What I Learned About Painting a Chevron Pattern

Recently I posted  about my frustrating chevron painting project.  Here was my final result after many start overs and re-thinking.  If you missed the post, go here.

HOW I WOULD PAINT A CHEVRON PATTERN IF I EVER ATTEMPTED IT AGAIN

1.   I would never use a circle.  I would paint on a rectangle or a square.

2.   I would decide on a width.  I found that two or three inches is about right for a table top.

3.  Rather than trying to draw the pattern, I would purchase painters' tape in that width.

4.  I would find the center of the table and create the chevron design with my tape across the center.

5.  Next, I would follow the center pattern and place another row of tape against the top of the original chevron pattern and follow that pattern to make a matching touching row.

 

6.  I would continue making rows of touching chevron design until I reached the top edge.

7.  I would do the same thing with tape from the center to the bottom.

8.  The result will be that the entire surface is covered in zig zag.

9.   Next I'd remove every other row of tape.

10.  This is important.  I would press down the edges of the remaining tape so no paint oozes under and use a roller to paint in the untaped area with a contrasting color.

11.  Remove the tape and let me know how yours worked.  

I certainly hope this was easier than the way I did mine.

Kathy

Chevron Table

You know me, I'm always giving my look to everything.  The plain gray table was no exception.  I liked the size and shape, but I decided it needed a chevron pattern and nail head trim.

I needed to find the center of the table top to create the chevron pattern.  I placed a sheet of  paper on the table and made a pattern.  I folded the circle pattern in half and then into half again to divide the table into four equal sections.

 

Center of Table

Divided into Fourths

After I had divided the table top into four equal sections I started measuring for the chevron pattern, using the paper circle as a practice sheet.  I soon realized that this was waaaaay too time consuming.   I did not have the patience to grid it out.

My Practice Sheet

  But then I remembered that I had some chevron fabric.

I placed a piece of the left over paper from my book covering project over the fabric and used a ruler to trace the pattern.  Fast.  My speed.

See the push pin?  I made a hole at the angle with a push pin then placed the pattern on the table and marked the meeting points with a pencil then joined the points with painters' tape.  I also placed small pieces of tape in the areas I wanted to stay gray so I wouldn't accidentally paint them too.

After painting though, I decided that I wanted the chevron design to be narrower.  So, I divided the design in half and painted again!!!!!!!!
Next I added the nail head trim.

I quit.  Here's how it ended up.

Top View

Side View

I like the result, but not the process.


This project took waaaaay too long and this post is getting waaay too long too.
I'm going to do another post about how I would approach this project if-- and I mean if--- I would decide to do it again. Let's just say that I learned a lot with this project.


Look for the new and improved way to paint a chevron pattern in the next few days.
So much easier.

Hey, I just published my efficient way to paint the pattern.  Go here.

Kathy

What have you attempted that was frustrating?
Or, can you share your positive chevron experience?