I have made many quilts and I still have trouble with the colors. I find the women in the LQS are wonderful about putting fabrics together and help me choose a grouping that works for me.

Another tip is to cut the shape of the pieces out of a piece of paper so you can see how the fabric will look in that shape.

Choose a group of possibles, stack them up at eye level - the top of other fabric works - stand back and squint. You'll get a feel for what they will look like together. I miss being able to do that when buying online.

Don't try to be too matchy, matchy. I just freaked out the lqs ladies when I bought a green for the sashing for a special quilt I am planning. The stack said it needed a new color and green goes with so many colors. The quilt will be fuchia, peachy, rose, with a black patterned floral for the border. The rose is the one I'm concerned about, but I am taking my own advice and not being too matching. My oldest daughter does beautiful work, but has trouble choosing fabrics because 'they don't match'. For most people, it comes with time.

Hobby Lobby (at least mine) does a great job a grouping the "collections" together.

I will admit, picking out fabric is not my favorite thing to do, because I am not great at getting the balance right. I like the precuts. Hobby Lobby though, does a great job at grouping the fabrics that "go" together. Their "collections" usually have four or five selections in the group. It can be less daunting to pick out if you can select a palette that you like and just buy the whole "set."

Also, another way to start is to scope out flickr, or some of the designer collections, and just print out a picture of the "collection collage" and then just make your own group based on those same colors the designer chose? Make sense?

thank you for asking this question.

i have the same problem still, even after years of quilting. lots of great info from everyone. thanks to all of you.

I love this - I bring my son (17) who hates to shop and knows if I get home and decide the fabrics don't work we'll be going back. He is really good at telling me what doesn't work.

Look for the colors in the focus fabric and coose from them. Usr different scales and try dots, stripes, plaids........... Go to fabric manufacturers web sites and look at their collections(fabrics in the same design line) to get an idea of how they co-ordinate.You will get the idea.

Try ebay for your fabric ........ some is very cheap

http://quilting.about.com/od/colorfa...lor_quilts.htm

This website has some awesome information for quilters. I get daily emails from them with tips - very helpful!

This is an outstanding idea! Thank you very much.