M
any patchwork and quilting
patterns tell you which
fabrics you should use for
that particular project, but what if
you don’t like the fabrics suggested?
Or what if you’re not even following
a pattern and want to come up with
your own design? What’s the best
way of deciding which colours and
patterns of fabrics to bring together
to make a beautiful piece of
patchwork? Well, the good news is
that you don’t have to sit around
waiting for inspiration to strike –
you can go out looking for it!
An obvious starting point is to pick one
piece of fabric that you love and simply
base your other fabric choices around
that favourite swatch. Fabric packs such
as charms and layer cakes are usually
selected from a single range of designs so
they’re intended to work well together, so
explore those options first.
Another great spur is simply to go out
for a walk – not only will the fresh air
clear your head (and of course you might
accidentally end up strolling past your
favourite fabric shop!) but you’ll also be
able to think about what catches your
eye: a pretty display in a florist’s window;
colours reflected in a puddle; different
shades of moss on a tree; even the colours
of certain cars parked together on the
street. Take a photo of everything that
appeals to you, then once you get home
pick one of your photographs and identify
the colours in it that you really like.
(There are even online services that can
generate colour palettes from an
uploaded photo, if you prefer.) With so
many fabrics available, finding
something that matches the palette of
your favourite photo should be easy.Essential Techniques
24 Beginner’s Guide to Quilting
All about...
CHOOSING FABRIC
COLOURS AND PATTERNS
Deciding upon a colour scheme and pattern for a quilt can
seem daunting. But instead of waiting for inspiration to strike,
go looking for it instead – it’s easy when you know how!JO AVERY’S SCRAPPY
SCALLOPS CUSHIONCOLOUR THEORIES
If you don’t feel confident about matching
up colours yourself, there are a few ways
to approach this. One is to simply work
with various shades of the same colour –
from pale pink, say, through to deep
magenta. Alternatively, you might want
to try experimenting with colour
theories. Using the colour wheel on the
right, choose a colour that you want to
work with, then pick out fabrics in the
colour that’s directly opposite it on thewheel: if your favourite swatch is blue,
then pick some orange-coloured fabrics to
complement it. For a more subtle effect,
pick a starting colour but choose the
colours either side of it on the wheel for a
harmonious range of hues: purple, pink
and red, perhaps.
Once you think you’ve found a colour
scheme you’re happy with, lay out the
fabrics and look at them from a distance- often you’ll just get a ‘feel’ for whether
they’re working together or not!
©Love Patchwork & Quilting,issue 4,bit.ly//1gmNQGn.