to be selling these during the Christmas season, and I think I'll even make up a few tote bags with this pattern as well. I've got my etsy shop up and running again (as you can see on the right there, I've got links to my shop with the new bibs I've listed for sale) and I think I'll probably make a few of these cushion covers to put in there as well. Not the whole pillow mind you, because that'd cost way to much to ship, but I thought ahead and used an easy to find Ikea pillow blank inside it. That way, if you live in South Africa or the Netherlands or Australia and want to buy one of these puppies, you don't have to pay for a great big pillow-filled box, but just a slim little envelope with a folded flat cushion cover in it. Just trying to think ahead. 

Comments

[Alyssa]

I want one!!!! Keep me posted when you sell them on etsy. Alyssa in Montreal :)

[Karen]

Love it! Love it! Love it!

[Dminorsound]

I'd definitely buy 4! I work for a video production house and these would look awesome in our lobby!