I'm really confused about this one. Anybody?

Try using the wrong side of a fabric to increase the number of colors used.

i used that technique on my avatar quilt. using the wrong side of the fabric keeps the same color family, but adds a lighter color.

There are 2 sides to each fabric. Sometimes the "back" side is as beautiful as the "right" side.

I recently used the back of a fabric in a paper-piecing picture I was doing. I needed 2 shades of pink & the reverse side blended well with the front side, giving me the lighter to coordinate perfectly with the darker "front" side.

Oh my goodness!! Total duh!! I get it now. lol After I read your explanation, I looked up at some fabric I just got. I see the lighter shades now!! Thanks Nan!!

I have and sometimes it works good. sometimes not so good.

Never done this, but looked and can see what u r talking about.

Yep! We pay for both sides of the fabric, so we may as well use them both :wink: :D:D:D

Yes, actually I've done that several times. If I need a less intense color, but of the same tone I'll use both sides. And for a background yellow that was too strong.

A LQS recommended that to me one time when I was looking for a background fabric for a sampler quilt. Didn't go with it then ... though have used it as "just the right" fabric" several times since!

Did a guild challenge where we were to use only 2 additional fabrics to those given us - I used the reverse side of one & other members thought I had used 3 additional fabrics. Boy, were they surprised!