dpendleton

Newbie quilter here, and I'm doing the Aby Dolinger BOM making the second quilt I've ever made.

I'm struggling with how to visualize how colors and fabrics will work together, it seems like I end up doing trial and error.

Does this just get better with experience?

I have taken a color theory class and read several books, and it helps to know what contrasting and complementary colors are. But I have no imagination when it comes to making something up from scratch. My attempts look childish and rudimentary.

I found that mocking up a quilt block using snips of fabric on paper helps me see obvious mistakes. See pic below.

I salute those of you who have this uncanny skill!

Any recommendations for getting better at this?

Final block:

Gemm

Like you, I think some people have a really strong gift in this area, but I don't think that means people like me can't get there. :-) I love your way of doing the mock-up. I've done it unintentionally by making a block that doesn't work and then ending up having to rip it apart!

In terms of colour, I will often take my inspiration from fabric because I figure the designers must know something about it and if I like it in a fabric I'll probably like it in a quilt. There are websites like canva.com which can help, too, although I prefer the fabric method.

I don't generally buy fabric for a project - I'm on a rather limited budget - so I will take the fabric that I have that I think will work and pile it on the table and sort it into groups and walk away and think about it and then approach the table to see if there is anything jarring. Using the black and white filter on my mobile phone also helps when I need to figure out contrast.

I like your block, btw :-) Blue and yellow is a good combo in my mind. :-)

bearisgray

I still use the trial and error method.

i love your block - but the pink center square -

bearisgray

I am guessing you built your mockup from the outside in?

The results seem to be different if one starts from the center and work out to the edges or vice versa.

toverly

When I am working on a BOM, I usually go with similar colors to what is shown. I figure they have worked out what looks good next to the blocks around it and will have the colors scattered around the quilt. I do have a tendency to go with tone on tone and blender fabrics. If I want to use a print fabric, I go for patterns that show off the prints with solids around it. If I have a fat quarter bundle, I throw in solids and blenders to work into the pattern. If it's mostly patterns, I go for what's large, medium and small prints and try to work them around each other. No large prints next to large prints. I think the eye needs a place to rest.

bearisgray

I did learn the concept of " color bridgiing" vs "color matching" from one of Jinny Beyer's books.

bearisgray

Things also look
different from 10 feet away as compared to18 inches away.

Talkng pictures can also be helpful. Seems like a camera has a different filter from our eyes and brain.

Iceblossom

Darn it -- wrote out a long thoughtful reply, timed out and didn't save it. Here goes some of the recreation:

A lot about fabric choices are simple likes and dislikes. What one person loves, another meets with cold indifference. I think looking at what others do and trying to analyze what specifically you like or dislike about something is really important. And then, once you develop/find your style (and it can take some time) be true. Evaluate your own projects. Even on what I would consider a very successful quilt, there is always something I would do differently.

I think you have a good hand/eye for varying scale and contrast. That can often be hard, less advanced quilters often go too matchy-matchy, which just tends to blur out. But sometimes "low contrast" is the goal -- even though I like a lot more contrast.

One old technique for the distance viewing was to buy one of the doorway eye viewers, I think cameras/cell phones these days can do a similar thing. When a block just isn't working, sometimes taking a picture and looking at it in black and white can point out the problem.

EasyPeezy

I think your block looks perfect...fabric choice and everything else.

effika

I like to color the block (or quilt) in with a drawing program on my computer, so I can quickly change colors. If the pattern doesn't come with a coloring page, I make one!

As for where to start, I sometimes take inspiration from the shapes in the block/quilt. Do I see a place for a gradient? Or maybe I want to highlight a neat design feature in the piecing.

Other times, I take inspiration from my fabric. Do I need to use up something? Is there a fabric that I fell in love with and want to highlight? Maybe I have a fabric that I haven't used in a while. Or perhaps I feel like a theme/holiday quilt.

Them I get started with my graphics program! I try out combinations to see what I like and what I don't. I try to think about the pattern being made in value, which is easy to see by converting the image to grey scale and back for a quick check. It's all about vibes there! And sometimes I'll get inspired while coloring and come up with something completely different.

Finally, I pull out the fabric and do a reality check to see if my ideas really do look like I think they will. Then it's time to cut & sew a tester!