QuiltingGuide.info


Choosing Fabric for Quilting

Selecting the right fabric for the type of quilt you are making is very important.
Color choice is also very important because the right combination will you’re your
quilt shine, while the wrong or dull color will make your quilt ugly. The color and
the quality of the fabric must go hand in hand.

Color Selection Tips

Read the following properties of color:

1. Hue- the shade of a color like red, blue, etc.

2. Value refers the darkness or lightness of a color. It is perfect for making depth
in a block. You can make an illusion of depth and movement by applying red
against a slightly darker or lighter red.

3. Intensity refers to the brightness or dullness of a color. Primary colors - red,
yellow and blue - are high intensity. Dull colors like red-violet, blue-violet, and
red-orange have low intensity.

Quilters should consider the visual temperature also. A warm color like yellow,
orange and red will either advance a block, or make it seem like it’s moving
towards you. On the other hand, cool colors like blue and violet appear to retreat
back into a quilt block.

Use a color wheel when choosing colors. It will help you choose a good color
scheme.

Color wheels show the following three categories of colors:

Primary Colors- Red, blue and yellow are known as primary colors because
they can create all the remaining colors through mixing.

Secondary Colors- They are created by intermixing two primary colors. E.g.
green, orange, and violet. Every secondary color on the color wheel is made up
of two primary colors.

Tertiary or intermediate colors- They are created by mixing a secondary color
with a primary color. Blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green and yellow-orange are
examples.

A color wheel will allow you to measure the harmonization of colors, and will
show you any complementary colors.

Colors like blue and orange and red and green are complementary to each other.
Color complements are color opposites.

Color Scheme

You can decide what color scheme you want to use in your quilt by using the
color wheel. Look at the following color schemes:

Monochromatic uses only one color, in varying shades. Below is a
monochromatic quilt in reds

Neutral is a combination of black, white, and gray only.

Analogous- You will use three to five colors that sit side by side on the color
wheel like yellow, orange, and red.
Split Complement- Select a main color, and go directly across the color wheel
to find the complementary color. Once you find the complementary color, split it
to get the two component colors that make it. E.g. red-orange is a main color and
blue-green is the complementary color to it. Here, the color will be blue, green
and red-orange.

Fabric Selection

It’s you who will make the quilt. Your judgment regarding the selection of fabric
for the quilt will remain paramount. First of all, select the focus fabric. This is the
most important fabric and the other fabrics will work around it. Check yourself by
combining different colors till you find the perfect combination. Ask others for
their opinions, as well.

Tips for selecting fabrics:

     •   Use only pure cotton because it makes for smoother work, and unlike
         polyester and cotton blends, it does not wrinkle very much after being
         washed.

     •   Outline the real quilt block pieces on a piece of Bristol board. Cut it, but
         make sure that it does not include seam allowances. This piece of Bristol
         board with the cut outs will be your viewing window while going to the
         fabric store. You should hold this Bristol board template up to fabrics to
         see how they will appear.

    •    Keep your theme in mind while going shopping.

    •    Try to have a variety of fabric in different prints.

    •    Bright colors look amazing in quilts.

    •    Search for a multi-colored fabric you like and select other fabrics in
         colors from that fabric. You will not have to use that piece, but still the
         colors may look great together.

    •    Try a color combination you wouldn’t normally use. Who knows what
         miracle may come out!

    •    You also can make a sample block if you are confused in fabric choices.

    •    Finally, it’s your quilt. So go with your gut. Use all of your creativity.

Fabric