joe'smom

I take my fabrics, compose them into a setting that mimics the block, and take a photo. It isn't fullproof, but the photo definitely helps give a different perspective.

petthefabric

I approach this different from any of the other replies. It's not better or worse, just mine.

First I start with what I want to have the most notice. On this block it would be the start points. I'd assign that the brightest, most vivid fabric of my choices. From your fabrics that would be either the center pink or bright yellow.

Second, to make those star points stand out, I'd give the most value and intensity contrast next to this. So the triangles outside those star points would be........Black or the dark blue.

The inside square is a significant support player; large pattern.

So that the half square triangles wouldn't call great attention, I'd use the light blue. (If the star points are pink/red than these half square outer triangles could be a soft yellow.

The outside ring is good the way it is.

The outside corner triangles could be the spotted yellow.

Stitches23

Trial and Error are the best teachers! I haven't a clue when it comes to colors. I draw inspiration from laying out fabrics I have on hand keeping in mind the quilt pattern chosen, matching blenders to a printed fabric piece, and viewing what others have done with a block or quilt. I like to google quilts in a certain color ways to see what I can learn from others.

quiltedsunshine

When you've worked in a quilt shop for 16 years, you get to know all the different types of fabrics. The easiest way to choose fabrics is to stay within a fabric line. Each fabric line should have large scale, medium scale and small scale prints. They should also have light, medium and dark fabrics, and some that "read a solid." It's a good idea to use all 7 of these basic design elements in your quilt.

Then as a quilt shop employee puts fabrics away, she will come to know different fabric "families." These could be Civil War, 30's Repos, brights, batiks, dark and dirty, soft and sweet, and they may include your favorite fabric designers. Then there are the basics, and the leftovers that make up the color wall.

If you can start with a "focus print," then you can choose at least 6 prints that match it.

cathyvv

Since I am color blind, I tend to use no more than 4 fabrics in a quilt. And I make simple quilts; my husband has, on occasion, risked my wrath and wisely 'corrected' my fabric choices.

petthefabric

Trial and Error are the best teachers! I haven't a clue when it comes to colors. I draw inspiration from laying out fabrics I have on hand keeping in mind the quilt pattern chosen, matching blenders to a printed fabric piece, and viewing what others have done with a block or quilt. I like to google quilts in a certain color ways to see what I can learn from others.

I think this is "Make visual dicisions visually". Quoted from Ruth McDowell

aashley333

I have saved pics of fabric from fabric site, and then "insert picture" into squares on Word or Excel. First create a folder to store selections. I did this when working on my temperature quilt. Here's the Word doc and the quilt.

dpendleton

Terrific advice, I am learning from everyone's posts.

I appreciate your detailed thought process, petthefabric, and will use your advice. I appreciate specific examples on real life blocks.

QuiltedSunshine, I envy your experience working in a quilt shop. What a great way to learn color theory hands on. If I ever worked in a quilt shop (in another world and dimension) I fear I would go broke, LOL.

And I def plan to use my camera to take black & white photos of proposed blocks next time. It's all a great learning process!

dpendleton

So smart, aashley333. In my newly retired state I don't have Word or Excel.

However there must be a similar way to use Google Docs & Google Sheets. I'm off to find out!

I love a good visual mock-up.​​​

Iceblossom

One way I found helpful to learn about colors, values, and dealing with scraps is by making multiple blocks of the same block, but different fabric placement. They can go together as a sampler if you feel you need a use for the practice. Vary where you put the darks/lights or colors. It can bring out different aspects of the design you didn't notice, or make something with a 3D effect otherwise missing. Do a search on Farmer's Daughter quilt block to see some examples of how different placement can change stuff.

One of the things about the B&W photo is it mostly helps with value, how intense a color is in comparison with others. We are sort of used to thinking of "yellow" as being the same as "light" but why the block isn't working may be because it is in comparison dark to the others.