Please welcome, Deborah Moebes of Whipstich, my first guest for a new monthly feature. Because we HEART fabric.
When a new collection of fabric ships to the shop in Atlanta, I have a tendency to check over and over and over again to see when it arrives. I have been known to make a special trip over to the store the minute it comes in to make sure that I grab a little bit for myself. Not every fabric, obviously, but the ones that I've really been craving, the ones that I've seen in advance and have been dreaming of running my hands over. The two most recent of those are sitting on my windowsill right now, waiting for me to find a minute to play with them.
I super love 1001 Peeps, the new line from Lizzy House--not only because the designs are awesome, but also because I love that Lizzy always THINKS about her collections. This one is intended to flesh out the colors of Castle Peeps and broaden the spectrum so that the two collections work together, which I really love. I love that the prints all revolve around the tales of Scheherezade, and that Lizzy has spent so much time incorporating the feel and time of the stories into the prints. I love that she's written an entire book based on these fabrics full of amazing patterns and ideas so that you can work with them right away to make something beautiful (naturally, we're carrying the book in the shop, too, so you can grab one as you're browsing the fabrics--I know I have a copy, and I luuuurve it).
The other stack I've been really eyeing and anticipating is Children at Play from Sarah Jane. I get an email from the manufacturer alerting me when a shipment is headed my way, and when I got the UPS notification this time, I just knew it was Children at Play. I was actually counting days until this was in the shop--and it's been flying out the door so fast I was a little concerned I wouldn't get any for my very own! Seriously: the web shop has been blowing up with orders for this line, and I hear that it's already being reprinted by the manufacturer for those shops who ordered late and didn't get their shipment the first go-round.
Easy to see why: the prints are individually charming and collectively cohesive and delightful, with no filler or throw-away prints to be found. Each one is really strong, and I can imagine using every single one to make some treasured toy or garment for my own kids. My biggest struggle was choosing a single print to get in yardage for a dress for my girls--naturally, that means I got a half-yard bundle of everything so I could "audition" each print. Because that's reasonable.
I'm holding off making quilts or larger projects from either of these collections until I choose just exactly the right Kona solids to go with them:
I think I might have mentioned my love affair with Kona solids before. Have I mentioned it? Because I love them. Love them, love them. So as I'm working with these newest collections, I'm digging through my Kona stacks to choose just the right Konas to complement the other prints. I like to make sure there's some negative space, some restful place for the eye, in each of my larger projects, and I find the saturation and richness of Konas always does the right trick. I would be ashamed of how many colors I've collected--if I wasn't so busy congratulating myself over them. Woot!
::Giveaway::
In honor of my Kona passion, Whipstitch is giving away a bundle of FIVE half yards of Kona in your choice of colors from the Whipstitch shop to Stitched in Color readers!
Just leave a comment here telling me how you decide what colors to use in your projects--do you use an online tool? your eye ball? always natural lighting? your mom's advice? What makes you certain that a particular shade is the right color for your project? I jump around and use so many different techniques, and I'd love to hear from you how you make your decisions!
Giveaway is open through noon (EST), Saturday the 23rd. and ships anywhere in the world.
mostly by eyeball, and with natural light. I pick the colour that sings out to me. thanks for a chance to win.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I need to just more solids! I barely use any as it is. I just love patterns so much. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, right?
ReplyDeleteI try to pick out colours that are in my main fabric and fingers crossed it should work out.
ReplyDeleteI am so hap hazard when it comes to color choice. I usually just walk around the LQS until I see something that pushes my creative button, then use that as the spring board. I love doing it that way too. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for giveaway! I pick colors by eye and just cause I like them. It leads to lots of bright colors and at times makes it hard to pick when making gifts for others with different tastes.
ReplyDeletei mostly eyeball.. but usually i bring little snips/scraps of the fabrics i have in the quilt. Then i color match to something in those fabrics. :)
ReplyDeleteI color match my solids to the prints via natural light and eyeballing -- never online because computer screens can be different colors. I love both of those lines btw I need to get my hands on some of them! =)
ReplyDeleteLy
lyannab(at)gmail(dot)com
I don't have a LQS within 3 hours of my house so I do all of my shopping online! I order the prints first and then pull out the Kona card to match solids around. Then I have to wait again for the solids to come in the mail.
ReplyDeleteMy solid stash isn't that big, so I usually pull out my KONA color card & start there...
ReplyDeleteA difficult question to answer, but I'll give it a go:
ReplyDeleteIt's mainly the feeling I get, does this equal eyeballing?
I doubt my choice until I know for sure: then I'll change or leave it.
The funny thing is, I sometimes ask my husband for advice (he's got a feel for these things, maybe better than I have ...). Anyway, he says this or that.
Sometimes I follow his advice and sometimes (so I've noticed) on asking him "which do you think: this or that", at that exact moment I don't doubt anymore: I know my choice is right.
So maybe explaining to someone is a good way to make your choice: why this and why not that?!
I hope you could follow my ramblings ...
i usually start with a vague idea, like "I want an aqua/red quilt" and then pull fabrics from the stash that might fit that idea. then i discard the ones that don't work.
ReplyDeletei'd love to be able to find a way to do it without completely dismantling my fabric stash and then having to put it all back together again but i haven't found a solution for that yet. :-)
knottygnome@gmail.com
I mostly eyeball. My quilting space has lots of natural light which also helps. If I am dithering about a particular color, I bring in a friend. Two sets of eyeballs!! I love this giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'm equally crazy about 1001 Peeps. I've been working on a project using the line, and it's just so much fun. I honestly wasn't too crazy about Castle Peeps (although that's changed) at first, but this line is just so cute!
