How to Pick the PERFECT Fabric for a Quilt- Sew Well with Rob Appell

See more from Rob Appell - bit.ly/3Yl9VlA
Rob Appell shares his techniques on picking the perfect fabrics for his quilts. Learn how to build your fabric choices and work with colors to get the impact you desire.
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[@USSWylie]

Every time I watch someone go through this process I get a little closer to feeling like I can do it. I love videos like this and I would really appreciate a follow up where you reveal the pattern you pick (or design) for these fabrics and then make the quilt. Using large prints is another place a lot of us seem to need help--i sure do. Thanks Rob!😊

[@sandyhumissouri5131]

Agree! Would love to see the end result, and maybe the thought process of choosing the pattern.

[@michelleherman5298]

This was very helpful!

[@sweetibbies]

Rob, thank you. You always know when I am having a conundrum and you have a resolution for me.

[@StitchinHeaven]

I appreciate your ideas for my content, haha

[@lorihawkins6797]

Thank you so much! I often feel insecure about picking fabrics. I'm fairly new to quilting. This was so helpful!

[@jenihansen7201]

THANK YOU ROB. I AM TERRIBLE AT PICKING COLORS, BUT THIS DID HELP ME. ACJ HERE. GLAD YOU DID THIS VIDEO.

[@StitchinHeaven]

AWSOME MY FRIEND. JUST GO TO YOUR LQS AND PRACTICE

[@reaanneservia3866]

Another fabulous Rob Appell tutorial ❤ Many thanks ☺️

[@bltsews8375]

Rob, Yes this was very helpful. I like the fact that you’re mixing fabric types and lines. We often think we have to use everything the same and then everything becomes cookie cutter. Can’t wait to see what you will make.

[@jjivy6310]

Love watching you pick fabrics. I'm a pick what I like person. Keep throwing ideas out here 🙂

[@margarethanson50]

Something that I learn do right picking out the color with solid and prints I’m still learn Thank Rob

[@cstanfield8674]

Rob this is how I "audition" fabrics. I don't do quilts, I create/design handbags, tablerunners/toppers & related home dec pieces. The process is the same - & it is sometimes what speaks to me at the moment with the core fabric I am designing around. Thanx for your suggestions & videos. Happy sewing! "CC" from So. California!

[@magpiesatx]

Thank you for the tips on picking fabrics to make an eye-appealing quilt!

[@julielowery4822]

Yes! I’ve needed this train of thought to choose material that makes color pop

[@lindyduree2229]

Yes, this was helpful. I like the idea that different lines do work well together. It took me several funny looking quilts to understand scale. Oh my goodness, I could have used this kind of help years ago.

[@katrinahough290]

Petting the fabric is the best part. When we lived in NC, I was close to Mary Jo's. I could find anything and everything there. I haven't found a quilt shop with enough of anything that I love where we moved to. They tend to carry 1 brand and if you're looking for something else, you have to go to another store. Since I can't drive, I have to wait on someone to take me. It's frustrating, but I love watching you pick fabrics!

[@lisareese7486]

My biggest problem is picking fabrics. Thank you.

[@janehollingsworth8108]

Most helpful ideas! Look forward to seeing the pattern you choose and it’s construction!

[@chrisclark9862]

I’m that person. This was very helpful! I also really struggle with large prints. They’re beautiful but I never know what to do with them. Thank you!

[@jenniferdavis5482]

Rob this was very helpful. The way you broke it down, I can understand. I just need to take it one step at a time! I usually look at a focal print and automatically get overwhelmed.

[@kwgluvna]

Thank you very much for this. Choosing fabrics is the scariest thing to me about quilting. I am a rookie quilter. I've only finished one baby quilt top. Your explanation made so much sense.

[@StitchinHeaven]

You can do it! I am here for you!!

[@sherrydaugherty747]

I’ve never seen your videos before. I can’t wait to see more because this one is so very helpful!

[@StitchinHeaven]

I'm so glad!

[@kerrimaida2569]

I have so many fabrics but never the right ones I need!

