I'm new to quilting, been doing it about 6 months. When I go to get fabric for a new project I have problems with putting patterns together when selecting fabric. Now I find something that "talks" to me and use it as a focal block then I use more solids that match it. When I see all the wonderful quilts on here I see all kinds of patterns in one quilt and they work. So how do you guys do that? We only have Walmart, Hobby Lobby and one LQS where I live and Walmart and Hobby Lobby are not very helpful and I can't afford to shop at the LQS at this point. Can someone please help? Thanks so much.

You should find a color wheel. And just have some fun playing with different colors and patterns. Sometimes things that you'd never think of putting together, work very well.

I still have problems with that. I bring my youngest daughter with me to pick out fabric. She has never sewn a day in her life but can pick out coordinating fabrics wonderfully. What am I going to do when she moves out.

Patti

That is when you call and take her for lunch and let her know that you need to stop by the quilt shop.

To mix patterns think big and small and add a geometric and then fill it out with marble type prints. Solids don't really have any depth or movement.

I spend a lot of time in the store pulling fabric bolts off the shelves. Pile them up, unwind and put fabrics together, and move, move, move them about.

Go to the library and find some books on quilting. When I first started I didn't look at the vallues of the colors (lights, darks and mediums) and I didn't have the right mix of large patterns, small patterns and solids. You are right about needing experience in some designs. I also have found collections even in Wall-Mart and then I just stick to those prints for one quilt. Hope this helps and just hang in there. You will get the pleasing results you want.

I try to mix patterns and use very few solids--a lot of fabrics read as solid when combined with othter fabrics. Dif fabrics give interest to the quilt. Plaids and stripes are especially effective too.

I just had to comment on this. Our new LQS has a big shelf area where bolts of fabrics can be laid out to look at. It is large enough that more than two people can do this at the same time. It is away from the cash register where others might be paying and bottling up. It was the wisest thing she could have done. We had to do in on a shopping cart in another store I was at recently and not fun!

Thanks for all the help. That makes more sense now.

I agree with this.
Also, think of the sizes you are going to be cutting the fabric into and also think of the placement of the fabrics together in the pattern. Does this make sense? For example if you are cutting fabrics into 2'' squares, think of how much of the print would show, versus when you cut it into 6'' squares. Also, which fabrics are "touching" in your pattern, to me all this makes a difference.

If you have the option (at your library perhaps), you may want to check out Carol's Doak book "Your First Quilt Book, Or It should Be, " she has a section explaining fabric colors and patterns and suggestions on combining them.

Have fun!

Sometimes it can help to find a fabric you really like that has the colors you want in your quilt all in that one fabric. Then, find fabrics that look good with the fabric you chose first, trying to get a combination of scales of prints, tone on tones, solid if you like them, once you have a nice pile, sometimes you can even take away the original fabric you started with and still have a group of fabrics that work together well for a quilt, or you can keep the "theme" fabric to use in the quilt, and it probably would be a great fabric to use for the border.

Good luck!!

This works really, really well when you have a large floral print you love but would be totally lost if you cut it up. Pull a couple of geometrics and maybe a couple of tone on tone smallish floral, maybe a marble or two that work with the floral for the blocks and then use the floral for the border.

Geometrics can be plaids, dots, and stripes, and they come in different scales too.

I try not to use solids. As said above there is no depth. Go for the blenders and tonals. Just experiment. You will soon learn what works and what doesn't.

It's amazing how things can come together to make a great quilt that don't seem to go together.

If you pick a print you like, try to find fabrics that have the same color in it. We are lucky in our WalMart and have several gals who are quilters in the department. You will get the hang of it, it just takes some time.

When I first wanted to learn how to quilt I asked my MIL to help me. She had done some baby quilts so I thought she was an expert !! She took me to WM and had me pick out 7 fabrics that I liked, 2 prints and 5 solids. Seven years later I know why she only did baby quilts. The only solid fabric in my sewing room is the solids I got at WM 7 years ago! I never buy solids, they just don't have any movement or zing.

