A well-made quilt is a thing of beauty. When the colors are right and the sewing is done properly, the result is comparable to a work of fine art. This is one of the top reasons why handmade quilts are sought after and make such wonderful gifts.
Those who have never quilted often assume that all it takes is sewing skill. And sewing skill is a very important factor. But equally important is the ability to choose the right colors.
Quilters often choose two or more colors of fabric that look good together, only to find out that they do not match very well halfway through the project. Doing all of that work for nothing is enough to make one feel like giving up quilting forever, or to make only solid-colored quilts.
But matching up colors doesn’t have to be a stumbling block. You can use a color wheel to determine which colors go with each other. If you’re making a two-color quilt, it’s really simple: just choose one color, and look directly across from it on the color wheel to find its complementary color.
For three-color quilts, you’ll need to find the triad, which means you choose three colors that are evenly spaced from one another. The three primary colors, red, yellow and blue, form a triad. When using four colors, look for a tetrad, which is two complementary colors and two colors evenly spaced from one of the complementary colors.
Another way that some quilters match colors is by using those color strips you find where paint is sold. They contain several colors that all co-ordinate with one another. And best of all, you can grab the ones that interest you and take them along when shopping for fabric.
Choosing the Best Color for a Given Purpose
When selecting the colors for a quilt, it is important to consider where it will be used to ensure that it will not clash with its surroundings. If you’re using it in your home, pick a color from the walls, flooring or décor of the room where you intend to use it and go from there. If you’re making it for someone else, visit their home or ask them what colors they use in the room where it will be displayed.
If you’re making someone a quilt as a gift and want it to be a surprise, choosing a color can be trickier. Unless you can visit their home or ask someone else what colors they decorate with, you won’t know what colors will be surrounding it. In such a case, you could simply use the recipient’s favorite color. Light, neutral colors also work well in such a situation.
Choosing the right colors can make the difference between a beautiful quilt and one that ends up in the “ho-hum” category of unsuccessful craft ideas. By choosing a good base color and using readily available tools to find co-ordinating colors, you can get it right each and every time… even if it’s your very first quilt!
