Have you ever been to a quilt shop?
Have all those vibrant colors on the tall shelves left you speechless?
Have all those prints overwhelmed you?
Have you felt extreme happiness on feeling the fabrics against your skin?
It is a common feeling experienced by quilters. However, with so many choices, many quilters end up with the wrong fabrics for their project. Therefore, we are sharing some easy tips for selecting the best fabrics for a quilting project. Take a look.
Select a color palette
Selecting the color palette for a quilting project is subjective. You might have come across a photo in a magazine or Pinterest that would have instantly drawn you, or you have a go-to color palette that you always use.
Use any color palette and then conjugate it with new colors to create a new combination.
Figure out the scale of your print
After selecting the color palette, figure out the scale of the prints. Ideally, an engaging quilt comprises a combination of large, medium, and small prints that create a nice visual.
However, there is no such rule of thumb. Sometimes, small prints in different tones also look pretty.
Start with selecting a focal point fabric
If you have already set your eyes on one fabric, use it as a focal point for your project. Now add fabrics based on the colors of your focal point fabric.
For instance, if your focal point fabric is multicolored, select other fabrics in colors of the focal print fabric and add some other tones and smaller prints for contrast.
Select the fabric print according to the size of the cut
Before you select any fabric print, determine the cuts you would like for your quilting project and then select the scale of the print as per.
For instance, if you are planning to cut small squares of large print fabric, the print might not stand out in the finished product, or worse, it will go unrecognizable. Hence, select large prints for large cuts and small prints for small fabric cuts.
Up your contrast game
The best thing about quilting is that it lets you play with colors. It allows you to throw dark, medium, and light colors together and create magic.
Once you have selected the fabrics, determine whether or not you have enough contrast. One of the easiest ways to do it is by placing all the fabrics together and clicking the picture. Then, apply a black and white filter and see the contrast variations. If there is no variation, the end product might not come across as desired, and the design will appear undefined.
Mix and match textures
When selecting the fabric, do not restrict it to one texture. Be open to multiple textures to add more variations to your final product.
This trick works when you wish to select similar colors or tones but still want to make the quilt interesting. Here, you can add variations by mixing a plethora of textures like linen, woven, cotton, etc.
With this, you can stick to one color while also adding some drama.
Pick some solid fabrics
The best way to use bigger prints and saturated colors is by neutralizing them with solid colors. By dispersing solid colors evenly, you create a good visual contrast and give your eyes a place to rest. Moreover, solid colors make the prints pop.
You can use any color that compliments your palette to break the prints and create different quilting patterns.
The bottom line
The outcome of your quilting project depends on multiple factors, and the fabrics you select is one of them.
Use these tips to select the best fabric for your quilting project and weave magic.