ReplyDeleteAs for picking fabrics/colors, it's mostly just putting them together to see what works. I like going through the stash, picking a large selection, and then narrowing it down from there. I do have a Kona color card, which I use often. It's very helpful when choosing which colors are missing from the stash!
I buy most of my fabrics at a store rather than online as I like to hold the fabrics against the different solids until I find the one that "sings" to me. I need to get a Kona color card because then I would feel more confident selecting solids online to go with fabrics in my stash.
ReplyDeleteMostly eyeball and in natural light. I either use some colour similar to something you can find in the other fabrics or something completely different. I buyed a Kona card because colours in the computer can be different IRL.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, terrific giveaway!
Ultimately mums advice every time. She is my colour consultant! :-)
ReplyDeleteI usually make things for friends or family, so I just think about what their favorite colors are and go from there! I'm pretty terrible at choosing coordinating solids though, so I'll have to learn from everyone else's techniques! :)
ReplyDeleteI seem to order tropical salad whenever I choose Konas. Banana, papaya, mango, lemon, and lagoon to cool it all down!
ReplyDeleteBoth lines are really nice and have colors in them that would make it hard to decide on solids! I usually decide which colors in the prints I'm using that I love the most and then visit my Kona solids card to find shades that either exactly match or really compliment those colors. I used to think solids were soooo boring, but since I started quilting last year, I have proven myself sooo wrong ;) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteDepending on the project, I usually pick a main fabric that grabs my heart and then select colors that complement it. Using a design wall to experiment with placement helps too!
ReplyDeleteBeing a fairly new quilter, I don't trust my judgement too much so I usually start with a group of fabric from a collection and then add to it. I love solids and all the beautiful colours available now...could always use more! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI use my prints as my starting point. Then I do a whrilwind tour of all the LQS to see if anything there strikes my fancy. If not I use my Kona Card. It can be so hard either way. I think I should just have a bolt of every single one. Problem solved right? Love the giveaway, Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI pick color by but feeling and just eying it. I put strange colors together and they always work out. I try NOT to pick the obvious and instead go for wow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway opportunity!
I usually just eyeball things preferably in natural light. Thanks for the giveaway, I would love to win some kona solids.
ReplyDeleteLOOK at those Kona solids. I've fallen in love with solids, this year.
ReplyDeleteI generally pick color by eyeballing it, but I also have a Kona color card. Usually I toss the first color idea I have as too obvious, like the first idea for a story line is usually too obvious. I keep playing with the color idea until it looks back at me and says "Pick me, pick me!"
I bought a set of color tone cards when I first started quilting, but I have yet to use it. For me, working by eye works best for me. I usually pick one color that really appeals to me, and allow the other colors to just fall into place.
ReplyDeleteI use natural lighting and eyeball it...I would love an extreme Kona stash (and have pondered getting a color card) to match things up better.
ReplyDeleteI usually have a color scheme in mind, and then I just pick fabrics to fit. If I'm buying fabrics, I put them together at the store to see if they'll work well together before I buy. I'm also pretty good at matching things up from memory, which is pretty helpful. So no, not really any technique that I can share - just my eyes and instincts!
ReplyDeleteThere is no science to what I do, I usually have one fabric I just LOOOVE and I just pull things to go with it. I eyeball and sometimes it stays and sometimes it goes back. I just build what I like together by eyeballing differant options together. I also walk around the house, holding it up to see it in differant light. If the neighbors ever see me through the window they are definitly going to think I've either lost it, lol
ReplyDeleteLove that rainbow of Kona!
ReplyDeleteI usually pick solids by sight and try to match one of the minor colors in a print I want to coordinate with. Either that, or pick a neutral solid to set off a favorite print.
I am an "eyeball" and fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl. I am slowly learning to stop and step back and take a bit more time to make just the right selections instead of just running with what I have on hand at the moment. But, it's a steep curve, and like I said, I'm moving slowly. ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Amy
I can't pick fabrics to save my life, but I know exactly how I'd choose the Kona solids: I'm doing an embroidered quilt project for my son's teacher, and it each block is a different color of the rainbow. I'd love to win!
ReplyDeleteI am slowly becoming more confident in my color selections, but I feel like I am getting better at it. I mostly eyeball it. Going through the process of picking some winning yardage might help me flex my skills!
ReplyDeleteI like using online tools (such as colourlovers and adobe's kuhler), but those can only help me with ideas. In the end, I'm an eyeballer and I chose the fabric color that speaks to me. It depends on what I want to "stand out" in the quilt.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm trying to match with fabrics I already have, I staple a little strip of each fabric to a piece of card and take it with me. I find it is the best way to get the right match. Buying online is much harder, and I have to go with colour descriptions and the picture on screen. This is much harder and I get more 'misses' this way.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the solids is making my heart beat faster!
I'm just learning the importance of solids and I really need one of those Kona Color Cards! I'm afraid to just pick colors online. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI have to put the fabrics together, lay them out on the floor in the living room and then live with them for a while - day and night - all type of light. I move, switch, add and delete until I am happy. Same way I lay out blocks before stitching rows. Time consuming but I have more time than naught these days.
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it and pick things I like. Doesn't always work out, but at least I love every fabric that I use.
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it. Natural light is a must.
