Choosing fabrics
 

I take forever to choose what colors I want to use in blocks. I usually end up with a good choice, but boy, does it take awhile. I am making a quilt for a lady (will post pic when top is together). The main body is a collection of houses,barn,church and school etc. no pattern. Anyway, I am putting all different blocks around it. 2 weeks later and I have all but 4 blocks done. Thank goodness I bought EQ7. Yesterday for example it took me the better part of a day just to figure what colors I wanted for this block. Tried all different fabrics and finally came up with something. If I didn't take so long choosing, I could have had these block done a week ago. Is it me or do some of you quilters take a lot of time to choose?

If I am in doubt in my choices, then I turn and use EQ7. Right now I am having problems deciding what pattern to use with this humongous print of bright pansies. Even EQ7 hasn't given me the solution yet.

I dive right in. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It's the process not the product that creates results. Enjoy the process.

Picking out colors is the fun part for me. Usually when I'm making a quilt or just blocks I already have an idea in my head about what colors and setting. Then I find it difficult sometimes to find the exact shade of color I have in my head.

I love playing with color in the quilts I make. I also enjoy trying to use the right fabric pattern for the era/theme of the quilt. To me it makes all the difference. If there is one thing I can't stand it is not being able to find something after five stores of shopping. Such a waste of time.

When I think about how I want my quilt to look, it does not bother me to take a little time to audition the fabric. In the long run, it makes for a better quilt.

When choosing fabric it does take me a long time....and I tend to overbuy as Ithink "This will be perfect." and then its not. Take your time, it will come out right.
Forgive the punctuation...Im at an old computer in Mexico and not all the keys work.
Watson

To me there are many different components that go into making a quilt but I feel that the "colour" is the most important. I have seen quilts made using the same pattern but different colour choices and it makes such a difference if the "right colours" are used.

I look forward to seeing your finished quilt.

I love color and sometime use to much. I have to watch myself and sometime tone it down some. I don't usually have a pattern in mind when I buy fabric but when I find something I just have to buy I try to buy several colors that go well with it. When I get it home I wash, press and put it in a 2.5 gallon zip bag along with a pattern when I find one I like and have a lot of projects ready when I am ready to start a new one that I don't have to go shopping for matching fabrics. I am ready to start my project right away.

Sometimes I spend more time choosing the fabrics than it takes to cut it out. I really enjoy the creative process and picking out the fabrics is the part I enjoy most. That's why my sewing room gets destroyed every time I start a new project.

I'm pretty much just using "gut feeling" when choosing colours. I look at my stash, pick a few fabrics I think might go together and then just try to picture before "my inner eye" what would look best. Okay, sometimes the result is not all that great, but most of the time I like my colour combinations!

Hi everyone, i'm new to the forum, only being quilting for a few years on, and off depending whats going on in my life, I'm glad to hear that i'm not the only one who takes a long time to pick material, i just love walking around a material shop, looking at all the colours and patterns. I have made a few quilts one my bust friend and grandchildren but never for myself. i will one day.​

The worst part about choosing fabrics/colors for me - not unlike when I go clothes shopping - I get something in my head that I want (color/scale/etc.) and it doesn't exist! So frustrating. So then I wander the shops for hours trying to come up with something similar that will satisfy my brain.

Believe me you are not alone. I think I take more time picking out the pattern, then the fabrics only to change my mine a couple time and then go right back to my 1st plan. This takes me more time than making the quilt itself I think. Then comes the choosing of the quilting patterns. I can't tell you how many times I'll have my layout all figured out only to come back and change a couple of times. Just did this the other day for a bargello I have hanging on the rack. Thought to do an E2E and then just recently decided to do the border separately. Now I'm thinking of going back to the original plan.

So you see, you're not alone by any means.

I rely on my sister Donna, she does not sew but has a GOOD eye for color and hues, I tease her that I an going torent her out

Sometimes it can take a lot of time to choose, especially if you have a perfectionist living in your brain (LOL). I say just enjoy the time fooling around with colors. Trust your gut and you'll know when you get it the way you want it. It's just part of the process.

I love picking out colors. Sometimes it comes easy for a quilter and sometimes it doesn't. I am sure that you did a good job with your color choices.

It takes me a while, too, but I enjoy the process. If something color wise or print wise bothers me now, it will always bother me, because fabrics give you a feeling. It's like an author who drafts and revises to find just the right words. I play at it till I get that feeling that's both peace and joy. Then I start cutting.

It takes me a long time too. I start with an idea for a project (right now it is a small quilt for my sister to remind her of our Yellowstone trip), I'll look for something in a magazine to start(this in itself takes awhile), then the fabric choosing begins. I'll look at my stash, pull a few things out, put my choices down and think about it. The thinking part may be hours or days. I'll come back, look through my stash again, maybe choose some different options, maybe add to what I have, put it down and think about it again...maybe hours or days again depending on what else is on my plate...but I'm always thinking about it...."what about that maroon I have.....". I have been working on this for over a month as now I'm trying to figure out how to lay it out. The color choices aren't done yet though, so after I figure out the layout I'll need to look for more fabric to coordinate. A very drawn out process for me and it doesn't help that my stash is extensively from moving sales, estate sales etc. so nothing came in the house matching. No full lines of fabric here. I was fortunate a few years back to go to the sale of a lady who passed away and had owned a quilt store. Her house was filled to the brim with gorgeous fabrics and I picked up a ton of my current stash from that. But yes, it takes me forever to choose fabrics for a project.

I only use the fabric colors I like together. I choose by contrast more then color. Many times a fabric that does not look acceptable at all at first look blends perfectly once used. I don't spend much time trying to be matchy, if I do my quilt lacks a spark.

I do take my time, especially if it for someone special. That is time well spent.

Sewing with Nancy had a quilt block that used 12.5" squares. and strips to make a large block. Also you could cut a panel and use in the center and make blocks to go around it.

My background is in design and colour theory. The knowledge helps so much. It makes picking fabrics reliable and quick.

I pick out a print I want to use then look for fabrics with those colors. I do like matchy matchy quilts.
I have used a lot of fabrics up. Now I am into scrappy quilts and nothing has to match. That does make it easier to choose. I am making quilts to donate.

The hardest part for me choosing colors for a quilt is finding the right color in my stash. I've tried for years to organize my fabrics by color, but have only been successful in separating out Christmas prints on a consistent basis. I will pull out totes of fabric knowing that the piece I'm looking for is somewhere, I just can't remember where. The up side is that as I'm on my search, I will find a fabric I'd forgotten I had and it's the perfect one. What can I say? I'm disorganized, compounded by limited space since we moved from a 3-bedroom house with full basement to a 2-bedroom apt. It was a necessary move, however, I couldn't bring all the fabric I wanted, so I passed it on to a dear quilting friend, so it went to a good home.