How Do I Pick Fabric for French Braid?
11-20-2010, 02:31 PM
#13
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I started with one color i liked and then bought a quarter yard of a bunch of colors i thought looked nice with it..i cut them all up at 2 or 2.5" ..i forget..
BUT it was only a baby quilt..!
BUT it was only a baby quilt..!
is this a french braid? not sure.
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11-20-2010, 02:32 PM
#14
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Jackie,
Don't ya just love those French Braid quilts?? I wanted to try one too, so I just went through my stash and pulled out fabrics I thought might look good together. If YOU like the way some fabrics blend together, then whatever colors you use will be perfect. When I decided to make a French Braid quilt, I started with a block (I guess I always have to be different) instead of a long strip. Then I added a braided strip to 2 ends and got a table runner. It's unfinished yet but I enclosed a couple of pictures anyway. Pick colors YOU like and you won't go wrong.
Kip
Don't ya just love those French Braid quilts?? I wanted to try one too, so I just went through my stash and pulled out fabrics I thought might look good together. If YOU like the way some fabrics blend together, then whatever colors you use will be perfect. When I decided to make a French Braid quilt, I started with a block (I guess I always have to be different) instead of a long strip. Then I added a braided strip to 2 ends and got a table runner. It's unfinished yet but I enclosed a couple of pictures anyway. Pick colors YOU like and you won't go wrong.
Kip
My original FB block
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My FB as an unfinished table runner
[ATTACH=CONFIG]130495[/ATTACH]
11-20-2010, 02:35 PM
#15
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Alpena, South Dakota
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Originally Posted by watterstide
I started with one color i liked and then bought a quarter yard of a bunch of colors i thought looked nice with it..i cut them all up at 2 or 2.5" ..i forget..
BUT it was only a baby quilt..!
BUT it was only a baby quilt..!
11-23-2010, 12:23 PM
#16
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Location: North Sioux City, SD
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I don't even have the pattern yet, I keep looking at them online and trying to decide. If I can figure out the fabric issue then maybe I will order the pattern...Did you find one? I don't know if the one on Quilters Cache is what I am looking for..
11-23-2010, 12:24 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by Bluphrog
If looking at fabrics overwhelms you, try looking at paint samples. The strips are free for the taking at any paint store / Home Depot / Lowes. You can find the colors you like, then start looking for fabrics that match your color choices.
Once you purchase a fabric, attach a sample of it to the paint chip and attach a second paint chip to the fabric. That way, you won't purchase two fabrics for one color.
Once you purchase a fabric, attach a sample of it to the paint chip and attach a second paint chip to the fabric. That way, you won't purchase two fabrics for one color.
11-23-2010, 12:25 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by kathy
pick you color scheme, blues ,pinks, greens, whatever try to get 5-6 different hues from light to dark in your color pallet. if you take a picture in b&w it's easier to judge light/dark values. there is also a tool, don't know what it's called but it's red plastic and if you look at the fabric through it, you don't see color, just value. and most workers at the LQS are very helpful with these things, it just takes a bit of courage to ask. We all gotta learn things one at a time so don't ever feel silly for having to ask things.
11-23-2010, 12:27 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by MadQuilter
I'm going to borrow weste's picture as a guideline.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-9438-1.htm
If I were you, I would find the fabric from the large center square. It is generally a multicolor print. From there, you will have some options that should have some contrast. One color from the square will be the center row of little squares. The other will be a lighter color value and when you have that, select some tone on tones that graduate the color.
I think that I would like the wine, browns, tans. I would be making it for my DDI who I have never made anything for.
In my LQS, the ladies are incredibly helpful to lend a helping hand. They make suggestions without being pushy and overbearing.
Do you have any idea which colors you want to use?
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-9438-1.htm
If I were you, I would find the fabric from the large center square. It is generally a multicolor print. From there, you will have some options that should have some contrast. One color from the square will be the center row of little squares. The other will be a lighter color value and when you have that, select some tone on tones that graduate the color.
I think that I would like the wine, browns, tans. I would be making it for my DDI who I have never made anything for.
In my LQS, the ladies are incredibly helpful to lend a helping hand. They make suggestions without being pushy and overbearing.
Do you have any idea which colors you want to use?
11-23-2010, 12:30 PM
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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Originally Posted by Murphy
Not dumb at all. This was my first french braid.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-69914-1.htm
I looked at my middle square and chose three colors I liked. Then I chose a light, medium, dark of each color. Then I varied them as I sewed from light to dark. Their bedroom color was blue (this was a gift) so I picked a light, medium, darker blue for the inbeween square. You can do this; I know how overwhelming LQS can get, but I look upon them as an adventure (smile). Just do one color at a time.
I love your colors. I will try and focus on the middle square first. then go from here. have you been to Rapid City? We like it. Stay warm and thanks for your hints...Blessings
BTW, my office mate is from Rapid City.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-69914-1.htm
I looked at my middle square and chose three colors I liked. Then I chose a light, medium, dark of each color. Then I varied them as I sewed from light to dark. Their bedroom color was blue (this was a gift) so I picked a light, medium, darker blue for the inbeween square. You can do this; I know how overwhelming LQS can get, but I look upon them as an adventure (smile). Just do one color at a time.
I love your colors. I will try and focus on the middle square first. then go from here. have you been to Rapid City? We like it. Stay warm and thanks for your hints...Blessings
BTW, my office mate is from Rapid City.
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