Solids have a solid history in quilt making!
I grew up with generations of quilts around me that were part of my grandmother’s quilt collection acquired from family members. There were many that utilized solids. A few were dramatic Amish type quilts with black backgrounds. But many were much softer, from hand dyed fabrics. There was a soft pink and cream. There was a brown from Walnut hulls made into a drunkards path. There are beautiful Irish chains using a solid white/ivory and either red or yellow for the chain. They are so cheery! There are diagonal four patch arrangements (Field and Furrow is another name) that have alternating plain with print fabrics. The plains are chosen to showcase the print and allow for gradual color variations across the quilt surface. Trip around the world uses them to break up the pattern and make a far more interesting quilt. My personal favorite is a hand stitched sky blue sawtooth star with a white background. The sashing of each star is blue with white cornerstones. It is both delicate and stunning! In short, Solids can be well used and always have been. They also are great for spaces to see the quilting pattern that is used.
‘Yes, I know textured backgrounds with slight variations that “Read” as solids are all the rage. And there are wonderful uses for those, as well. But solids can be used in such a wonderful variety of ways. They always have been.
To each their own, but I love both solids and grunge backgrounds. They can really make a design pop. Planning on doing a Hunter’s Start out of two shades of solids with a white. I saw one and it was exquisite!
Just my two cents!