Putting Colors Together

Doesn’t Have To Be Hard !

PUTTING COLORS TOGETHER

This page is just a guide, so to speak, of different ideas and tips to help you coordinate putting together ideas for the colors in your fabric. We hope you read our page on colors first for the fundamentals of colors. We hope these tips help you put it all together now! Don’t forget to send us your tips on this matter.

Mother Nature
This is one of the best ways to think about how to put your colors together. It is a great way to relax your mind. By that I mean to observe and enjoy Mother Nature herself. Take your notebook with you on a walk or a drive, and stop somewhere where the natural colors of the landscape take hold of you! Look at all the colors you see around you and make notes of the different gradients.

Analyze what things really stand out from the rest of the scenery. Notice all the shades of green in a forest or the browns in a field.. Look at fields of flowers, or anything else that strikes you. Then picture these colors in a quilt. What patterns of color do you notice that would blend together nicely.

Surprising Color Combination
Good color combination will complement each other when they are made from adjacent colors on the color wheel. Sometimes you might not like two particular colors that are next to each other. You might want to try adding white to it and see if it will “lighten” up the quilt somewhat. Create several pastels from the combination of these tints to see how they look. Even adding black as a contrast might make your material stand out more.

Create several pastels from your least favorite color. Don’t be afraid to try a variety of colors, including darker ones, when trying to experiment with color patterns. You see the “skies the limit” when it comes to colors! Let your hair hang down and try something new!

Stepping Back for a Better View
Make two blocks with material that you like . Make the first block with what warm and cool colors mixed up one way. Then make the second block with the same colors but in a different place. Then put both of them side by side and hang it on the wall and walk away from it for a day or two.

Now come back with a notebook and take a look at them. Write down any new ideas for patterns that you may see. Its funny how our brain works, but it’s true. Sometimes taking a break from something really frustrating for a few days will show things in a whole new light. Trust me, I know!

Ideas will probably start to pop up in your head, and if your like me, you’ll forget it if you don’t write it down. I like to use colored pencils myself, or even markers, so I can sketch the colors out.

Its Picture Time
I never liked Polaroid pictures- they never seemed very clear to me. But in this case, the distorted image is great to judge color combination of your fabrics. Group the material you like in different combinations. Then add some black or whites in places you think need them. Use your camera now to get pictures of them.Look at your results and you might be surprised. These cameras are great for distance shooting and might help you find that right combination of fabrics that you like.

Take Your Pick
Go to the fabric store where there there is lots of material to pick from. Take your time and put your favorite patterns you picked out  together in different combinations. Take your digital camera this time and take lots of pictures. Remember the beauty of digital is you can take hundreds and then delete as much as you want!  You can crop your pictures smaller, with your computer photo editor, then print off your favorites combinations.  If you are computer savvy, you can copy them and move them around on a document until you find a pattern that appeals to you !                   Email me if you have questions!

Well, Thanks for stopping by to visit.  We hope some of these ideas have helped you get a better idea of how to put together your quilt in a pattern that you like.  This isn’t something you can rush. Sleep on it!

Do you have some other suggestions or ideas that work for you? Send them along for all to share!

Come visit us again soon!

Linda and Anna Jane

Just Remember that Girls Just Want To Have Fun!