Choosing Fabrics and Colors

Choosing Fabrics

All fabrics for general quiltmaking should be 100% cotton. They should have a similar weight and thread count as muslin or broadcloth. Fabric that is woven too tightly (as in sheets) or woven too loosely (as in gauzy fabrics) is not suitable. Fabrics should be tested for colorfastness. New fabrics should be washed before using and pressed so that the grain is straight. Recycled fabrics or used clothes are fine as long as they show no signs of wear and are of a suitable fabric. Old sheets, however, are usually not suitable as they are too tightly woven for quilting.

Be aware, as you choose fabrics and colors, that several things can affect how the color 'reads' from a distance of a few feet. One is the 'sheen' or glossiness of a fabric finish, which can often make fabrics appear lighter. Another is metallic accents in a fabric, which can also cause the fabric to appear somewhat lighter. The most important thing that can change the appearance of a fabric from a distance is the interplay of colors within a fabric. For example, if you look at a tiny red and green stripe from a distance, you will see almost a solid gray. Many colors will affect each other in this way, so be sure to check the fabric from a distance to make sure that it has the effect that you are looking for.

Choosing Colors

Become familiar with the color wheel at right and the placement of colors on it. Also, become familiar with the color schemes below. This will help you to choose colors for your quilt.

Often the best way, however, is to choose something (i.e. a picture or print fabric) whose colors you like and make a color scheme from that.

Another good way to choose a color scheme is to draw the quilt top on the computer or graph paper and color it in with colored pencils till you get one that you love. Notice that dark, cool colors seem to recede while light, warm colors tend to advance toward you. Take note of the way that blocks placed side by side can often create new secondary patterns when colored creatively.

Color Theory

What is color theory?

Color Theory is a set of principles used to create harmonious color combinations. Color relationships can be visually represented with a color wheel — the color spectrum wrapped onto a circle.

The color wheel is a visual representation of color theory:

According to color theory, harmonious color combinations use any two colors opposite each other on the color wheel, any three colors equally spaced around the color wheel forming a triangle, or any four colors forming a rectangle (actually, two pairs of colors opposite each other). The harmonious color combinations are called color schemes – sometimes the term 'color harmonies' is also used. Color schemes remain harmonious regardless of the rotation angle.
 

Classic color schemes

Examples

Analogous:

Complimentary:

Definitions

Primary Colors:

The three main colors of the color wheel (blue, red and yellow) from which all other colors are made.
 

Secondary Colors:

The three colors of the color wheel that are midway between two primary colors (orange, green and purple).
 

Tertiary Colors:

The six colors of the color wheel (that are between secondary colors and primary colors (i.e. blue-green).
 

Value:

Whether a color is light, medium or dark.

Hue:

A pure color to which nothing has been added.

Tint:

A color to which white has been added to make it lighter.

Shade:

A color to which black has been added to make it darker.

Tone:

A color to which its complementary color (or gray) has been added to mute it.

Contrast:

A visible difference in value and/or color.

Warm colors:

The reds, oranges and yellows of fire and the sun.

Cool colors:

The blues and greens of sky and sea.

Negative Space:

A highly presumptuous word for background.

Please note that good color schemes are rarely made from the simple hues of each color. For example, the popular color scheme of pink and green is actually a complimentary color scheme using a tint of red (pink) and tones of green (usually sage or mint). The popular combination of blue and peach are actually a tone of primary blue and a tint of orange. When choosing a color scheme, look beyond the simple hues and consider variations of the colors in question.

For further information, contact:
KathKwilts@KathKwilts.com

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