How to Choose Colors for Quilts
Feb 23rd 2023
Color is the most powerful (and intimidating) tool in the quilter's toolkit. Figuring out the best combination of colors can look like pursuing through Pinterest or helplessly sorting your fabric stash into several little piles. For some, this can look like a reliance on quilt kits for a successful project, and even then, the final product may be different from the color palette or design you envisioned.
What if we told you that you could get the best techniques and inspiration for your future projects all from the comfort of your home?
“Hue have to be kidding me, right?”
All jokes aside — Creative Spark is hosting a live, virtual event on March 30: Quilter’s Color Mixer. With the power of technology, you will have access to over 8 hours of instruction in 4 hours.
We may or not be time travelers, but here is how the online event works:
Starting with a keynote by color master, designer, and author Jean Wells, you'll explore simple color vocabulary, and actionable techniques, and begin to assess your journey as an artist.
Next, you choose your own adventure with four workshop sessions. In each session, you get to choose from 3 40-minute workshop options to learn about color theory, the history of color in art, creating custom color palettes, stash-busting piecing tips, ombré quilt designs, designing with prints, and more. The two you don’t pick you can watch later.
In total, the event has 12 40-minute workshops — all of which you have unlimited access to after the event. Those who attend the live portion of the event get entered into a HUGE giveaway. Since Creative Spark thinks everyone is a winner, everyone gets a virtual swag bag with goodies like custom quilt labels and more.
Talk about a treasure trove of resources! With 12 lessons to refer to over and over again, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a master of color! *Cue the compliments from quilting friends impressed with your leveled-up skills*
Speaking of being impressed, wait until you hear about the instructor lineup!
Quilting experts like Maria Shell, Timna Tarr, and Judy Gauthier have much to show you on improv quilting and using the most of fabrics with prints and various shades. Jennifer Sampou and Debbie Maddy are stirring things up with their takes on ombré and shibori dye.
Joyce Becker takes you on a walk through a (quilted) nature landscape, and Lori Lee Triplett (who we suspect is a fellow time traveler) takes you back to 100,000 years of color techniques. Cheryl Brickey, Teri Lucas, and Kate Colleran sift through the fabrics, threads, and color tools to help you create your own color palette and find the perfect pop of color.
Magic Carpet Quilt by Cherly Brickey
If you have a quilting tool you swear by, it’s probably designed by Marci Baker. She’s made ten of them! As an explorer of quilt methods, she shares her tips on using color value. The technique that takes the cake has to be Ruth Ann Berry’s 3D effects. Here’s a secret: it’s actually really easy to do with Ruth’s simple method!
Treble Quilt by Ruth Ann Berry
Here’s another secret: you can save $20 by signing up for Quilter’s Color Mixer through this link.
Since you reached the end of this blog post, here is another joke to brighten your day:
Blue and green stopped fighting because they agreed on a peace teal.
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