How to Choose the Best Fabric for a Quilt
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Inside” How to Choose the Best Fabric for a Quilt
Have you ever walked into a fabric store and felt overwhelmed by all of the colors and choices? Your eyes are scanning the store from left to right, taking in all the vibrant colors. Then you come to a screeching halt and feel like running away.
The overwhelming feeling of too many choices causes fabric paralysis. That’s why I’m going to share some tips I’ve learned on How to Choose the Best Fabric for a Quilt.
How to Choose the Best Fabric for a Quilt
If you are walking through a quilt show, one of the things that will likely jump out is the particular fabrics used in the quilts. While attending a local quilt show I noticed that there were several entries using the same quilt pattern, but each quilt was unique based on the fabrics featured in their quilts. Some of the entries were also quilted in a way that highlighted features in a particular quilt.
Seeing this caused me to take a closer look at the art of choosing fabrics for a quilt. When you don’t have an art degree or years of quilting experience, where do you start when it comes to choosing quilt fabrics?
1. Try a Kit or a Pre-Cut Collection
Like me, many of you may be challenged in the area of choosing quilt fabrics. As in, you have no idea where to begin. When I first started quilting this was the place where I stalled, and to be perfectly honest, it still slows me down a little.
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While learning about quilting, why not consider a collection of fabric pre-cuts. They are a little more expensive, but this is the easiest way to learn how to curate a collection of fabrics for a quilt. Many collections will have a variety of fabrics with different print sizes (scale) and matching colors. Here’s what you’re likely to see:
- Large scale print
- Medium scale print
- Small scale print
- Geometric or Striped variation
- Random Dots
This isn’t a hard and fast rule, it is more of a guideline for many collections. Following this template allows you to eventually move on to choosing your own fabrics from a variety of collections.
The same is basically true when you work with a Kit. All of the fabrics are chosen for you in advance according to size, scale, and color. Choosing a kit will allow you to build your quilting confidence before branch out and making fabrics choices on your own. This example shows a modern variation of a kit where fabrics from a collection are pieced together to create a modern design. Notice all the different pattern sizes and the use of solids.
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2. Color Theory
- Choosing colors for a quilt is a big topic that could use a post of its own. Since this post isn’t dedicated to color theory, I am going to encourage you to take a little time to learn more about color in quilts. This Craftsy class on Color Play for Quilters covers the topic extensively.
- On a very basic level, the best place to start is with a piece of fabric that you want to build a quilt around. Get out that ever-useful color wheel and compare it with the colors in your fabric. The color wheel will help you choose either complementary or contrasting color.
One thing that has really helped me gain a better understanding of color in quilts is taking my colored pencils and drawing out the quilt. It’s not perfect, but I get a basic understanding of how the colors will play out on a quilt.
I recently invested in a software program called EQ8 which allows me to download fabric collections and then play around with quilt design and color. There is a learning curve (which I haven’t completely conquered) with this program; however, I am able to quickly see if my color choices are going to go together or not. The program is available for PCs and Mac’s. They also have a pared down version called EQ Mini which is less expensive and not quite as complicated.
3. What is Low Volume Fabric?
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The first time I heard the term “Low Volume Fabric” I had no idea what the instructor was talking about. Low volume is a term that refers to the color value of a piece of fabric. These fabrics will look like they are light, but they usually have a secondary design. They are more common in modern quilts and you will see them used as background fabrics.
The key to using low volume fabrics in a quilt is to make sure your featured fabric is a bright, saturated color and has a high contrast compared to your low volume fabric. If you choose something too close in color value, your design won’t stand out as much. I made that mistake with this quilt.
I love to use low volume fabrics for half-square triangles. It adds a little interest to the quilt but still looks like it has a light background. These are also fun fabrics to collect when you’re on a shop hop. I try to pick up one or two every time I visit a new quilt shop. You never know what you’ll find!
4. Pay Attention to Scale
When choosing printed fabrics it’s important to pay attention to the overall scale or size of the design printed on your fabric. Some quilts work better with small prints that could almost read like a solid. These are great because they add a little interest to your quilt.
Quilt designs with larger blocks can be a great way to highlight a larger print. Picture something really interesting in the center of a quilt block, then set it off with contrasting sashing.
One way you can determine scale is by measuring the pattern repeat in the fabric. This will help you determine how best to use a piece of fabric.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
When choosing fabrics for a quilt, there really is no substitute for practice. I believe the best place to start is by understanding the color wheel. From there, you should try practicing with some scraps. Once you’ve gained a little confidence, it’s time to visit a quilt shop and start auditioning fabrics. Best of all, no more fabric paralysis.
Leslie, I am so excited to have found you. I am a fellow Texan that has NO and I do mean NO sense of what looks right together. I have three GRAND daughters…the oldest goes to Tarleton and wears jeans and boots and is a happy camper. She has always smiled at the clothes I make her…but prefers “stuff” for her room or when she was younger, for her dolls. The middle one has a strong opinion of her own and has told me what to do since she could talk…and she really does have a good sense of color and design (maybe why she will probably do something in the art field). The third will be one next week and her mother is like the middle grandchild…even though not her mother…she has told me what to make and how to make it since she could talk. I just wish someone would send me two yards of fabric each week and some contrast fabrics and then I would be a happy camper too. I love the doing…just not figuring out what I am going to do.
Your tips on putting quilt fabrics together overwhelmed me…showed me why I wanted to quilt when I retired but haven’t found that it works for me. I envy those who can and do!!! I will reread a few more times and maybe some of it will sink in.
Thank you and I will be exploring your site…sundresses to wear a shirt under should work for fall? Love the two I have seen so far. :>) Mary Sue
I am just the opposite with fabric and love to decide on combos and trim, etc. I actually prefer that part to the ” doing”. I’m talking about clothing and home goods here as I don’t quilt.
I’m really replying to give you a heads up! A friend is always sending me links from “stumbledupon”. The latest one was on ‘The 37 Best Sewing Hacks’. Imagine my surprise and pleasure to see at least TWO (maybe more, I haven’t finished reading it), courtesy of The Seasoned Homemaker. Of course, I recognized them and shouldn’t be surprised, but I always feel like you’re my personal secret.
Treresa, I need you to be close to me…:>) MS
Simple and sweet! thank you for the tutorial
OK! i guess i sent an email instead of posting here. Anyway, i forgot the link.http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7jtLUp/:1GyOym@jh:npHuJbLX
At least two of these 37 BEST Sewing Hacks are courtesy of The Seasoned Homemaker!
I love the bright fabrics in the article with
Dots, swirls and lines especially the red, blues
Oranges and yellows. Can you please tell me where I can find them and what line they are from?
Thanks so much,
Kelly
My mom was telling me that she wants to start making quilts for her kids, but she didn’t really know how to find the right materials. One thing that really stood out to me is that you say to try and use colored pencils to match colors. It would be nice to know that you are going to match everything in the end.
My mom and I are going to build a quilt for my cousin’s baby shower. We have never done this. I like that you mentioned selecting a color to center the quilt around. I think this is a great starting point and will really help get this project going.
Thank you for this post. I like precuts but there is always at least 4 designs I never use, I don’t really like dots, stars or stripes. My preference is floral prints, from tiny to mid sized, and solids. I don’t mind cutting my own strips or squares from yardage and I save a lot of money that way.
When I put together colors for a new project I ask my sister for her opinion. She doesn’t quilt but her “eye for color” is great. Between us we put together some really nice color and design combinations.