Going in a fabric store is overwhelming to me -- so many different colors and patterns, blending from one tone to another -- I will facing that challenge soon as I want to do a log cabin pattern in blues/browns so I will have to spend some time at Joanns or the LQS -- I think part of my problem is that Joann's quilting section is dark, quite a way from the big front windows -- looking at pix may help to give me some idea of what to choose -- but so many choices....

Check out your LQS and see if they have a sale section. Ours does and the beautiful fabric is $3.99 and fat quarters are $1.00-$1.25. All of the fall fabrics are in there now and soon the quilt fabric you will need for next Christmas will be there. Sure hope they have a section like that where you are.

I too live in NE Nebraska and have the same issues with finding fabric. I also note that there is NO yarn shop here. I have tried buying online with reasonable success but still like to feel the weight and texture of the fabric (and yarn). Because of their business practices I won't set foot in Walmart for any reason. The proprietor of our LQS is really nice about working with you to economize. I either buy the fabric little at a time planning ahead for a future quilt or go to Hobby Lobby whose quilting fabric isn't all that bad. Also check out auctions, yard sales and Goodwill. As for color...its your quilt, you are in control and you will be looking at this for awhile. Pick what you feel comfortable with, what warms your heart.

Using a color wheel helped me. I am a "fabricholic" and there are so many that "follow" me home. Then I pick the colors in the pattern that made me love it, pick others from my stash and start playing around with them. This works for me and I'd bet that after awhile you'll find your way. Solids for me are for sashing, but not the main focus. Hope this helps a little. I'm just returning to quilting after a 35 year hiatus and it seems easier this time; maybe it is because I'm older and wiser? LOL big time.

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.

I rearrange my fabric on my shelves often. Sometimes pieces just "land" together that I never thought of combining. Also, if you have a blouse or sweater that you love the color combo, go with that when you shop. Most small prints will have a dominant color, just get it all together with the pallett you love.

All good suggestions, I take the fabric that grabbed my attention and try to find three others that have at least one or two colors from the first one.

A resource I have used is a book called "colorWorks: the crafter's guide to color" by Deb Menz.

I like using solids. They may not have movement but sometimes you need the quilt to stay still so you can admire the rest of it :lol:

Solids are great for framing, can help a focus fabric to stand out, can give your eyes somewhere to rest on a busy quilt and once it's quilted they don't look so stark :-)

I hardly ever use a solid, the seem so flat. I do use mottled or fabrics that read like solids. I try to use a large print, medium, and a small print. It works out really well. It just takes practice, and if you still need help, I'll loan you my sister, she really has a way with colors.LOL I run everything through her. I also take my fabric I want to use into my lqs
and they help me fill it in, if I'm not sure. They are great.

Many times the fabric stores will have a grouping of fabrics displayed all together. Maybe you could start with choosing a grouping or at least look to see how they fit that grouping together. I love picking fabrics and it is surprising what will go together if you just take a chance.

Fantastic ideas! Buying fabric is one of my favorite things to do. I try very hard to limit myself to spending only so much each month, sometimes that works. My husband just looks at my shelves and shakes his head; after 47 years he just smiles at me when I say I have to go shopping. I just purchased some ivory fabric with a faint white vine all over it to set off my bright patterns, think it will look very nice.

I just found this in another email. Maybe it will help:

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techni...ail=1901004116

Great advice from the members. My two cents, the rule of three; light, medium, dark; small, medium, large.
The sizes are relative to each other and so the values are.
Another good rule of thumb that helps me with "which one?" is, choose the fabric that makes the focus fabric look it's best.

I like this! I think even my feeble mind can remember this.

2 tips worked for me when i started quiliting

#1 use the colored dots on the selvage of the fabric to match colors... you can use fabric frm a bunch of different manfacturers that way

#2 when trying to get the value (light, med, dark) cut a small piece (i usually just clip an inch of the corner) put all the ones you want to use on the copier & take a black & white copy.... taking the color out of it leaves just the value...