[@lindawhitver4740]

Love this. It really helped and made sense

[@judithdesveaux1699]

Good video, Rob. I hope everyone noticed that when Rob showed the stack of fabrics to the camera, the blend of colour and pattern made it easy to see what the group would look like sewn together. To achieve that yourself, stack your fabrics and look at it through your phone or camera. Its like looking at things in a mirror. Not sure what pattern I would pick for this feature fabric.

[@StitchinHeaven]

Great point, thank you!

[@kseitz1]

Very helpful!! Thank you!

[@annetyszka6404]

Thanks for this video! I am a "Confident Beginner" quilter and had no idea that you could mix different textures(using batik fabrics with cotton fabrics) or mixing totally different fabric companies to get the result that you need to make a quilt. Can't wait to see a video of your project using these fabrics that you picked!

[@shannonschwab3754]

It was very helpful. The only thing I think would be more so is a closer angle. Towards the end, it was much easier to see what you were seeing and understand your thought process. Great info

[@clogdancer06]

As always a great video 😀 I’ve been watching you for years here and there 👍

[@sweetibbies]

A tumbler quilt would be amazing

[@verwilliams1]

This video was extremely helpful. I learned from watching your process. Thank you!

[@jeannerowsell68]

Ahhh! So nice to see that you and I are doing the same technique on selecting our fabrics for our stash. Usually I include the pattern in the process. Your video are so inspirational 😊.

[@Loriann3616]

Excellent!

[@gingerhammock8400]

Thank you so much! This was so helpful.

[@jeanniehass5138]

Great video, very helpful.

[@helenpecoraro9096]

Rob I love all of your shows but this one was great💕💕 Thank you

[@joannebreeding2815]

Great information. I need to go find a fabric I love and put this information to work ❤

[@wncdoxiemom4760]

Your video was very helpful, thank you

[@jenniferbrown7539]

Yay you actually picked the one I liked. Skulls pull me in always. Thanks for this. 😊

[@saramccool4899]

I can see those in a sunshine shoofly pattern from msqc but also in lots of others. No matter what you choose it will be beautiful

[@maryhudgins9133]

Would love to see that made up in a quilt ! Love the video.

[@jmurphy7192]

Great video! Makes me more sure of my combinations. No pattern ideas for you, sorry. But, would love to see you do a video on pulling fabrics to go with a directional/plaid/polka dot main fabric.I must really like these types, as my stash has way too many of them!🪡🧵

[@stampingatlast1367]

I hope you will show us what kind of pattern you use and how you decide on your pattern.

[@krisbeutz6537]

I love to mix up fabric lines for a quilt! Love the process and am glad I am not the only one that picks out the fabric without knowing what pattern I will be using :-) Thanks for talking about the different scales of fabric. That is very helpful!

[@SarahJackson-kq9mb]

New to quilting and thank you!! This was perfect!!

[@teresarobinson7471]

so helpful! thx Rob!

[@pearlanderson5800]

Like the colors and so easy

[@brysonwest93]

More like this please.

[@StitchinHeaven]

Ok, will do!

[@debbiebraatz1919]

Thanks for the “lesson” on picking fabrics ❤

[@TheJAG1357]

Excellent video Rob. This was fantastic, it was extremely informative and helpful. Thank you. Please take us along for picking the pattern now for these beautiful fabrics. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise, I appreciate you! ❤❤

[@slim215]

I love that your videos are unique how to pick how to fix sewing machines I appreciate you

[@cindyd8011]

I loved the video! I always struggle to pull fabrics, and when I get home, I second guess my choices. A plan to include small and medium scale prints helps a lot!

[@stephaniewatson-mp1gm]

Thanks Rob for sharing your process for choosing fabrics! What a treat having a fully stocked QS with lots of fabric options to choose from. With no stores close by, I spend a lot of time online agonizing over fabric combos for quilts. If you have any tips for making that process easier, please share in a YT video. For a possible quilt pattern that would showcase that wonderful Alexander Henry fabric as well as the batiks, I am wondering if the Naomi quilt pattern from Kitchen Table Quilting would work. It’s a modern pattern with some traditional piecing. Can’t wait to see what you create.