ReplyDeleteI usally start in my stash pull what speaks to me then head to my LQS and add from there.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the eyeballs, and the general overall feeling I get at looking at the combinations. (in natural light of course)
ReplyDeleteSpecial quilts I start with a focus fabric and pick what I like from that. I scap quilt a lot so just eyeball it. I pull it all out and then discard if something screams at me.
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely no method, I suppose I should be more careful and thoughtful when I choose my fabric. My thing is if my fabric combo looks good to me and gives me the right feeling, I'm just going with it. It usually works. But I do question myself a lot during the process.
ReplyDeleteI usually go with the colors that 'speak' to me at the time. I always tend to have a difficult time loving a quilt if I have to pick colors for someone and the color way isn't what I would have picked out.
ReplyDeleteI usually have a colorway in mind and I work my way around the store until I find the perfect fit. So, I guess that I eyeball it.
mostly my eyeball but I sometimes drag my husband into the whole debate. He has a great eye for colour. I call him my quilt advisor!
ReplyDeleteI usually just eyeball it. Although, I buy 95% of my fabric on-line so I have been known (on rare occasion) to ask the Etsy shop owner if she thinks something matches! HA! :) Thanks for a great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun column idea! Thanks for the giveaway. I eyeball it, checking it in all kinds of light (natural, evening, incandescent). I also sometimes take photos in colour and black and white so I can check the values.
ReplyDeleteI usually start with a couple fabrics that speak to me, and eyeball around those. I'm pretty decent at guessing colors that work together through computer screens, but I prefer seeing things in person before I commit to anything. If it doesnt work, it just goes into stash! Recently though, I've gone as far as making practice or test blocks, and add or subtract colors even more. I trust my eyes the most though, if a color doesnt look right, it probably isnt.
ReplyDeleteI pick colors based on the recipient of the quilt. If it's for a friend or relative, I find out what their favorite colors are, or what the room's decor looks like. Most of my quilts are "charity quilts", so I try to make some girl-ish and some boy-ish. Soft florals mixed with batiks, or bold prints mixed with poke-your-eye-out bold solids.
ReplyDeleteI mostly eyeball the colors. I'll pick one fabric that I really like, then pull colors from that main fabric to find other fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI'm also very VERY new at sewing and quilting. So the colorbrick quilt I'm working on now is made from a fat quarter bundle that someone else put together. I just thought it looked nice!
I've learned to go with what feels right. Just before I started quilting, my husband and I started remodeling our entire house - which means picking LOTS of paint colors. I was dreadful at it then - but now that I've started quilting, and just listening to my brain's "This feels right!" signals, my color combinations have gotten much better. I definitely agonize more over picking solids than prints, though, I'm with you there! :)
ReplyDeletewhen choosing fabric, i pull out a pile of fabrics that i think would be good, then let my hubby decide which one(s) to use... he's so much better at colour than me! gooberific@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI use my print fabrics as a guide to picking solids. I tuck them in my purse and compare, contrast and ponder at the quilt store. :)
ReplyDeletemommymonster@rocketmail.com
I'm only recently back to quilting and so far none of my projects have included solids other than sashing, so I'm trying to get up the nerve to use more solids in a project! Not sure how I'll decide what to use, though I did recently find an online tool to help. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteI normally start with one main fabric or set and then build off of them. I like to go to the quilt shop so that I can see the fabrics together rather than ordering them online (even though I have done that before, too).
ReplyDeletechoosing fabrics is the most fun and time consuming steps in creating a quilt for me. I love this step. I dig out all my fabrics and pick through them individually and play until I'm happy with the colors. Then I keep them stacked together and leave them out so I can see them for at least a week. Just to make sure it's perfect and if not I just start over. I love starting projects just for this step in the process.
ReplyDeleteI use my Kona color card. It has been insanely helpful on so any projects, I can't imagine picking out my solids without it!
ReplyDeleteI mostly eyeball. But I also take photos of the fabric and turn them into black and white on my computer, so I can see how the tones look together. It sometimes changes what I've picked.
ReplyDeleteI use a design board to pick the fabrics for my projects. Love Kona fabrics! They're the best to work with. Thanks for a chance to win.
ReplyDeletetwelve30{at}gmail{dot}com
I always find it difficult to choose colours and agonise for hours (with some online ad-hoc random additional fabric purchases always taking place at the 11th hour!). I'm trying to get myself to chill out about it - cos it'll work 9 times out of 10 without panic buying! I have a kona colour card that helps too
ReplyDeleteUsually I let my choices sit on a shelf where I can admire them for a few months.
ReplyDeleteI use my eye
ReplyDeletejust picking the colors that I like and then assuming they will look good together
Love your blog! I usually eye-ball it, which is why I am having a problem finding fabric right now! I am making a quilt for my 7-yr daughter and she requested purple. I purchased some of Sis Boom's lovely queen street and it is just the perfect purple. My problem is I can't find enough other purple fabric(that I like) to match! Would you happen to know if the purples in that new 1001 peeps coordinate??
ReplyDeletemostly eyeball - i usually pick up a print or collection i like then match the solid to it - very partial to white or vanilla (it goes with most)so a little collection of different kona colours would be very exciting - thanks for the opportunity to win
ReplyDeleteIf I'm buying online a lot is left to luck and helpful shop owners! Though I do have a Kona shade card which I use for plain purchases
ReplyDeleteI just pick color combos I like for a project, and then I use my Kona card when it comes to matching solids to my pattern fabric. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI just eyeball it until something clicks. Like other commenters, I have a Kona card too that helps me with online solids purchases, although I rarely buy something to match something. I buy colors that look yummy and add them to my stash.
