Welcome to November’s edition of Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd where we share our favorite quilting or sewing tips and tutorials. This month, I will share a little about how I approach selecting fabrics for a quilt. I used to choose fabrics all the time in the quilt store, with customers, and there are some things I leaned. These past months, I had the chance to work with two different fabric collections, and “restrictions” in each present a challenge. This month, I will talk about selecting fabric for the Jolly Bar Jumble with the Fat Quarter Shop.
Last Month’s Link Ups
Here are October’w links for you take a look at. I am so grateful to those who linkup their tips and tutorials!
- From Andreé, some wonderful hints about embroidery.
- From Yvonne, some hints about working scrappy on a quilt.
I am so grateful for Andreé and Yvonne always linking up!
Selecting Fabrics for a Quilt – Part 2
For this quilt, I was able to select the fabric line I wanted to use, but there are still some limitations. This is a Fat Quarter Shop project will Jolly Bars. Jolly Bars are pieces cut at 5 x 10. I needed to use one of their collections. There were many fabulous choices.
I choose this group. Now, anyone who has worked with precuts knows what I am going to tell you. You usually get duplicates and there usually are some fabrics that won’t work.
I looked at the pattern, I needed 36 pieces. This collection has 42. That meant 6 would not get used. I also needed a background.
I decided to make it a real party and would use the dots as the background and plaid as back and binding. And, now you can see where the problem is…the lighter colors in the top row of the collection won’t work. I will have to pull some of them out. Value is always a problem when working with a collection, there are either too few or too many of one kind. I did put it in EQ8 to make it easier to see. I am showing you a mockup with solids so as not to reveal the whole quilt before its debut next week, November 26th.
The two things to consider when using a set of precuts.
1. Value matters – some of the fabric will likely not work. It looks great in the collection but will disappear in a quilt. This is the reason in a quilt store, I would often add in fabrics not from the collection.
2. Amount matters – Consult your pattern or be cautious. You can see if the pattern works with the collection, like this one, I did not need additional fabric. If your pattern needs all the fabric, 42 pieces in this case, or you don’t know the pattern; consider these options: 1) add in a fat quarter or two from the collection, 2) add in some other similar fabric or 3) purchase an additional set of the precut.
So, while precuts can pose a particular problem, there are workarounds. Its all in the planning!
Join the Linky Party!
Now it’s your turn to post, and the rules are simple – write up a tip or group of tips or a tutorial that is quilting or sewing-related and link that post below. The linky party is open from 12:01 am on the 22nd through midnight on the 31st. The post does not have to be new but should be one that hasn’t been linked to Tips and Tutorials in the past. If you don’t have a blog, please send it to me (kathleen@kathleenmcmusing.com) and I will post your tip or tutorial for you!
Past Tips and Tutorials
In case you didn’t know, if you have missed some past #TTot22, you can check them out in the tab at the top of my page or on my Pinterest board.
Coming Up on My Blog
Yoga 2
Fat Quarter Shop Project – Previews in Oct, pattern on Nov. 26th
Baby Quilts (2 for my son’s friends)
Choosing fabric is my biggest hurdle on a quilt. I used to only buy precuts, but now yardage is my thing. But precuts do make it easier. And you’re right, there are always some that don’t work. Looking forward to seeing your finish!
Excellent points to consider, Kathleen. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kathleen, I’m really looking forward to seeing your quilt. I often struggle with value – it can be the right colour but if it’s too close to the value of other colours, it will just blend in. This is as important in regular quilts as it is with art quilts or other fibre projects. Thanks for the party!
Oh, the dots make a really fun background, and you are so right that working with a full collection can be challenging because of value!
Value is key and dots are so fun! Looking forward to the end result! :)
The Fiesta fabrics are adorable, Kathleen! Yes, I agree, when you get the whole line, as much as you love them all, some have to be weeded out.