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  • How do you pick your material for a project????

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    Old 01-16-2013, 09:25 PM
      #41  
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    Originally Posted by DeborahH
    Hi Dolphyngyrl, thanks for letting me know that. Now I don't feel like it's just me that takes so long to figure out what fabrics go together. I spent an entire afternoon once trying to match fabrics for one of my table runners. I thought, it has to be easier than this. Then I see all the beautiful quilts on here and think 'how did they pick all that out'? It's amazing to me to see some really beautiful quilts on here. Some of the fabrics I would have never thought to put together but they look great

    Focus fabrics seem to jump out of the shelves yelling my name. Finding what goes well with them gets to be a task somedays.
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    Old 01-16-2013, 09:31 PM
      #42  
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    Originally Posted by susie-susie-susie
    When I first started quilting I found that fabrics that looked good together didn't when I got them home. I think the lighting in the stores distorted the colors. Also, I found that I tended to pick all medium fabrics rather than lights and darks mixed in. If you use your printer and the black and white setting you will be able to tell the lights, darks, and mediums apart. Just remember, practice makes perfect.
    Sue

    Years ago, I made a plaid skirt for my niece. Then I was going to knit a sweater to match. Believe it or not, the yarn I picked was peach and it matched the PINK PLAID prefectly, because the other colors in the plaid changed the appearance of the pink. So, since then, I don't get too hung up on "color" matches as much as how does it look when you back up 10 feet.
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    Old 01-17-2013, 05:52 AM
      #43  
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    Originally Posted by nygal
    If you check online at fat quarter bundles..the fabrics usually coordinate nicely. Even check out www.connectingthreads.com

    If you look at their fabrics they have them all displayed in style "groups or themes" together and you can mix and match and choose that way. You will learn more by experience. There are quilt books for beginners too that would be a nice help for you too.
    I just got connecting threads catalog the other day. I really enjoyed looking through it. Can you give me some titles of books that I can look for that would be helpful? I never know which books or magazines are good or not. Thanks!
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    Old 01-17-2013, 05:54 AM
      #44  
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    Thanks for all the great advice. I never thought to use the paint strips. Great idea. I will have to go get some and play with them. Ya'll are terrific. Love, love this site.
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    Old 01-17-2013, 03:39 PM
      #45  
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    If you have a friend that's really great at decorating her home or if she's really good at putting a wardrobe together ask her for opinions about fabrics and color choices.
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    Old 01-17-2013, 06:22 PM
      #46  
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    Color is most important to me - depends on pattern and what person wants if it's not for me. Just lay out some bolts of fabric and some fat quarters and you'll find what you're looking for. Then take it all by the window and look at it in day light. Believe me, it will save you from getting colors that don't look good together.
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    Old 01-18-2013, 04:47 AM
      #47  
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    Quilter1943 that is how I picked out my fabrics for my table runners. I guess it all works the same regardless of what you are making. Thanks.
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    Old 01-18-2013, 06:06 AM
      #48  
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    If it's for someone in particular, I go with their likes or colors they're using in whatever room the item is for. I recently finished a poppy lap quilt for my mom and the red matches her couch exactly! I was so tickled to see that. Right now I'm working on a comfort quilt for my niece, she likes frogs and bright pinks. I found a cute frog fabric at Joann's so that's my focus fabric and am using several other colors as well as a bright pink.

    If I'm doing something "just because", I usually try to find one fabric (in my stash or at the store) that I really like and that's my starting point. Sometimes - unfortunately for my budget - I find a fabric I fall in love with, buy some yardage and then find I have very little that goes with it in my stash...so it's back to the store for me! LOL
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    Old 01-18-2013, 06:12 AM
      #49  
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    Hi AnnT, thanks for the advice. I'm in Mount Juliet. I work with a girl from Maryville. Small world.
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    Old 01-18-2013, 06:37 AM
      #50  
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    I agree with Adamae. Designseeds.com is an excellent resource for color matching.
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