ReplyDeleteI usually find 'my' fabrics jumps off the shelf at me!! (or out of the screen!) Of course if it's not quite right then I'm forced to buy more!!!
ReplyDeleteEyeball it in NATURAL light. I use my kitchen table to spread it all out because there is a 7 x 9 foot window / door that lets in immense amounts of light.
ReplyDeleteI too LOVE Kona solids. My collection isn't quite as extensive as yours, but I do love 'em a lot!
Paul
www.OutnumberedQuilter.com
fabulous giveaway! i usually start with a few fabrics and then search in the store and online for coordinating pieces - the selections then get weeded out and added to a few times before the final mix is decided on - i love the process!
ReplyDeleteI usually have a vague color scheme picked out for the quilt, choose three or four prints, decide on the solids, then add the remaining prints. Then I generally change my mind on everything and start over...
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it based on the color swatch on my computer screen and just hope and pray that they'll look good together. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI start with one fabric I love and then start with pulling from my stash and just lay fabrics near the focus piece for a while and see what sticks. Then I use my kona color card to pick some solids. I like solids :)
ReplyDeleteMostly all eye ball............ I'm just getting back to quilting after a few year of not doing anything while the kids were little so I really need to build up my stash of gorgeous solids!!!
ReplyDeleteBoth of those collections are on my "To Buy" list! I am a beginner, so I devour blogs and flickr groups to get inspiration. I'm still learning to trust myself and my own instincts. :) Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I've only used a solid once! I tried to find a solid once, only to be disappointed because I couldn't find the right shade. I actually need help picking fabrics... I shouldn't be left alone in fabric stores ;)
ReplyDeleteUsually I have one or two fabrics in mind that I want to use, and then I grab from my stash for the rest, or hit up the local shops. Then I rethink my choices like ten times, have my husband give input (he's artsy like that), think about it more, ask my mother-in-law (again, she has a good eye), and finally make a decision. :) My fabric choices on any particular piece change a LOT before I'm done!
ReplyDeleteI have finally amassed a decent stash of solids. So I bring out the prints I want to use, and go shopping in my stash. I use not only natural light, but also shine my Ott light on the whole group.
ReplyDeleteSo, yes, I use my eye.
What a great giveaway!
Colour is so organic - sometimes I just feel the colours, other times I'm blown away by something I see in nature. It nevers ceases to amaze me just how many colours you can find in a tiny snapshot in time.
ReplyDeleteRight now I tend to use coordinating prints from 1 line. It's hard to shop online! I am just delving into Konas. I'm going to buy fat quarter packs in one color at a time so I can build my stash.
ReplyDeleteThis would be awesome, lately I've been feeling inspiration to make a quilt with just Kona solids. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHow I choose depends on whether I want contrast or blending. For contrast, just what pleases me via eyeball and my mood for what colors I want to look at during my project. For blending, natural light so I can get the closest match.
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish I had a good system. I usually wing it, order online if I have to and say a prayer that it works out how I envisioned. I would *love* and kona color card!
ReplyDeleteI pretty much choose what I love. That said, I tend to go for the contrast a lot more. Whatever color is shown the least amount in a fabric, I'll pick that color for the solid. Would so love to win!
ReplyDeletesewlori27@yahoo.com
ooh, that's a tricky question. I tend to wing it a lot. If I'm torn between a few colors that I know will be good stash builders regardless, I might buy some yardage of all of them just to have the options. I definitely refer to my Kona color card all the time too. and if I'm in a fabric store with my husband (which actually happens fairly often), I bounce everything off of him (poor guy).
ReplyDeleteOmgsh kona solids. I have only recently discoevered these, thanks to the bottled rainbows! But I took ages choosing my colours copying and pasting small squares into a word document to see which went best together and in which order, basically by eye. So I use both! But sometimes at a fabric shop, I ask my mum or dad, or just the colour I like the best (:
ReplyDeleteI have a room in my apartment that is called the "imagination room" in the floor plan, but is basically a Florida room. Lucky for me, there's hardly any furniture in there, leaving plenty of floor space for me to play with fabric combinations and "imagine" what could be :)
ReplyDeleteSo far, I've ordered Kona online to match fabric at home and it didn't work out as well as I'd hoped :) I would love to get a Kona Colour card to help with that.
ReplyDeleteI just eyeball it in natural light. I try to choose the closest color to one in the print fabrics or sometimes I use something completely different. I need to purchase a Kona card one of these days!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, terrific giveaway!
I use my Kona color card to select solids to go with my projects. I also use my Kona color card to identify and label (permanent marker on the selvage) my fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI am really new to quilting so I don't know if I have really developed a method yet. My second quilt ever, which is currently ready to be quilted, is make completely with kona solids. I just love it! I purchased a kona color card, so I have been using this to match up my printed fabric with the solids. I am definitely look forward to making more projects using this fabric.
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it in good light and go with my instinct.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely not afraid to ask online shop owners questions about the color... I figure if they don't respond to me, my business can be taken elsewhere... but they are all usually so good!
ReplyDeleteChoosing colors? Usually I start with a block or design that I like. From there, I choose whatever fabric that is in my stash. The colors sometimes follow as what I saw as the completed quilt or blocks.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the fabric will tell me what to make but this is very rare.
I spend shameful amounts of time with my Kona color card trying to decide which shade I prefer. Then I almost always go with my first gut instinct. akmajor (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. Thanks. I need to give kona solids a try. I am mostly a 'print that reads like a solid' kind of girl, but you have me reconsidering. I mostly find a fabric that I adore and build around it. Used to just use fabrics from the same line, but have rrecently ventured out of that box. Trouble is, I don't live close to a shop, so I see what someone else has done or stay within one line, because I know it will work. However I am starting to ask online stores to select some oprions for me from which to choose. I find that they are quite helpful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sponsoring the give away! Hugs!
