bigsister63

Ask for help from your LQS. Most staff menbers are happy to help you choose fabric and they usually have a good eye. They do have a vested interest in helping you so that you will buy fabric from them. Just remember that it is your quilt so SPEAK UP if you do not like the combinations! (their feeling will not be hurt).

Cris

When my mom was making my log cabin quilt, she told me to pick my blues from her stash, which I did. She looked at the fabrics and said, those won't look good together. We layed them out on top and next to each other and boy she was right, sometimes if she is not here, i look at the fabric for 2-3 days before i pick. But I think the ladies are right if you buy a charm park or jelly roll, the fabrics will always go together.

lynmh

Colors are a big problem for me also but mainly cuz Im color blind !! I have a great quilty friend that helps me a lot, and there are times I just "go for it" lol I do think kits are great .

ImSvd1

I agree. My quilts are generally only two or three colors. When I have more than that, all of the colors read as solids. I love earthy tones but my quilts are usually brights with either a black or white background. I have many fabrics to pick from so I think one day I will just cut up a bunch of squares and put them in a bag and then not look while I'm sewing them together. Maybe that will work. :-)

kcmoquilter

Look at garment fabrics for inspiration. When you see a print that you like how the colors blend and complement each other. Then, look on the selvage and a lot of them will have "polka" dots with the color palette of the print. You don't have to use all the colors, but the palette is ready made! Good luck.

elseebee

As someone who's fairly new to quilting, I've been relying a lot on using kits. I'm finding that it's helping me begin to see how to choose a little better. I also bought a book (that I was skeptical about when I saw it on another quilt website) and it has turned out to be a great investment! It is "Color Play" by Joen Wolfrom. It has really helped me to understand color theory and I've decided my next quilt will be made using her book. You pick your main color and then she shows you everything that will go with that color and explains why. I think this will be a good resource for you.

elseebee

As someone who's fairly new to quilting, I've been relying a lot on using kits. I'm finding that it's helping me begin to see how to choose a little better. I also bought a book (that I was skeptical about when I saw it on another quilt website) and it has turned out to be a great investment! It is "Color Play" by Joen Wolfrom. It has really helped me to understand color theory and I've decided my next quilt will be made using her book. You pick your main color and then she shows you everything that will go with that color and explains why. I think this will be a good resource for you.

grammy Dwynn

The dots represent all the colors used in that piece of fabric. Sometime a few dots others lots and lots of dots. Like on some busy floral fabric there might be 15 or so dots. The dots will help you see what color of blue/red/pink/green would 'match' the fabric. Say you pull a bright blue out of you stash, hold it next to the dot, but the dots blue is a gray blue. So back to the stash for a gray blue. So keep pulling and match the dots. Then stand back and squint and before you know it you colors and quilts will be looking wonderful.

ShirlinAZ

I've had trouble picking colors too. Shopping at the LQS definitely helps the learning process. They are so helpful there. Go where people will help you, let them know you want their help, ask questions, and you will learn from their guidance. The big corporate stores don't hire people based on ability to make quilts. Go to stores that do. When you are comfortable with your own choices you can shop anywhere.

dls

Years ago I bought a kit for a sampler quilt that had a lot of colors and prints---- things I would never put together on my own. I really learned a lot sewing that quilt and got over my fear of putting colors and prints together. My friends often compliment me on my selections and say they would never think of putting the colors together .