Basics defined
#1
Junior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: at the foot of the Ouichita Mountains, SE Oklahoma
Posts: 273
Basics defined
What categorizes fabric as a 'basic'? I have no clue. When looking at the online stores basics-section, I don't see what they are using to define a fabric as a basic.
I'm hoping to get some help with this. So far I've just been picking material that follows what's on the pattern-picture as close as I'm able. But I'd like to be able to pick my own. However, when I get to a quilt shop or look online, I become very confused.
My local quilt-shop lady said to 'just pick it like you would when you're picking your clothes'. That didn't seem to help me at all.
Hoping you can help,
Dray - SE Oklahoma
I'm hoping to get some help with this. So far I've just been picking material that follows what's on the pattern-picture as close as I'm able. But I'd like to be able to pick my own. However, when I get to a quilt shop or look online, I become very confused.
My local quilt-shop lady said to 'just pick it like you would when you're picking your clothes'. That didn't seem to help me at all.
Hoping you can help,
Dray - SE Oklahoma
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 12-27-2012 at 06:01 AM.
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,095
In the store where I work, the "basics" are the building blocks of a quilt, the neutrals, the small prints that almost look like solids. These fabrics allow a focus fabric (one with more print or activity in it) to become the main interest in the quilt. Does that help?
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,929
Yes this is what they say at my LQS. Choose a "focus fabric" that you love. Then choose other fabrics to go with. Sometimes you may end up using all the fabrics except the focus. Never heard the term basics. But may be the same as blenders, solids or fabrics that "read" as solids.
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
Yes this is what they say at my LQS. Choose a "focus fabric" that you love. Then choose other fabrics to go with. Sometimes you may end up using all the fabrics except the focus. Never heard the term basics. But may be the same as blenders, solids or fabrics that "read" as solids.
#6
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: at the foot of the Ouichita Mountains, SE Oklahoma
Posts: 273
@ Paulswalia...ok...I get it...I just went back to connecting threads and looked at their Basics fabrics and it was just like you said...neutrals, solids, and fabrics that had tiny dots, stars, etc. Some are also stripes of varying colors but when you 'squint' or view from a distance it would have a dominant color to it. Thanks...that helped a lot.
Thanks also to those saying to pick a focus fabric and choose colors to go with that. I guess that's what my quilt-shop meant when she said to pick like you would your clothes.
Thanks also to those saying to pick a focus fabric and choose colors to go with that. I guess that's what my quilt-shop meant when she said to pick like you would your clothes.
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Here are some basic.....or what I call 'blenders'. They are generally tone-on-tone, with a little 'movement' in the print to make the fabric less 'flat' and more interesting. They 'blend' with lots of focus/theme/inspiration fabrics/
Also neutrals are basics: white, ecru, beige, tan, grays of all kinds, black, pale pastels, etc.
Jan in VA
(Wow, those showed up larger than I realized they would!)
Also neutrals are basics: white, ecru, beige, tan, grays of all kinds, black, pale pastels, etc.
Jan in VA
(Wow, those showed up larger than I realized they would!)
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,538
I look for focus fabric that I love with fairly large scale print. I then look at the colour code dots along the selvage to pick other fabric colours to go with it. You can also look for a collection of fabrics that the fabric store might have all together from a certain designer.
#10
When I look at patterns I think of either who am giving it to or where I want to put it in my house. From there I get an idea of at least 3 colors that I'd like in the quilt. I try to find one fabric that has 2-3 of my colors in it. Then I build the rest of my fabrics off of the first one.
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