I like to use a picture I have or just pull out fabrics that I think will look good together.
ReplyDeleteI just pull fabric form my stash see what works good together and see where there may be blanks to fill and go form there
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance of the giveaway. I have learned to always ask the opinion of my 10 year old daughter. She is brutally honest about my color choices. It sure is fun to bring her into the process to see things from her perspective.
ReplyDeletemheldmyer@bellsouth.net
I generally go for a contrasting fabric rather than a blender. I pick something that I like and run with it. This usually gives me a place for creative quilting.
ReplyDeleteI'm always nervous about choosing just the right color for my project. I have a Kona color card that I love to get out and look at for an insane amount of time. Unfortunately I don't live close to a quilt shop that carries solids so I usually browse around on Flickr and see what other people have used and I also look on Etsy for idea of solid bundles that match the collections. I would love for Whipstitch to include ideas for solids that match some of the collections they carry. That would be cool!
ReplyDeleteYour Kona stash is lovely!! I use both, my eyeball and natural light. Sometimes just letting it set for a day or two then looking at it again is all I need to justify my choices.
ReplyDeleteI start differently, but I always expand in the same ways. So the start can be the desire to use a particular fabric, or the desire to use one or two particular colors. After that though, it's always, try fabrics in a natural light, and then ask my friends what they think :) Thanks so much for sharing both your love of fabric and the fabric itself!
ReplyDeleteI'm not very good at picking coordinating colors. I tend to be very matchy matchy... that is something I would like to improve upon. I do have a Kona Color Card so I can match up my projects to Kona colors at home - they don't always have what I want but its a good start. I usually just pick whatever goes well with my current prints (probably matchy matchy ;-)) or for borders/sashing I just lay the pile of prints next to a few solids on the card and pick which ones highlights the prints the best.
ReplyDelete... I really like Kona coal lately for sashing/borders instead of white. Moda Grey is really good too... I now have 2 quilts with moda grey and 1 which coal and a few with white... looks like I need to pick a new solid to try next time :)
Im totally obsessed with kona solids and my local "friend" sells all colors they offer plus the quilters linen so its nice to browse her home/shop ;-)
I usually like to take a sample of fabric to compare if I'm trying to match a color. I don't like doing it online if I don't have to since colors on the monitor can be so off, especially if I'm worried about getting an exact match.
ReplyDeleteI have a fair amount of Kona in my stash-mainly just colors I love. My non-scientific approach involves starting there and hoping for the best! I have a color card, but sometimes it just looks different when you see a large piece compared to that tiny swatch
ReplyDeleteSometimes colour inspiration for a project starts with a fabric I love, but the colours I choose can come from a variety of sources...such as Nature, photos in books or magazines and then it helps if I can put my fabric choices on a design wall, so I can step back and look at them. I don't like things to be too matchy-matchy. I try to include light, medium and darks in the colours I'm working with. Honestly? I rely heavily on what appeals to my own eye. ;o)
ReplyDeleteI haven't really done a project yet "just because" there is always bedroom or a gift that has an exact purpose, there for an exact color scheme already in place. So for the most part I haven't been working long enough to figure out how I choose fabric... but I am currently working on a bottle rainbow of my own and have too fallen in love with Kona!
ReplyDeleteI don't really think I have much colour sense ... I like bold colours and safe colours ... blues, reds, currently I'm 'into' teal/grey ... I'm really only a beginner, so I could really use some background colours to bring my projects together.
ReplyDeleteMy last two quilts have been solids only so that I could work with colors and tones. I'm frugal enough that I find that I'm often willing to work with what mostly works instead of the "perfect" color. I do know that it matters and that the perfect color can make a big difference. Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to add some more solids to my collection for use.
ReplyDeleteI first keep in mind the project itself. If it's for me, I tend to gravitate towards my favorite colors, and if it's for someone else, I either go with colors that they like or will work in their home. (Yes, I do keep mental note of favorites.)
ReplyDeleteFrom there, I pick out a main fabric to use and base the other materials around that.
I use my eyeball. It's off occasionally, but for the most part, it's spot on.
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it. Thanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWhatever strikes my fancy & seems right to me!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on a quilt right now made entirely out of Kona solids. I've only used neutrals (white, gray, natural) so far because I don't have a way to pick the right shade. I'm hoping to get a color card soon! Sometimes there are pictures on Flickr of people holding the card next to certain fabric.
ReplyDeleteEyeballer here. I choose one fabric I love and pull others to complement or contrast.
ReplyDeleteEyeball. Most of the time I pick a Kona that looks good and then do my best to find fabrics that match, rather than the other way around. I would LOVE a Kona card, though, for those times I am trying to match to a particular pattern fabric.
ReplyDeleteI like the rainbow colours, they always fit together!!! And I think a in progress is "speaking " to me: sometimes there is a strong demand for certain colours!!
ReplyDeleteI usually just eye-ball it. I think about it while picking fabrics, but if I add solids I just try to pick up a color from the patterned fabric. I know, sounds boring but what the heck. Thanks for the give away chance. I love your blog and your work is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI just use whatever I think looks good! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI use my eyeball and that gut feeling thing that just says okay. I know that an exact match isn't necessary and that when I am comfortable with the fabrics I will like the final product. I have 2 cases where I tried to meet other peoples expectations and I don't like either of the outcomes.
