Picking out your fabrics to make a quilt, please post your tips and tricks here for all of us to enjoy, thanks

You are not going to believe what I do. I have 2 1/2 inch strips handing all over my room and I do what I call a go and grab. Sew make my blocks and grab more. :? works for me :lol: :lol:

I love this idea.. I have a hard time doing scrappy quilts.. this just might work,

its kind of like having them in a paper bag, you reach in blind and use what ever you grab..

that is a good idea for a scrappy quilt

Pick out a pretty focal fabric, then choose fabrics that match it. You don't necessarily need the focal then, but you will know that the rest will all go together :D:D:D

I find one fabric I adore which is just perfect, and then I just need to find ones to match. :)

Go to the store and buy it :wink:

Could be why I have such a stash ! :lol:

I just buy what I like , what is pretty or just because :thumbup:

I look around the store, and when something catches my eye, I pick it up and try to find other fabrics to go with it. Sometimes, if I really like something, I'll get it and look for others later that will work with it. Also how I got a stash.

I would rate picking out fabrics/colors for my projects as the favorite part of quilting. Yes, I love it!
I normally have a color or a theme that I want for a certain quilt/pattern. Sometimes, I have to go to more than one shop, check online or whatever to find THE fabric that best goes for the specific project. Once I've decided on my focus fabric, I take the whole yardage, yes, not a swatch, the whole thing to the quilt shop and lay it on their table, then start hording bolts that I think will match my focus fabric. At the table (or sometimes the floor), I l unfold enough of the bolts to overlap my focus fabric, I arrange them all so the fold is facing me but enough of the fabric is showing, and I stand back. This is the easiest way for me to decide on what matches, what stands out and what blends. Again, depending on what I want from the quilt, I pick the fabrics accordingly.

If I have fabrics I am using or think I am using from my stash, I take them along too. Always have to look at the big picture and I am constantly amazed at how well colors, that I wouldn't think would match, work well together.

I do this, too! However, I add one more step...I will put my choices together, then turn my back and walk away. Few minutes later, I come back with fresh eyes...this "new look" shows me what needs to stay and what needs to go. Works every time!

I usually find a fabric that I really like, and have at least 3 different colors involved and then go from there and pick out fabric that will go together with that. Scrappy quilts is a whole different ballgame--then it's just pick at random even if it doesn't look like it will go together---it will.

I really have a hard time picking out fabrics for a project. I always like the fabric someone else selects better than what I have selected. Some people just have a better eye for color. I have only been quilting for a few years. Hopefully, eventually I'll get better at it.

Once I have the fabrics picked out, I lay them together and step back and take my glasses off. It's all out of focus then (squinting would probably do the same thing) When I look at them that way, if one of the colours is wrong -- it sticks out like a lightbulb. I go from there.
I learned long ago which stores I could trust the sales people and which stores to avoid. The ones that will admit they don't have the right one are the ones to go to.
The others will try to sell you what they have, whether it's right or not.

When I pick fabrics for a planned quilt. I start with a print that has lots of colors, then pick a light,medium and dark to start with from the colors in the print. Sometimes I will add a medium dark if the quilt seems to need it.
You can see how I did that with this quilt.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...45965719HBYRRi

You want good contrast between your fabrics/colors. I can't stand quilts that all blend together, it seems like such a waste
to do all that piecing and not be able to see what you've done.
If its a scrap quilt anything goes! I choose a fabric by how light or dark it is(value) color doesn't matter.

I searched and found this cool link for us

http://www.ehow.com/how_2168524_pick...cs-quilts.html

i just keep buying and hopefully something will match eventually! :lol: :lol:

if I like it I buy it then hopefully I have something in my stash to go with it, if not I keep an eye out for material that is discounted that will go well with it.
i have some beautifull butterfly pannels and i think I have enough to go with it to make a quilt. I just need the time to get to it.

I find the pattern I want to do first and then choose a color pal-latte that suits the pattern for me.

Like a couple of replies above, Pick a focal I like then some with similar colors that are in the original, walk away then come back, and sometimes do with several combos till it just hits right, (or seem to end up w/color overload and picks just end up not right) have put the whole stack back in place if nothing hits, and yes, I always try to put it back where it goes. :)

I usually find a fabric that I absolutely love and then try to pull from my stash.
I agree with the poster who said getting the fabric is so much fun!! :D