A very new quilter needs advice
 

so new I am halfway through my first cushion case

I have the book Essential Sampler Quilt - thought it would be a good place to start

now my very first quilt I want to put in my bedroom that is cream and red
so the thing I would like to do is use just one cream fabric for the blocks and then use the red for the sashing and cream for the final border

but looking at all your wonderful quilts I am unsure if this will work

so what is your best advice to give to a REAL novice

thanks for your input - I want to live with ideas for a couple of weeks before I start buying fabric and leaning whilst making my first quilt

H x

Two color quilts can be quite beautiful. Google "two color quilts" several images come up and you can see if it appeals to you.

Of course it can work -- if that's what you want.

One thing to consider is that often a darker color serving as frame or outermost edge is most appealing. You might consider having your red as the outer border. It's also a practical matter-- the outer edge is most likely to get dirty, and cream will show dirt sooner.

You might enjoy drawing out your ideas on graph paper with colored pencils -- a tried and true design method.

Oh honey, anything that makes you happy will work. No quilt police are allowed on this board so there are no rules to break here. What you talked about--large blocks with sashing between, should turn out simple but elegant and can be the canvas for some very interesting quilting. My only concern would be 'too much of a good thing'. You might get very tired of just cream and red.

What about exploring a complementary colour option. Maybe add some charcoal or black or figured fabric or a brilliant royal blue or....well just not limit yourself to two colours unless that is absolutely what your heart is set on.

Can't wait to see what you decide.

Here's the Google images page you are looking for:
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...47.9LLCclC3p6U

Two color quilts are beautiful, I hope to make one someday. But, I would wash the red first with a couple of color catchers, until the color catchers are no longer picking up any red dye.

Just as someone said before, no quilt police here. Two colors would work great. I would go for a tonal or blenders instead of just a plain fabric. It adds a little dimension without overtaking the design. Also, I would most definitely consider a red outside border instead of cream for the reason stated above. Maybe you could do a small inner border in cream if you really like the color. I would love to see the final product. Also, draw it out before starting so you know exactly where to place everything and you are sure you like it before piecing.

Your red & cream cushion will be divine - but please - wash that red fabric first - in hot water and Nappy San or similar, to get the excess dye out.
You don't want any red leaching into the cream with the first wash

Don't forget to post a pic when done

How about something like this? http://www.mccallsquilting.com/patte...html?idx=15047 There are lots of other patterns, on the same site. :)

One bit of advice - make sure you prewash your fabric! Reds are often bleeders!

I have said from day one: if the fabric will do it, I can do it. Look around at some of the links posted above if you don't have a clear picture of what you want, but if you do- GO FOR IT! There is no rules (except maybe to always prewash- and lets face it, even that can be negotiable!), and you can design, rip it out, redesign, whatever. This is supposed to be fun! Best advice I can give is enjoy it, and when you get to where you aren't, walk away and come back later. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

I have multi quoted everyone in for a response as I am so thrilled to such wonderful caring responses to an obvious nervous newby
thank you I will most definitely do that it is great advice and although I google most things - I hadnt even thought of that


I have graph paper and will do one or two of the blocks to get a 'feel' for the colour ways

I have been thinking of adding a complimentary colour over night (UK here) and have almost decided to rethink the colour scheme = on the grounds that it would be so much cream and likely to get dirty and show that quite quickly - as it is for our bedroom - discussions are under way with DH who said I make the quilt and when (he actually said if - oh him of little faith) he will redecorate to match - he wants greys blacks and red I can live with that

thank you for the link off to google after I have responded to all :)

that is a great tip and something I had not thought of - I like working on crisp new fabric but will zigzag and then wash all fabris first so they have all done any shrinking they need to do :)

thank you so much great tips - I have a book I will be working from for a sampler quilt - the blocks get more challenging thoughout the book building on skills learn in previous blocks - so I will make them all and use the ones I want for the quilt and make cushions out of others - I will make up to 40 blocks so plenty to choose my favourites from