ReplyDeleteMostly eyeball! I put colors together until I love them. Having said that, I have had pieces of fabric in my stash that I didn't like, and eventually I have had to do something with them, so I put them together and I have stood back and looked and decided that they weren't so bad after all. I am told I do a pretty good job. But one of my favorite things is a quilt kit, where the fabrics are already decided for me! I guess that's the lazy gal's way of picking colors!
ReplyDeleteI use my eyes mostly and audition fabrics together. This may be really dorky, but I also use the color registration dots on the selvage of fabrics. It shows you all the colors of ink or dye used in the print.
ReplyDeletemost of the time I order my fabric online so I like sites that have colour matching. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, there's meant to be a technical way of choosing? I'm just beginning to wander do the quilting road, so I just ordered a whole bunch of different colours, and we'll see what lands in my stash that goes with them (hmm, that may be a little backwards!)
ReplyDeleteIm new to this so I don't really! Normally I follow patterns/tutorials and there are always projects that are finished so I do try take a look and see which colours I like/don't like so that I can do my own !
ReplyDeleteUsually, most projects are put together from what I have...and I just corrdinate them together as I like them. I buy fabric I like then work it with other fabrics...however, there are occasions when I go to the store and corrdinate a project...but still all by eye with what I like!
ReplyDeleteI usually eyeball my choices in good lighting. At the shop I usually have to pull the bolts & unfold a little of it to see the pattern spread out. I also tend to stack bolts that I like so I can see the edges all together.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I photograph the fabrics together to help me find a matching piece at the shop. Otherwise, I just pull them out and lay them on the floor, table, etc. and look from all angles to see what I like best!
thanks for the chance!
I just go with my gut. And when I don't I question everyone around me!
ReplyDeleteI narrow it down to 2-3 colors and then ask my husband, he has never failed me! (I think he's just better at choosing colors, this is the same method we used when choosing colors for the house.... :) )
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it in good light... sometimes I have a "feeling", sometimes I don't and have to wait until I see the finished product!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually buy solids without having an intent to use them first. There's no LQS nearby, so I might trek to a Joann's with the fabric I'm using and try to match it ... if it looks right together, if it "goes" (because not everything has to match), then I usually pick thatone. I'm very picky, though. But sometimes I have to order online for it, and sometimes I try to get a swatch first.
ReplyDeleteI always like using the color wheel as a starting point. Then, I just try to pick colors I love.
ReplyDeleteI always just go with what sparks for me, what makes me excited to stat the project. I also like to just do random picks too, it always ends up being so interesting and really the random stuff is always my favorite,
ReplyDeleteI start with a colour theme or particular fabric that I want to use and then visit my LQS to find others to work with them. I like to lay them in an overlapping line, move them about to check that none clash (unless I want them to!) and I also like to take a few steps away, turn round and 'take them by surprise'(!) - it's amazing how often I see a gap or a clash that I don't spot if I walk backwards (does that make sense? Probably not!). I do 99% of my fabric shopping in person - I'd find it much harder online...thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMostly I do my color picking by eye, and hopefully in close to natural light. My rule of thumb is, if it doesn't make me go, "ngghghghghghghg!!" it's probably ok! (My daughter doesn't always agree, though....) LOL!
ReplyDeleteNo real plans just buy things that strike my fancy and hope something goes together when I'm done. Thanks for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteI bought a Kona Colour Card to help me make the best colour choices as online colours can be really deceptive. I'm very "matchy matchy" so usually pick my favourite colour out of the patterned fabric I'm using and them match to that. I also have a look on flickr if I'm not sure about a colour to see what other people have used, mostly because I'm hopelessly indecisive.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to buy online as there arnt many fabric shops around my area but if I see a colour that I think will suit my "inspiration fabric" then I google image that fabric and run with the colour that is most frequent. Shades vary A LOT when buying online and can be very frustating! ill try and find that colour on a real image taken by blogger or search etsy, if it arrives and the colours all wrong it gets added to my stash and the search continues!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great new series! Who doesnt love fabric, seriously?
ReplyDeleteI have a small stash of solids (not kona, sadly my wallet could only handle what the local shop had)but since I've started integrating them here and there I feel like it's put fresh air into my quilting! I eyeball colors, and lean towards brights. Nothing fancy, but works for me :)
Usually I just eyeball it. Or I go to a shop and spend WAY too much time stacking up bolts of fabric on top of each other and getting in everybody's way. Or I try to buy fabrics from the same collection. Or I just try to win giveaways. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I pretty much eyeball, but I eyeball in person with the fabric. I can't eyeball over the computer monitor!
ReplyDelete1.I am usually inspired by colors of nature, that I see outside. 2.I like to use linen or linen colored fabric in my quilts and combine other colors with that. 3.I build up a stash of basic fabrics I like (dots, stripes, gingham) and when I want to make a quilt I search my stash first. 4.When I buy fabric I remember the exact shade of color I want and don´t take scraps to the local fabric shop.
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of squinting to see the value of the colors. Or put on my sunglasses. Sometimes I'll take a digital photo and "read" it through that lens. p.s. I LOVE Whipstitch! My inlaws live in NE Atlanta and I try to make it to the store when we come down from Chicago.
ReplyDeleteI layout my choices with a drawing of the pattern on my husband's light table then ask him (a graphic designer) to look it over and see if anything looks terribly out of place. We play this game back and forth over a few days until I am happy with the results. It's fun!
