10 Tips for Picking Fabric for a Quilt

[@ginnielynn]

What do you struggle with when picking out fabrics for your quilt? Do you have any additional tips or tricks to share?

[@AnnicaEdstrom]

My problem is that I often buy too many! When I finally set for which ones shall be included, I have at least 2-3 too many 🙈

[@alliziscrafty]

@@AnnicaEdstrom same!

[@alliziscrafty]

I would love to get more tips on how to choose patterns based on fabrics that I love! I feel like I often see folks talk about picking out fabrics for a specific pattern, but I usually go in the opposite direction - I have fabric (or fabrics) that I want to use but I’m not sure what type of pattern will make sense for those fabrics!

[@ginnielynn]

I find myself there at times too. I always like to have a few options in case I want to pivot my design. 🌻

[@ginnielynn]

@@alliziscrafty I have it on my list for a future video! Thank you for the idea and watching! 🌻

[@michellegrissom4682]

I'm have been inspired by the color combinations from greeting cards that I've received. It's an easy jumpstart on picking colors for a quilt.

[@ginnielynn]

Wonderful idea! Thank you for sharing and watching! 🌻

[@gailparker8745]

Loved the big movie treatment for entering a quilt shop. Anticipation, excitement, thrills, hope and a promise of a good time. X

[@ginnielynn]

Aw, Thank you so much! It was fun to create! I am so happy to hear you loved it! Thank you for watching and sharing ! 🌻

[@MsAtom70]

I only learned recently to look on the salvage to see complementary colors ...it has helped so much

[@ginnielynn]

It is great they have added those dots !Thank you for sharing and watching! 🌻

[@s.a.whirley4559]

I love this shop!! This is one of my favorite quilt shops!

[@ginnielynn]

Me too! Thank you so much for watching and sharing! 🌻

[@AnnicaEdstrom]

I just came home after being to the store to buy fabrics for my new quilt... your good words made me feel 100% sure that I have bought the "right" ones ❤ Thank you 😊

[@ginnielynn]

Aw, I am so happy my words helped you! Thank you for sharing and watching , it means so much to me I was able to help! Happy Quilting! 🌻

[@Peggybk]

Old Country Store! One of my favorites!❤️

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you for sharing! It is a special place! 🌻

[@barbgardner5549]

Thought i recognized that shop. Was just there last week. I get so overwhelmed and overstimulated with all the beautiful fabric.

[@ginnielynn]

Yes they have such a beautiful selection! Thank you so much for sharing and watching !🌻

[@roksannastephens4375]

What a lovely store

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you so much for sharing! 🌻 it is a lovely store!

[@lindacwynar9235]

Loved watching this video. I usually purchase the line or quilt scrappy from the same designer then mix them in. Then I use solids that match. It works for me.

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you so much for sharing your process! It sounds like a great way to choose fabrics for your quilt! 🌻

[@sewblessedbyjess]

Thank you for the wonderful tips I enjoyed watching your video😊

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you so much ! Thank you for watching! 🌻

[@karin0963]

Your quilt shop is very large and charming. I'm in TX but wish I could visit.

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you for watching and sharing! 🌻 It’s my local quilt shop. You can shop their store online as well. Here is a link. fabricsv2.oldcountrystorefabrics.com/

[@karin0963]

@ginnielynn my local quilt store is 25 miles away. Thank you for the link.

[@gabriellehollinger3837]

I love that quilt store too

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you for watching and sharing! 🌻

[@karin0963]

Thank you for your tips. I will look for more blenders than solids. It makes sense.

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you for watching and sharing!🌻

[@mio.giardino]

I work at a quilt store, and my biggest struggle is when someone walks in and says “I wanna make a quilt, pick out some colours and a pattern for me“ I’m standing there like “no, no I can’t do that” 🤣😂🤣😂

[@ginnielynn]

Oh my! Thank you for sharing! 🌻

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

Exactly, has she found a pattern, has she tried pre-cuts. What style of quilt does she want, in which colourway. Is this her first quilt? Maybe a fat quarter bundle is options, but may be overwhelming to start with. Will a kit work? Woah Nellie!

