Tuesday Tip: Quick Color Confidence for Cautious Quilters

This week's Tuesday tip comes from Marian,  who works at our 4th Ave Outlet store. Marian was the Block of the Month leader at our dearly departed Issaquah store, and often helped beginning quilters with this awesome tip.

With our thousands of choices, the process of finding colors that harmonize and contrast attractively leaves many quilters feeling insecure and overwhelmed. Marian advises to make it simple  - go find a single colorful print that you love.  I found this gorgeous "Autumn Medley" print from Martha Negley:

Once you have found your print, look at the colors in it - you picked that print, so you must love those colors! Now wander the store, looking for tonal fabrics in those colors.  I collected these around Northgate:



Now I have a group of colors that harmonize and contrast, and I love them - I'm ready to start planning a quilt!

If you try this technique, don't forget to pick up some of the print you loved - it would make a fabulous backing or border for the quilt that was inspired by its colors.

 - Anna-Beth

For more complex explorations of color, be sure to check our classes!  We have a Color Confidence course at our Everett store, and a Choosing and Using Color class at our Bellevue store.  Lots of fun, and great confidence builders!