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI follow my heart which is mostly influenced by my eyes. Haven't made the leap to online purchases yet. Thanks for the giveaway.
I just eyeball it. I mean my EYE is what will be looking at the finished project, so I let it be the judge. :)
ReplyDeleteStraight eyeballing for me. That way, it's all mine.
ReplyDeleteSometime I just eyeball if when it's a no-brainer and I've got the fabric in front of me. Sometimes I use the Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool if I'm stuck on finding a color or to help plan or narrow down a scheme. The tool helps not just for fabric but for web and graphic design. It's got hex and cmyk codes printed to enter into software like Photosho or Illustrator.
ReplyDeleteI am terrible at color matching! I drag my sister with me and make her tell me what she thinks. I bet she secretly likes it!
ReplyDeleteI pick colors with my heart & eyes & ears. If it sings to me, I'll take some home! :D
ReplyDeletei just do whatever 'feels' right...so maybe that falls into the eyeballing category? thanks for a chance.
ReplyDeleteI eyeball. I have a really accurate eye for colour ... it may be because I have a heightened sense thru my synaesthesia, or just because I worked with colour so much when I was a painter ...
ReplyDeleteIt comes in bloomin useful tho, as I don't have to take swatches with me!
My husband always rolls his eyes when he comes home and I am talking to my mom on the phone about quilting. He knows it will be a good long hour conversation. We always talk color combos and now with skype we can show each other as well :) Good times!!
ReplyDeleteI never decide which one to use... I just use them all. Someone needs to invent the "Wheel of Kona". That way you can just spin yourself the right color!!
ReplyDeleteI use my eyeballs lol
ReplyDeleteI'm still a newbie, so I get all my color inspiration from your blog! I absolutely love all your projects and am constantly amazed at how you put your colors together. Imitation is the best form of flattery, right? :)
ReplyDeleteum i kind of just think what colours the person i'm making it for might like then see what i have in my (very limited) stash that might work - really scientific i know!! this is why i need to win, so i can actually have a better stash to choose from...!
ReplyDeleteI usually just eyeball it and try fabrics next to each other if I can. I love to just grab fat quarters and line them up then decide which are my favorites. Thanks for the giveaway, I have really just gotten into the Kona solids in the last 6 months and I love them.
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it and then try looking in natural light. I start with one fabric I really love and then see what matches from there.
ReplyDeleteUsually a just 'know' the right colour when I see it. I would love to use more solids in my quilting at the moment I really only use white but would love to expand my colour range. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI only use my eyeball, but i use it over and over and over again...sometimes it takes days for me to decide on a color palete!
ReplyDeletemarcia at swissflentie@yahoo.com
I'm one of those that wander around the store. I usually find a print that speaks to me and find solids that work with that particular print.
ReplyDeletepatches77@cfl.rr.com
I am an eyeball kinda girl. I just look at things and get what I like, what speaks to me. Thanks for the chance to win, that would be so cool!
ReplyDeleteI'm a disaster at choosing fabrics and colours, that's why I love solids, they're easiert to combine. Most of the times I ask sensitive people to guide me like my mom or some friends not so color challenged like me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
I pick colors always in daylight. Once I did it at the evening and the colors were not matched as I wanted. I don't have any special technique - I just look at the fabrics and decide if I like the selection.
ReplyDeleteI like natural daylight when I can get it and the opinion of my mom and my bestie.
ReplyDeleteI use the eyeball method. I do put the fabrics under an ott light and over by a window to see how they go together. It is nice to have fabrics from the same line as they definitely go together. I also like to ask my quilting friends for their opinions. Always a help to me.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much use the eyeball and curse method each time.
ReplyDeleteI give it the eyeball and then I curse the fact that I don't have the exactly right fabric.
Then I make do with the fabric I do have (and sometimes buy a few FQs) and it usually turns out just right! :D
Your collection of Kona solids is inspiring me to such envy right now! (sinspiring, perhaps, since it is envy...)
I really enjoyed this post! I hadn't heard the story behind 1001 peeps and it makes me really appreciate the line so much more.
ReplyDeleteAlso the child's play prints are ADORABLE!!!
Anyway, my kona love is huge, and I would haul my pieces in to our local shop which happily has them all lined up along the top of their shelves. I'd make them pull down 4-8 bolts while I auditioned. They were very nice about it!
Now though, I have my own kona card!!! So now I will be able to do some mini-auditioning and maybe only have them pull 2 or 3 bolts. ;) Who knows, maybe I will make the leap to online purchasing now that I have the card!
If I am building a palette around a particular fabric, I'll bring in a scrap to match to. If I am starting from scratch, I often like to find vintage travel posters on google and sample colors from them in photoshop or illustrator to make a custom palette. One of my friends in design school taught me that trick!
ReplyDeleteI go with what colors make me happy, and then eyeball it from there! Thanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI am not so great at picking colors, so I normally use online tools like Kuler by Adobe where you can find nice color palettes or make your own.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I simply use my taste to match. Having some yellow and green solids would be great for me. I have a couple of projects in mind/ Thanks for the giveaway.
When I started quilting, I was guilty of using an entire collection in a quilt, i.e. I have a Good Folks quilt and an Innocent Crush quilt. Lately I've been putting fabrics from different collections together, just using my eye. Sometimes I'm not crazy about the finished product, but I'm learning!
ReplyDeleteI use my eyeballs... and hope it works out. Unfortunately my eyeballs sometimes have to rely on my computer screen. I live rurally so can't always get into a quilt shop and am very thankful for my kona color card!!
