When I started I was very matchy-matchy. I tried to get the EXACT shade that was in the focus fabric. Even if it was a 1/8 inch flower than couldn't be seen from three feet away.

Then I read Jinny Beyer's book (sorry, don't remember the name of it) where she would match the colors in the focus fabric and then find "bridging" fabrics that would shade from one color to the next in the focus fabric.

She would use those colors and NOT use the exact matches. The quilts using these colors were so much livelier than the ones using the exact matches.

It's important to think of contrast, also. Do you want high-contrast or not? That's almost as important as color.

Also, stand several feet away from the fabrics. They look different from 10-12 feet away than right under one's nose.

It's also okay to change one's mind about a fabric choice. (Well, yes, one is kind of stuck with it after the item is made - but anytime before it's quilted will work)

What a wonderful idea! I think I'll do that at the next quilting class I take.

I would never - I mean never - work with one line of fabrics that has all the same colors in it. Matchy, matchy is boring. Practice with reds - they clash so well! You'll get the hang of it. Variety is the spice of life.

Go into a quilt shop and ask one of the ladies for a lesson on how to select fabric. That was one of my favorite things to do when I worked in a quilt shop. They will walk you through the things to look for and the do's and don'ts of selecting fabric. Make sure you pick a time when the store isn't lined up at the fabric counter, you can even call ahead and ask when a good time would be. It will be a wonderful lesson for you.

I lke your idea bearisgray. I need to try this along with learning how to use a color wheel. I took an interior design class once and the teacher also made all of her clothes. She paired colors that I would never think of, but if you look at a color wheel she did everything correctly. Her choices made for some very dynamic clothes.

Best quote ever for quilters on choosing fabrics: Two fabrics may not go together well, but any 10 or 15 or 20 or 30 are just fine! I make lots of scrap quilts and this has always worked for me. I just know that for me, I have to be sure to have a few darks and lights....I tend to be drawn to brights in the mid-value range.

You got some great advice here. Learning what you like is a big part of the process. The more quilts you see, the more you learn. Go to shows, join a guild, look at sites online including the photo pages on this quilting board.

I like looking at antique quilts for inspiration-- in colors, patterns, settings and borders. This site has thousands of antique quilts to view-- a virtual quilt show! http://www.quiltindex.org/index.php

Many people think that all antique quilts are dull and brown, but that's not accurate. Many have bright true reds and a skyfull of blues, and clean crisp white backgrounds. Many PA quilts are bright Turkey red, cheddar orange, sky blue and pea soup green. Obviously no one was telling those quiltmakers that there were "right" and "wrong" color combinations! Some of their fabric choices are astounding-- they are eye-popping!

I'm working on a two-color quilt now inspired by one on the Quilt Index website. It is so bright that it strobes. I'll show you when I've finished, I promise!

Don't be discouraged when you're pulling fabrics for your next quilt. It should be a big part of the fun! Remember what Rick Nelson sang-- you can't please everyone, so you have to please yourself.

I think you'll find that it will get easier, the more you do it. Practice practice practice.

Don't forget how important color values are. You can use one color, but get different effects according to the balance of lights and darks.

If it's the colors themselves that give you problems, try picking up a color wheel. It helps to see actual samples of colors and where they are placed in relation to one another.

Complimentary colors are opposite one another on the wheel and provide high contrast (blue and orange, red and green, purple and yellow); colors separated by one color also compliment one another (yellow and red are separated by orange, purple and green are separated by blue); colors that are side by side create a soothing effect by appearing to blend (red and orange; green and yellow).

There are also plenty of books on color theory that could help you out. Check at your LQS for a color wheel and/or the color theory books.

Darren

I think I need a class on colors and choices! It takes me forever in a fabric store, I get overwhelmed with all the fabrics and love them all. It seems to me that color was all made to go together in the scheme of things.. as once I was told just look outside your window at the colors within a flowerbed , trees and bark and grasses.. well that is all good and well.. I just need to go for it and not worry for awhile if they go as I feel or not. LOL maybe artist once struggled with the preception of color!