Where to Start
When learning how to make a patchwork quilt, choosing your fabric can be one of the most fun parts, or the most daunting. One of the common phrases I hear in the patchwork shop where I'm employed is "I will know what I need when I see it". Considering there may be more than 12,000 bolts of fabric in the shop, they could be looking for a quite a long time.
What I recommend is that you consider it before you go and do some shopping to avoid getting overwhelmed. For instance, What's your favourite color? Do you like florals? Geometrical designs? Batiks? Plains (like Amish colors or soft colors? This'll help to offer you a place to start and the sales assistant will be well placed to lead you to the appropriate fabrics for you.
Selecting Fabrics
When you are beginning quilting, I suggest you start by selecting a patterned fabric in your favorite colour. That way, you most likely like working on the you'll adore it for a long while after it's finished. Then you can choose some complementary fabrics to go with it. Maybe the easiest way is to pick other fabrics in the same Range. Most often manufacturers design a "Range" of co-ordinating patterns and colors round the same theme, including big and small patterns and a couple of colours. If you choose your fabrics from the same Range, you know they may all work in together in your cannot find other fabrics in the same range, look down the edge of your selected fabric (which is named the selvedge) and you will see the designers name, plus one or two little numbered circles. These contain all the colored dyes that've been used in the printing process of that fabric. You may then use these colour spots to match with other fabrics to go with your main fabric, knowing that if you use those colors they can definitely go together.
If you are unable to find other fabrics in the same range, look down the fringe of your chosen fabric (which is known as the selvedge) and you'll see the designers name, and several small numbered circles. These contain all of the coloured dyes which have been used in the printing process of that fabric. You can then use these color spots to match with other fabrics to go with your primary fabric, knowing that if you use those colours they will definitely go together.
Add A Touch of Adventure
These are safe options that you can be certain will work. However if you would like to be more adventurous, learn all about the color wheel and try some different color combinations e.g. A "Complementary colour scheme" incorporates colours that are directly opposite one another on the color wheel like purple and yellow, or blue and orange. Quilts made of these colours can look fantastic and vibrant.
When you are selecting colours, ensure you "audition" them. Take the bolts off the shelf and test them together, take one away and see whether it's good or bad, put in a darker one, or an accent colour. Take away any which don't "go together". The ones that do not match might be because they have a cream background instead of white, or because it is an orange-red rather than a blue based red.
As a sales helper I would much rather have to put away extra bolts of fabric, than see a customer leave not totally satisfied with her purchase. And do ask for help if you can not decide, but do not let yourself be bullied into selecting something you are not satisfied with. Even though it is ultimately your decision, sales assistants are there to help with opinions, to suggest options you had not considered of, and perhaps, to find that evasive bolt of fabric that's "just right" for you.
When learning how to make a patchwork quilt, choosing your fabric can be one of the most fun parts, or the most daunting. One of the common phrases I hear in the patchwork shop where I'm employed is "I will know what I need when I see it". Considering there may be more than 12,000 bolts of fabric in the shop, they could be looking for a quite a long time.
What I recommend is that you consider it before you go and do some shopping to avoid getting overwhelmed. For instance, What's your favourite color? Do you like florals? Geometrical designs? Batiks? Plains (like Amish colors or soft colors? This'll help to offer you a place to start and the sales assistant will be well placed to lead you to the appropriate fabrics for you.
Selecting Fabrics
When you are beginning quilting, I suggest you start by selecting a patterned fabric in your favorite colour. That way, you most likely like working on the you'll adore it for a long while after it's finished. Then you can choose some complementary fabrics to go with it. Maybe the easiest way is to pick other fabrics in the same Range. Most often manufacturers design a "Range" of co-ordinating patterns and colors round the same theme, including big and small patterns and a couple of colours. If you choose your fabrics from the same Range, you know they may all work in together in your cannot find other fabrics in the same range, look down the edge of your selected fabric (which is named the selvedge) and you will see the designers name, plus one or two little numbered circles. These contain all the colored dyes that've been used in the printing process of that fabric. You may then use these colour spots to match with other fabrics to go with your main fabric, knowing that if you use those colors they can definitely go together.
If you are unable to find other fabrics in the same range, look down the fringe of your chosen fabric (which is known as the selvedge) and you'll see the designers name, and several small numbered circles. These contain all of the coloured dyes which have been used in the printing process of that fabric. You can then use these color spots to match with other fabrics to go with your primary fabric, knowing that if you use those colours they will definitely go together.
Add A Touch of Adventure
These are safe options that you can be certain will work. However if you would like to be more adventurous, learn all about the color wheel and try some different color combinations e.g. A "Complementary colour scheme" incorporates colours that are directly opposite one another on the color wheel like purple and yellow, or blue and orange. Quilts made of these colours can look fantastic and vibrant.
When you are selecting colours, ensure you "audition" them. Take the bolts off the shelf and test them together, take one away and see whether it's good or bad, put in a darker one, or an accent colour. Take away any which don't "go together". The ones that do not match might be because they have a cream background instead of white, or because it is an orange-red rather than a blue based red.
As a sales helper I would much rather have to put away extra bolts of fabric, than see a customer leave not totally satisfied with her purchase. And do ask for help if you can not decide, but do not let yourself be bullied into selecting something you are not satisfied with. Even though it is ultimately your decision, sales assistants are there to help with opinions, to suggest options you had not considered of, and perhaps, to find that evasive bolt of fabric that's "just right" for you.
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To get more great tips about how to make a patchwork quilt, check out Maree Galt's patchwork quilt site now!
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