Advice for working with neutrals
 

I have two upcoming projects for family members that need to be made from neutrals, per their requests. Need advice how to proceed. My favorite style is usually country colors, deep tones and lots of contrast, like dark colors with light backgrounds. I'm thinking lighter neutrals with less contrast, so a "quieter"look for them. But I'm confused because I don't want it too "bland". Can you help point out some things to keep in mind as I select the neutrals I need to use? Thanks for your ideas!

A while back someone posted the most beautiful log cabin, all made with various shades of cream and white and light taupes. There was nothing bland about it.

"Can you help point out some things to keep in mind as I select the neutrals I need to use?"

There is a book out called Modern Neutrals, and another called Spotlight on Neutrals. Both have beautiful quilts. Pick out fabrics from the palates in their quilts, and you can't go wrong.

Just remember that you are making it for THEM. Your taste may not be their taste, that's why we are all different. You might really like the quilts once you get into making them. Or at least have a better appreciation for bland! lol Good luck!

Neutrals come in all shades - light, medium and dark. Could it be when they say "neutral", they mean not too bold or not too bright? Are they asking for a single color tone-on-tone type of quilt? or do they want some color in it, just not an "in-your-face" color? You could do several different shades of beige, from nearly white to nearly brown, and it would look amazing. As long as you have a good selection of light-medium-dark. A problem quilters often have (including me!)is picking one shade of a color, and one shade = boring quilt!

I have made a few 'neutrals' quilts- nothing bland about them- the first one was a 'Saturday sampler' program at an lqs- we made star blocks with all whites, creams, tans...one of my all time favorite quilts (and I tend to make very colorful quilts most of the time) I loved that one so much that I made the star blocks again in the same colors, added an appliqued sandhill crane to the center and made my sister in law a quilt for her Florida house- she loves it, here's a picture- nothing bland...and I made one with a crazy quilt center king sized quilt- it does have some browns added but again...it is not boring or bland in any way...and the pineapple border on the 'Amazing Grace' quilt I made are all neutrals- they are about the prettiest blocks I have ever made...one day I should make a whole quilt out of those.

You can take any pattern and use nothing but neutrals. I've seen baby quilts in neutrals. I saw a GFG in neutrals. ckcowl's posted quilt is an example.

Wow - Nothing bland about that quilt!

When someone says 'neutrals' - I would ask for some paint chip cards of what they want so that their idea of neutrals and my idea of neutrals match.

Some people may think gray tones, some tan, some pinkish tan, some cream - I usually think cream to sand to tan - but others may think grays - and there are warm grays and cool grays - - -

So 'neutrals' isn't quite 'one color range might fit all'

Wow CKCowl, that quilt is eye popping beautiful. An excellent example of how neutrals can be anything but bland.

After sorting and organizing the bulk of my stash recently, I decided to do a neutral quilt. I did a yahoo image search, also one on pinterest, and found many. They can be incredibly stunning although subtle.

What an ah ha moment, bearisgray! Letting them pick out paint chips for the colors. Best suggestion ever!!!