My Tweets Fabric Shopping

Wouldn’t it be fun if we could all go fabric shopping together? Or if I could have office hours at a quilt shop and you could all come in and show me your fabric personally. That would be so cool, except of course I would have to steal all the fabric from you and then I would get put in jail and I’m not sure they allow quilting and blogging in jail.

Anyway.

It is a HUGE dream of mine to someday design a line of fabric for one of my BOM quilts( tap tap any fabric companies hear that out there?) but for now I’m just going to give you a little coaching on what works for me. Even though I have taken color classes and read about color and all that I keep coming back to this…you have to start with what you LOVE. It sounds so simple when I say it like that but it is true.

The first thing I do when I’m looking for fabric for a new quilt project is look for a multi-color fabric that I just love. In the top example you see it’s the Happy fabric from Me and My Sister +Moda. From there I go looking for tone on tone solidish fabrics in the colors I see in the multi-color print. You can see from the photo that I have two different pinks, one light and one dark. I also have two different yellows, purples and turquoise blues. When I am picking these I try to get a couple of different values so they don’t look exactly alike. I also go to my stash and “shop” from that.

As far as greens go I have a general rule: YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY GREENS! As you can see from the picture I have six different greens in a range of values. I find having a lot of greens helpful, especially if you are doing an appliqué border.

In summary, start with what you love. Pick at least two values of tone on tone solids of each color to coordinate. Buy as many greens as you can find. Shop your stash. If you run out you can always buy more.

The last piece of very useful information: Buy ½ yard cuts. They wash much nicer.

Hope that helps, I’m off to finish Block 2 for Friday.

Comments

[Nancy Noah]

Starting with a multicolored print that I really like is the way I choose fabrics for most of my quilts. Often, by the time I have selected the rest, the original goes back on the shelf or is used as backing.

[Pam P]

Great advice!! It seems like a simple concept - Start with something that you love and add to it - this resonates with me today. I think I ACTUALLY GET IT!

[Bev]

Now why didn't I think of that?

[Bethany]

Ahhh..if only my fabric stores carried such a variety of fabrics. Most of the stores are into reproductions. I've struggled just working out the color scheme I wanted and I'm still not wowed by it. I almost want to start over, but I've spent so much money on fabric that I thought would work, I don't dare.

[Sophia]

And if only I had the funds to buy new fabric for every project. For My Tweets, it's gonna be mostly stash, but that's ok. It's all about the process for me anyway...keeps me sane.

[kathleen]

thanks! I struggle with fabric choices for every project and end up buying too much fabric before I decide(This is a problem?)

You blog is always so helpful.

[Di]

Wonderful advice, Erin. I always love your fabric choices - the colours just zing!

[Jennifer Dancy]

Riley Blake is entertaining new designers right now - you might want to hit them up with your ideas for a BOM.... I"ve seen their sales reps in several places lately and they are all spreading the word! (Good luck!)

[Marianne]

You say you really want to design your own fabric. Have you thought of doing just that and have it printed at a place like Spoonflower:
http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome
I have not yet tried but I know the equivalent to Spoonflower here in Europe allows you to sell your fabric through them too. Could be a first step towards designing for company. Just a thought.

[Linda]

Remembering that you'd blogged about your fabric selection methodology a while back - using paint chips - I applied your suggestions to my current project, and it works! I'm hand piecing a very Erin-ish color combo, and I'm lovin' it so far - 18 blocks pieced. I plan to blog about this in the next week. Thanks for so generously sharing your tips with us!

[Marcia Kosturock]

That really DOES help! I've been wondering..wish you could just buy it FOR me LOL.. Yours always just looks so much better..

[Peggi]

I was going to suggest Spoonflower and Jennifer beat me to it! I have tried Spoonflower and was pleased with the print quality. I wasn't impressed with the fabric quality, but I didn't wash it, and washing might make a difference. It was a gift for a friend out of state (she designed it, you can see more here http://www.seamstobeyouandme.com/wordpress/2010/12/a-spoonflower-christmas/).

You should design the fabric at Spoonflower, then make up a block and post about it here. When other people go to Spoonflower and buy your fabric, you earn a percentage of the profits!

[NancyinSTL]

Hi Erin,
The fabric companies should be knocking on your door, begging you to design for them. Your appliques are so beautiful and are the inspiration for me to try my hand at it.

Choosing fabrics for a quilt is my most favorite thing and I can't understand why anyone would ever buy a quilt kit--first, their quilt would not be a one-of-a-kind and, second, there would be no surprise at the end.

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful patterns with us.

[Air Jordan 13]

TAKE ME TO YOUR HEART.....LISTENING TO YOUR HEART.....BRING ME FOR AWAY.....

[True Religion Outlet]

I’m just going to give you a little coaching on what works for me. Even though I have taken color classes and read about color and all that I keep coming back to this…you have to start with what you LOVE. It sounds so simple when I say it like that but it is true.

[True Religion Outlet]

I would have to steal all the fabric from you and then I would get put in jail and I’m not sure they allow quilting and blogging in jail.

[cheap area rugs]

I am also looking for this fabric shopping you have shared a lots of good suggestions and tips for the buying quilts for our home.