Quilters nowadays are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing fabrics for quilting as there are many stores stocking a massive range of beautiful, eye pleasing fabrics of all textures and colors. In fact there is so much choice available it can make the important task of fabric selection quite a daunting yet pleasurable one. Once you’ve got your pattern chosen, it’s time to look for the fabric that will make the quilt come alive.
The most common fabric used in modern day quilting is 100 cotton as it is an all purpose fabric that, washes well, comes in thousands of colors and patterns, and maintains its color well. Make sure that all pieces are pre washed to prevent shrinkage. It will be very tempting to get distracted by some of the wonderful colors and textures of the blended fabrics available at the store but seeing that your quilt is going to take quite an investment in time to construct, it would be a much safer bet to stick with cotton.
Unless of course you are color blind, choosing your colors should come quite naturally. Learn to trust your instincts on this one and have a vision in your head before you begin your fabric shopping trip. Make sure you choose colors that you feel will look good together and that you will enjoy working with, after all you are going to spend quite a lot of time with that fabric in the very near future. Looking at the way color is used in nature is another good way to select colors that go together well and it will help to create a quilt that is easy to look at.
There are some basic principles that might help when choosing your fabric colors such as understanding the color wheel and primary, secondary and intermediate colors. Learn how these combine to create compliment and contrast in your artwork. Once you have selected the main fabric and color for your quilt, study the color value – light, dark and medium. Match the intensity of the remaining fabric selections to this main color value. This will ensure all your colors are well balanced and there is not one color that is too heavy for the remaining quilt. Apply the same theory to the intensity of the colors for your fabric selection. This will ensure that the overall brightness or dullness of the quilt is balanced correctly.
The best way to get a picture in your head for the color scheme of your next quilting project is to look at patterns on the internet and pictures of completed projects in books and magazines that were made by other quilting enthusiasts.
Once you’ve got your fabric chosen and brought home, it’s time for the real adventure to begin. If you’ve chosen the right colors, you’ll look forward to working on the quilt with great enthusiasm and be proud of all you’ve accomplished. Plus, you’ll have a beautiful reminder that will keep you warm and content, in all the right colors!
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