I’m always flattered when people say they like the colors I've picked out, but what amazes me is all the different theories that fly around about color and quilting.

One book I read the lady said, “Folks who use over three colors have no imagination.”

Another said, “You need a minimum of four values.”

And yet another claimed about color, “The more the merrier, put in the kitchen sink if your heart desires, it all fits somehow.”


For me a pattern, once fixed in the mind, kind of calls out for color. The last one I did, the ‘lover’s knot’ looked excellent the way some had done it in the four color scheme, yet after seeing the two tone I spent a while translating the instructions to fit. Then after going through that, I felt a third color in the border (yeah orange) was exactly what the piece needed. Low and behold it worked!

So the question is: do you find the pattern and assign colors, stick to a scheme you’ve seen, or just find fabric and go for it?

I really don’t think there is a right or wrong way, like the majority of what we do as quilters, but am curious what your methods are. Hummm…?

My logic generally goes:
vision>pattern>color>variations in both

Some of the things I do evolve enough that it is hard to discern the original intent. I think that is why I am fascinated with the discipline of the birthday blocks, using someone else's colors, and trying to fit them into something that appeals to me.

Some things work great in 2 colors, but they require a strong design element. Others look great scrappy, with colors galore, and variations standing out mainly from color values.

I have seen portrait quilts which look photo-realistic, just done in light-medium-dark variations of the same one color. They are striking.

Like anything else in quilting, the rules are to do what is right for YOU!

Look out for the ladies with visions I always say! HA! :wink:

I never pay attention to the color a pattern is shown in....I pretty well know what i have for fabric and colors so when I see a pattern I like it appears in my minds eye in my fabrics or I just have to go shopping :D

For me, it's the colors used showing the pattern that attract my attention. I seem to be missing that gene that can see a pattern in other colors.

Take barnbums barn quilt. The picture on the pattern didn't inspire me, but HER quilt did!

Let's face it Steve, you've surrounded yourself with women of vision... and some menfolk, too!

well steve, i have a little note tacked to the wall over my machine. it says
"color gets the credit while value does the work". not that color doesn't matter, but the mood of the piece is set by the contrasting values. don't you think?

I see the quilt in my head, then I go on an adventure to find the fabrics.... LOL

I see the fabric, and can picture a quilt, then plan it out, and change it as I go!!! never the same as originally thought!!!!!!!!! 8)

I find choosing colours one of my favourite parts of the quilt making process. I see a pattern I like, and then choose my colours. I rarely go with the colour choices that the pattern shows. I like to do my own thing and make it my own.

I did an Autumn quilt last Sept and it had 26 different colours!! turned out great!!!