Choosing fabrics is one of the most fun parts of quilting! Sometimes it can be one of the most overwhelming parts too! There aren't many hard-and-fast rules when it comes to choosing fabric. The most important thing is that you love the fabrics you are using. These tips are simply tools to help you make choices with confidence.
1. Color
When choosing a color palette, I like to start with a fabric I am really drawn to. Look closely at the print and see what other colors are hiding in it. Pulling fabrics that coordinate with those colors is a great way to build a successful color palette.
Your fabrics don't have to be a dead-on match. Don't be afraid to use different versions of the same color. A little variation in color can make your quilt more interesting and give it more depth.
The color wheel is another great tool. Here are a few color combinations to try:
- Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green or blue and orange.
- Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue, blue-green, and green.
- Monochromatic means choosing one color and using different shades, tones, and variations of that color.
And if choosing colors feels overwhelming, that's okay! Fabric manufacturers create fabric collections specifically so the fabrics within a collection coordinate with each other. Choosing fabrics from the same collection is a pretty foolproof way to get started.
2. Contrast
Contrast is just as important as color. Contrast is the difference between light and dark, bright and muted, or one fabric and another.
A quilt can contain beautiful colors but still be difficult to read if all of the fabrics are similar in value. When there is enough contrast, the individual pieces and shapes of your quilt block will be easier to see.
One easy way to check for contrast is to take a photo of your fabrics with your phone and change the photo to black and white. This removes the color and allows you to see the difference between the light, medium, and dark fabrics.
When choosing fabrics for a pattern, pay attention to whether the pattern calls for light, medium, and dark fabrics. Having a good variety of values will help your quilt design stand out.
3. Scale
I love a big print, but large-scale prints can be tricky to use in quilts with small pieces.
Remember that the beautiful design you see on the bolt will be cut into smaller pieces. If the pieces are small, you may lose much of the print or the print may become so busy that you can't really see the original design.
For example, in some patterns, the largest cut may be 6" x 6". Many of the other pieces are considerably smaller. A small or medium-scale print will work especially well because the design will still be visible after it is cut.
That doesn't mean you can't use a large-scale print! Large prints can make beautiful backgrounds, borders, or statement fabrics. Just think about the size of the pieces you will be cutting and how much of the print you want to see.
4. Directional Fabrics
Directional fabrics have a definite “up” and “down”. For example, stripes, rows of flowers, or a print where the objects are all facing the same direction are all directional.
If you are particular about having your fabric always facing the same direction, you may want to avoid directional prints, especially when you are first learning to piece.
It is absolutely possible to use directional fabric, but it requires more planning and careful cutting. Sometimes you may need to rotate or rearrange pieces as you construct your blocks, and you may need a little extra fabric to make sure everything lines up the way you want.