[@alliziscrafty]

Hahahaha if only you could say “okay, but whatever I pick out, you have to say yes to!” I feel like that would be fun but having to adjust on the fly as the person gives feedback would NOT 😂😂😂

[@jennygholson-morris8786]

That's your opportunity to teach! Quiz the customer about her experience. That'll help you point her towards some patterns so that she can choose one. Then ask her what kinds of colors she wants to use. People usually have pretty solid opinions about the colors they like. Then talk to her about the pattern she chose, and discuss whether solids, large patterns or small patterns would be best.

[@kimberlylutz1184]

Hi! Recognized you were at Old Country Store. Love it there!

[@ginnielynn]

Me too! Thank you for sharing and watching! 🌻

[@karenrobertson1944]

I find that I shop my (embarrassingly large) stash first, pick tons of fabrics in the colours I want to use, then remove fabrics until what is left plays nicely together. Example: I was making a bed quilt in aquas/teals and creams for my sister. I had at least 30 teals and 15 cream low volume prints. After removing the too-dark teals and some others, or wrong mood/theme, I got it down to about 12 teals and 6 cream fabrics. Taking photos always helps!

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you for sharing! What a great process! Congratulations on working through all of those fabrics too! Great tip too on the photo taking! 🌻

[@J.K.RiverisanoldLady]

I made a quilt and included a solid color fabric that was only a tiny dot on my inspiration fabric. It looked very much like the color came out of left field. My take away is not to use solid colors unless they appear prominently in at least one fabric.

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

If it's small you can use it as an accent, meaning just a bit here and there as the fabric designer did, just maybe not in really big pieces. They've done all the colour work already, for you. Look at the proportions overall?

[@J.K.RiverisanoldLady]

@@kathleenmayhorne3183 Yes! Those are exactly the things I did not pay attention to! Thanks for finding the words.

[@ginnielynn]

You could still consider it as an accent piece and keep the scale or size of it in mind. 🌻

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

Find a fabric you love, with many colours, take the selvedge with all the printed colours, shop your stash and check for patterns or ideas. How many fabrics will you need, is 3 enough? Can you get a mix of large, med, small prints in light, med, dark colours, try your fat quarters/ scraps to audition them. Write a list, and shop for the rest? Be flexible, you don't really need half a shop of fabrics? Which is your accent colour? You'll need less of it. Your background? You'll need more, or more bits? Take your time. Rome wasn't built in a day. Are the technicalities going to stretch your mind, or are they out of reach so far? You will learn more over time. You never know where you will need more knowledge, you can do it. If it's too much for now, which pre-cut would you like to try, with background yardage?

[@ginnielynn]

Great guidance tips! Thank you so much for sharing and for watching ! 🌻

[@dianelouise3944]

Was that Old Country Store Fabrics? I love that store

[@ginnielynn]

Yes. It is “The Old Country Store”! I love it too! 💕Thank you for sharing! 🌻

[@jeane.2722]

thx

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you! 🌻

[@ritarogers6093]

What a beautiful LQS! Where is it located?

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you! The Old Country Store is in Intercourse, PA.

[@tenawolfe6863]

Old country Store in Lancaster PA

[@ginnielynn]

Its city address is technically Intercourse,PA, that is outside of Lancaster, PA if you are looking for them on a map. Thank you for watching! 🌻

[@laurastratton8614]

Do you live in/near Lancaster Co PA? I'm in a neighboring County.

[@ginnielynn]

Lancaster County is such a wonderful area, especially with its rich quilting community. I’m so glad you found my channel! Are you working on any fun quilting projects now? 🌻

[@laurastratton8614]

@ginnielynn I'm glad I found you too

[@J.K.RiverisanoldLady]

I once chose a set of fabric that was not pleasing when I finished the project. I had chosen to include a color that was only the tiniest dot on my inspiration fabric. It seemed that unless you looked very closely you didn't see where that color came from. Perhaps the decorating rule of using each color in at least 3 places in a room would have applied. This was very hard for me to put in words. I bet if I could have posted a photo of the quilt it would be easy for you to see which fabric didn't seem to belong.

[@ginnielynn]

Thank you for sharing! 🌻

[@lindapaluveer1003]

I use my own rule of 3. Focal fabric then 1 solid colour that’s in the focal fabric and 1 blender that’s in the focal fabric. Usually works well for me

[@ginnielynn]

Great rule! Thank you for sharing and watching! 🌻