I had not thought of nappy san - will go google it and find out if sainsburys do it :)

thank you off to see all links when I have finished posting - just wanted to thank you all before doing so


how wonderful is that - enjoy it and take a break if I am not - that is the same advice I give to new spinners (I spin yarn) but why oh why does it take others to remind us of what we know

again my sincere thanks to you all off to use google and click a few links :):)

I noticed you were in the UK. Once your quilt is finished, or when you want to wash it, buy some colour catchers and throw 2/3 in the wash the first couple of times. You'll get these in your local pound shop called 'Colour Magnets' or similar, usually 12 to a box. Another alternative is Dylon, but these will be more expensive.
Happy quilting! :)

I have 2 three fabric quilts that I did when I was quite new to quilting....3 years ago. I am going to post them here, in case they give you ideas....not color idea, pattern ideas.

Dina

Two color quilts are really beautiful!! Good luck would love to see pics when you are finished!!

thanks for that I need to go to pound shop in the week to get cheap notebooks to cover for xmas so will get the colour magnets then all ready for after the weekend when I go to sturminster newton as they have a wonderful fabric store there - two hours there and another two back but so worth it

Dina thanks for- the colour ideas - I love the simplicity for the few colours - patchwork is busy and too many colours are just not me - and definitely NOT DH so we need to compromise on what I produce (he said he would fund my hobby when I finish a project he will pay for what I have needed) he thinks I wont complete - little does he know

it will be a while but as its going to be a sampler quilt I can show each block as I do them :) now I hope they are photo worthy

Looking forward to pictures and have fun

As long as you enjoy making the blocks we will enjoy seeing them. Please post. (say's the lady that rarely post photos) ;)

Here is a nice two color quilt.

http://cdn.allpeoplequilt.com/sites/...ec07lg_ss1.jpg

That sounds like a beautiful quilt design.

Here's a super easy, super quick pattern - Rail Fence. You can do all sorts of things with it and totally change the look, just by the color selection and arrangement of the blocks. Using two colors and altering the proportions a bit, you can create a woven look. Here's a top, I finished last week. The seams aren't yet ironed, so it looks a bit puckering because the seams are sticking up, on the underside. I generally don't iron those last seams, until I'm ready to sandwich the quilt.

I'm trying to finish off a bunch of quilts, for Christmas giving. This pattern is soooo fast and easy, yet still looks as if one put time into it. :)

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Other Rail Fence examples -
https://www.google.com/search?q=rail...g&ved=0CE0QsAQ

I love the design! It really shows off the pattern in the main fabric!! I may use this with my Christmas fabrics to make throw quilts, and green and red to frame it out

Welcome to the board. IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) you are absolutely starting the right way with a sampler quilt where each block builds on the skills learned in the previous. By doing a sampler you will learn so many techniques essential to quilt making that no pattern will scare you in the future. Set in Y seam no problem, curve, you will laugh in the face of curves, template blocks and rotary cutting shortcut... you will have those down as well. It seems way too many people start out with easy patterns but then are too afraid to try more complex ones. I started with a sampler and I am always thrilled to hear other newbies starting the same way. I also hand quilted mine but now I am a LA quilter. Here is a link to a photo I posted of my very first quilt. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t107423.html

I think a two color sampler will work as well as black/white and red. Both would be stunning. Here is a google search I did of black white and red sampler quilts and it returned one done in just red and cream. So 2 color quilts totally work and ones that were made a century ago are prized heirlooms now.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....0.jGSpjF18mj4

You don't say if you are making a sampler quilt with many different blocks or selecting one of the block designs

Yes, the OP did say that. Post #11 on page 2:

"thank you so much great tips - I have a book I will be working from for a sampler quilt - the blocks get more challenging thoughout the book building on skills learn in previous blocks - so I will make them all and use the ones I want for the quilt and make cushions out of others - I will make up to 40 blocks so plenty to choose my favourites from"