How to choose fabric for a pattern...
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Central NM
Posts: 1,573
How to choose fabric for a pattern...
I have no idea how to do this. Don't want to use my bundles. Try to use up wayward fat quarters. Can some one come over a kit my fabric? Do I choose lights med and dark in one color way? Mix them all up? I just have too many choices on my cutting table and have no idea where to start. Thought if I had a Margareta it would clear the confusion.....NOPE!
Trying to make a pinwheel 36 x whatever.
Trying to make a pinwheel 36 x whatever.
Last edited by Julienm1; 08-23-2021 at 01:16 PM.
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,559
rainbow colored quilts are popular right now. Make individual pinwheels of one color and arrange them based on what flow of colors you like. Example: If you have tons of green fabric, make tons of green pinwheels and let the colors flow gradation-wise. That would be an easy way to use up your leftover choices. Have another Margarita and my description might make sense.
#3
Here is where I look for inspiration
https://colorpalettes.net/
I also pull fabric that has colors I like and use that to pull colors together. I have color wheels as well to help with my indecisiveness. Find pictures and use them as inspiration, get paint chips from paint stores, Lowes etc as they often have coordinated colors. I feel your pain, I struggle with color choices!
https://colorpalettes.net/
I also pull fabric that has colors I like and use that to pull colors together. I have color wheels as well to help with my indecisiveness. Find pictures and use them as inspiration, get paint chips from paint stores, Lowes etc as they often have coordinated colors. I feel your pain, I struggle with color choices!
Last edited by tallchick; 08-23-2021 at 02:19 PM.
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 148
The paint chips idea is a very good idea. I have used that when stuck or to try to come up with a color scheme completely out of my comfort zone. Also using a favorite picture or painting and using colors from it. I also just pull fabrics and play with them. Sometimes I just search Pinterest for, say, “ blue and cream quilts’ to get an idea of what it looks like. A quilter who owned a fabric store once told me that gray goes with everything and that she often used it as a neutral to pull other colors together. Whatever you do, have fun with it! Best wishes on this endeavor. It truly can take time.
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,578
Back in the days of quilt classes, I remember a teacher had use choose a focal fabric we like.....then we chose the addition color fabric using those little dots on the selvage. Background could be light or dark depending on other colors..
Hope this give you another idea. This even works if you decide not to use the original focal fabric, as you probably chose that fabric because your like the colors in it.
really kind of fun.
Judy in Phx, AZ
Hope this give you another idea. This even works if you decide not to use the original focal fabric, as you probably chose that fabric because your like the colors in it.
really kind of fun.
Judy in Phx, AZ
#8
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,659
Make sure you take into account the values (pale through deep shades of a color) of colors. You can use the pattern sample as a guide. Choose your colors but you can be guided by the value with what the sample does. Or you can always reverse the light and darks in the sample. We tend to pick out vivid deep or medium tones neglecting the lights. You usually need all three to make the quilt interesting.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,635
thanks for color palette link...good to know!
Here is where I look for inspiration
https://colorpalettes.net/
I also pull fabric that has colors I like and use that to pull colors together. I have color wheels as well to help with my indecisiveness. Find pictures and use them as inspiration, get paint chips from paint stores, Lowes etc as they often have coordinated colors. I feel your pain, I struggle with color choices!
https://colorpalettes.net/
I also pull fabric that has colors I like and use that to pull colors together. I have color wheels as well to help with my indecisiveness. Find pictures and use them as inspiration, get paint chips from paint stores, Lowes etc as they often have coordinated colors. I feel your pain, I struggle with color choices!
I have used a fabric print I like to create a color palette. The work is already done for you. The designer has chosen the colors that work well together.