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!

New in Our Stores - Fun Flowers, Autumn Medley, Nest & Opal Owl!

Click on the pictures below to see a larger image, then click here to find the store nearest you.

Fun Flowers I & III (shown above) arrived a while back in typical bright and charming style from Lakehouse Dry Goods. You'll find this lively collection at all our stores (except Outlet on 4th) and I found a cool quilt pattern for you, too - look below!

Just click here to download a PDF for this great Pinwheel Party Quilt from the Lakehouse Dry Goods web site. Finished size is about 56" x 64".

I love this collection! It's just bursting with joyous images of falling leaves, newly ripe grapes and wind tossed twigs - perfect for a bit of cozy Fall stitching. Martha Negley designed this artistic Autumn Medley collection for Westminster Fibers and you'll find it now at our Everett, Bellevue, Northgate and Bremerton stores.

Valori Wells grew up in Sisters, Oregon absorbing the magic of her family's quilt store and thinking about the beauty of fabric. Nest, her newest collection for Free Spirit Fabrics is an appealing mix of great coordinates, lovely large scale prints and a beautiful panel that could easily stand all on it's own. You'll find Nest at our Bellevue and Northgate stores only and it's well worth the trip. Just look at the quilt you can make below!

Click here to download a PDF pattern for Valori's fabulous Nest Quilt Pattern! Finished size is approximately 80" x 80".

Whimsically wonderful Opal Owl from Free Spirit Fabrics is just pure fun! Ready to coordinate with oh-so-many of your favorite fabrics for quilting, home decor or dressing a sweet child! You'll find Opal Owl at our Bellevue and Northgate stores only.

Keep stitching!  ~ Annette