mkc

I go through quite a bit of white for backgrounds, but not true solids for blocks. I've found myself gravitating to a more "contemporary" aesthetic over the years, though, which has me using lower and lower volume prints. Lately I seem to be addicted to ombres, which are kind of "solids with movement". I love how they give pieced blocks almost a three-dimensional quality.

joe'smom

I don't usually mix solids with printed fabric in a quilt. I think I would be more inclined to do a whole quilt in solids than to mix solids with prints.

Iceblossom

I forgot to mention in my previous post that I typically do not use solids as random "scrappy" fabric. Is hard to explain, but the solid pieces next to the busy prints make a empty spot. I certainly will use solids with scraps but they are two different categories for me.

I will use solids in my more planned projects. Am using one now for my Froggy Beach. I bought an entire bolt of "Olfa Green" solid at the thrift store for $15 -- so now I need to find ways to use it! So here I have an actual solid, a reads as solid and a busy print for what probably should have been a solid...

SallyS

That Roman Stripe Amish pattern is one that's been in my mind for many years, since visiting Amish communities in Illinois. The one solid I have is black and that's how I've been visualizing it. I've been carried away with art quilts, but am getting back to the pleasure of semi-traditional quilting now. Thanks for the reminder, Iceblossom!

I order from Quilting Twins a little too often, mostly batiks and blenders and maybe now I have to have that burlap pack. Oh, no!!!

LAF2019

solids work well as background fabric, to help break up any busy-ness inside the quilt. but I have also made quilts that use only solids, no prints. some may find that boring, but there is something clean and crisp about the look it provides.

Iceblossom

That Roman Stripe is indeed classic. It is basically what I call a "direct lift" from the project shown in the book World of Amish Quilts by Rachael Pellman. I think there is a pattern in the companion book but that I just randomly chose 1" wide finished for the strips. If I had to do it over again, I think I'd go a little thicker, But it has the same basic border construction, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/World-Amish-Q.../dp/1561482374

I do find the use of solids to be very bold and graphic and modern, and maybe with my vision issues I should do more with it again. I like contrast... My cousin who will receive the quilt, she won't know that it is "Amish" she will just know it is purple and graphic and she will like it on that basis. I am planning on a pretty traditional quilting pattern, have been trying to work my skills up. Have drafted up a triangular design that I will do on both sides of the triangle, and then a cable border. Machine quilted, of course, and I don't feel like my skills are quite ready. So still a few projects ahead of it. Good thing is I have plenty of other projects to improve with first.

Tartan

White/beige/ black used to be the solids I went to for background fabrics. I now prefer a subtle pattern in my background fabrics and still tend to go for light cream/taupe/grey etc.

SuzSLO

I probably have more quilts with no solids than I do quilts with at least one solid. If I use solids, it is likely to be a quilt with Thirties reproduction fabric. I have no problem mixing solids with prints in a scrappy quilt.

IceLeopard

Almost no solids, with the exception of off-white. (I rarely use pure white, and when I do it's a WOW. Solids are boring.

mmunchkins

When I first started quilting, I never bought solids. But as I have progressed, I find that I have about equal numbers of solids and prints. I have been doing a lot of checkerboard quilts lately.