Decide Your Quilt Color Scheme
One of the first steps quilters will need to take is deciding their color scheme. Some quilts are very scrappy with each block having different patterns, colors and designs. Sometimes this seems very haphazard but comes together nicely or fits the pattern of the quilt well. Other quilts are carefully matched with just two to six colors throughout.
Examine The Quilt Pattern Carefully
Look at your quilt pattern sample quilt and see what style it lends itself to. Does the pattern have a lot of small pieced blocks that each seem to stand alone, allowing for a scrap-buster quilt? Does the pattern have larger pieces and sashing borders that need to be all one particular fabric?
With larger blocks or pieces of fabric you’ll need to either purchase fabric, or use larger yardage from your fabric stash. With smaller pieced blocks you can more easily combine the small scraps you may still have in your collection.
Substituting Fabrics Based on Value and Hue
Sometimes it can be really easy to substitute your fabrics based on the general color values, or the light and dark of the fabrics in the pattern. For example, a simple pinwheel or hourglass quilt block usually has light fabrics contrasting with darker fabrics. In this case, substituting the sample color scheme for one of your own is a simple thing to do.
For example, it doesn’t matter that the sample has a white background with floral prints and you hate floral prints. You could use a cream, beige or other light toned background of your own choosing – it doesn’t have to me white. If you stick with a color in the same value range of “light” however, the overall effect of your finished quilt will be similar to that of the pattern quilt sample.
Substitute Prints for Trendy Quilt Color Schemes
There are some up and coming color schemes that seem to always look good together. If you want to pull together a less scrappy, more coordinated look, consider using fabrics from some of these trendy color designs in your quilt.
- Pink and Brown – This color scheme has made a big-time come back, especially for baby quilts.
- Polka Dots – Who knew that dotted quilt fabric would be so popular again. Combine with solids or stripes.
- Batiks – Still growing in popularity, the jewel tone and vibrat hues of batiks are unmistakable and sure to please to the eye.
- Color on Black – Instead of building your quilt on a white or light base, many Amish-inspired quilts use a much darker, muted background to help the bright colors pop.
- Holiday Inspired – Many holiday prints and designs exist for beautiful holiday quilts.
Whatever color scheme you decide to go with, you should not be afraid to experiment as a quilter. It’s easy to substitute your sample quilt colors for whatever you have in your stash, or what catches your eye in this season’s line-up at the quilt store.
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