ReplyDeleteI just keep buying online in the hope that soe of it will go together - I guess that's why I love scrappy quilts!! When I buy a FQ stack of coordinating fabrics I'm usually too paralysed in fear of messing it up to cut into them!
ReplyDeletefor me, it's just eyeballing and waiting for the fabrics to sing to me! also - i am SO jealous of your kona solids collection!
ReplyDeleteI usually an initial idea in mind, a main color or colors to be used. Based on that, I start picking some others and see how they work together. Always using natural light!
ReplyDeleteI eyeball it, generally. Sometimes I will consult with my quilting friends to see what works, since they have a lot more experience than I do. :D
ReplyDeleteI just choose what I think looks best - often a main dark color of the largest print. :) Great giveaway - thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI throw all my fabric on the floor and let the cat choose, he has an uncanny sense of design! Seriously tho, I sit and play with my fabrics until something clicks and if it doesn't click I go online and buy more fabric for the cat to play with!
ReplyDeleteI second guess myself all the time. I like to take my time to decide.
ReplyDeleteUsually to pick my colors and coordinating prints, I love to shop at places that don't really organize their fabric by brand/designer/company, but more by color. I find a print or prints that scream "BUY ME NOW!" and draw colors from those. Sometimes I will take that statement piece home without buying anything to match. I let it sit on my sewing table for a few days, and then come back to it and draw solids, prints, and a backing fabric from my stash. If I don't have enough choices/coordinates, I will go back to a different shop (or the same shop) trying to go with the color palette I have at home. Hope that made sense! :)
ReplyDeletereading up on color theory and how to match fabrics 'correctly' just made me too nervous to make a decision, so I stoped worrying about it and just go with what I like. I've learned a lot by trial and error - when my project is done, I look at what worked and what didn't, and why. This helps me make better choices the next time arround.
ReplyDeleteI rely on my own eye. Truthfully, I never considered another way. I love how colors look together.
ReplyDeleteI love all the warm colors and tend to gravitate towards them every time. Then I usually "eyeball" some cooler prints to calm it down some LOL. I keep the color wheel in mind, complementary colors, etc but mostly it is whatever grabs me on the way by.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway.
I totally "eyeball" it, just starting to love the kona solids, haven't worked with them much. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity...
ReplyDeleteMostly I decide what colors to use either by the theme I'm working on/in (for example, southwest or african or oriental indigo) or by the emotional impact of the colors.
ReplyDeleteColors and color combinations have emotional overtones to me - if I'm in the mood for 'bright' I'll get one flavor vs in the mood for 'serene', etc.
:) linda
I have a pretty good eye for color but i always try to match up fabrics in daylight especially if they come from different manufacturers/lines. I haven't bought much fabrics online because there are many great quilt shops in my area and I like to "meet" in person before buying
ReplyDeleteI started off quilting with baby quilts made from whatever was cotton and in the remnant bin. These days I'm working to incorporate more solids. My favourite is an off white muslin that my local ikea stocks for $2/m.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Sarah
For now, I just eyeball it, eventually i'll prolly buy a kona card though. Still new to sewing so we'll see!
ReplyDeletejmistok(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm one of those "non-planners"...I wander around the fabric shop eyeing the prints until one grabs me, then I take it home and decide what I'm going to do with it. Once I figure out what I'm going to make then I get a vision of what kind of solid I want to pair it with and make my way back to the store find it! Not too efficient, but sure keeps things interesting!
ReplyDeleteMainly eyeball and again in natural light but its very important that the tone is right, I can be very fussy and have a good colour memory for the exact tone of colour. Hubby is always rolling his eyes and repeating "its not the right tone"
ReplyDeletelol!!
Ooh - I've been wondering whether to start a solids quilt, so this could be my answer!!! I totally eyeball it when choosing fabrics. There's lots of laying them out on top of my plain cream duvet cover (see - I need that quilt!) and shuffling them about to find nice combinations. It works for me. Thanks for a fantastic givaway.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post! Isn't fabric exhilarating?!! vbg
I am absolutely color challenged, although I love them all. If I don't use a collection I beg those at my LQS to help me. However, I've just recently discovered my sweet husband has a great eye for color! Not bad...my own in-house color consultant. Maybe I'll learn something from him! ggg
I use my instinct and intuition. I lay them out and stand back and have a look. I sometimes use an inspiration piece of fabric. Or just decide to collect particular colors and throw them all in for a scrappy look.
ReplyDeleteI start with a certain print/color and then find other fabric to go with it. I mostly eyeball what seems to work...then I ask my mom what she thinks :)
ReplyDeleteI eyeball in natural light, choose a color and take pictures - looking at the quilt in the camera screen gives me a much better idea than looking at the quilt itself. I tend to change my mind few times till I'm happy. Sometimes i need to let the quilt stay on the design wall overnight so I can sleep over on the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI work on the theory that there is no WRONG colour. That any colour, with a bit of help, can be made to either blend harmoniously, clash startlingly, or provide a space where other patterns are absent. Having said that, I like to start with a solid or two, and add the patterned fabrics in from there - although I suspect most people do it in the other order!
ReplyDeleteI almost always just use my eyeball. Sometimes I have to pull out a piece of paper (or, now EQ that my hubby just bought me!) if I'm considering using it for a specific design and I want to see how prints play with the design, but I don't usually have trouble deciding what colors I want to use. It's everything else that leaves me making tiny mockups lol. (Some day I'll get the hang of mixing prints that aren't all from the same line, or are all dots, etc.....I need a lesson in mixing scale.)
ReplyDelete