[@terryb6433]

Love your choices. Cant wait to see what you make with these fabrics! How about Irish chain quilt using your focus as the background?

[@eagleeyes1951]

TY for sharing!

[@vivianbeckers2800]

Thank you for sharing Rob, it was very helpful. Beautiful fabrics and colours . I am looking forward to the pattern. Your video`s are so helpfull for a quilt beginner like me. Thank you.

[@Klinda-ql9qi]

If you haven't made this up yet, a snowball or similar pattern to keep from much cutting of your feature fabric. Then alternate with a block that's lots of smaller pieces to make a second pattern overall. I want to see your finished quilt, whatever you choose.

[@susanbaker8023]

Very helpful, thanks for sharing this process. I sometimes struggle finding the fabrics that play together well. Sometimes they just fall in place. This video will help. Take care. Can't wait to see what you do with your fabrics. 😀

[@peggyreinhold886]

Great video, the large tattoo print would work perfect in a kaleidoscope pattern. Because the print is that large it would make no sense to cut it down in small pieces. I would use squares not smaller than 10" better wider and add a modern wide sashing with popping out corner stones and the same pattern like the corner stones as a border. Hope this will make sense and sorry for my English, many greetings from Germany 🥰

[@karin0963]

Thanks Rob. So many choices. That's the struggle I have.

[@ruthberanek13]

This helps tremendously. I always struggle to find what fabric goes together. I will try this on fabric stash I have in my sewing room.

[@sunnijay89]

Thank you Rob. Color is always the hardest part. So helpful to see your process in bringing them together. Especially the idea of mixing batik and quilt cotton

[@sewistnotsewer]

Rob!!! I finally found you again!!! So happy to find you back on KZbin. You're one of my faves!

[@StitchinHeaven]

Glad to see you again, I will be here for a while, haha

[@kamillaralov6772]

Wonderful tattoo print, maybe a medalion quilt with 2 narrow borders for instance HST and a solid, followed by a wide wavy border and finally a medium border with small appliqué in the corners. My best advice for colours is buy what you like, it fits in the end and it’s fun to experience how your colour choices develops. The wavy border could be a slightly wavy freehand cut. Keep up your inspirational videos. Hugs from Denmark

[@liselotteschaerer3811]

Very useful Thank you

[@lizthibodeaux2496]

Thanks for this video. I must be doing it correctly because my process is the same as yours. I absolutely love curating fabrics for a quilt/project!

[@deborahdillard7761]

Thanks Rob for another great video!

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

Great ideas.

[@jennystrahley927]

This was fun to watch. Can't wait to see what you come up with. I hope you continue your journey as you make the quilt. Sorry I have no pattern ideas. That's where I have a problem with deciding.

[@MadeByChinkee]

OMG!!! Good to see you again. I just found this channel of yours. I had been wondering all this time why you no longer posted in your old channel. It was a huge one.

[@StitchinHeaven]

Yes, I am so blessed to have a new channel, see you here often!

[@MadeByChinkee]

@@StitchinHeaven apparently I came across a video from last year, but didn't fully register that it was a from a new channel (this one). Anyway, I already subscribed and hit the notif in order not to miss future videos. Best of luck to your team.

[@person2463]

I also use the dots on the side to help pull fabrics. I love to make sure I grab that tiny colour that you can't see (because used so sparingly in overall focus fabric) to make the quilt pop, it seems to draw out design better. But yes, wandering around with armful is a wonderful thing.... and then always more needles while I'm there. Thanks for sharing, hugs, Chel 🌸

[@marilynsmith5391]

Thanks I always struggle to pick fabrics

[@sandyhumissouri5131]

Oh good, for a minute there I thought this was your personal fabric stash...😂

[@sandyhumissouri5131]

Also, this really scratches my visual stimulation itch! Aaaahhh!

[@beverlysmith8434]

Thank you Rob, you made the fabric picking a little less intimidating!!

[@dianaconrad5102]

It would be really really awesome to see the finished quilt. I see fabric I love but have trouble picking a pattern to go with it.

[@marlenesalamandyk878]

Thank you Rob for another great video! I like your process of picking different scales of pattern, very helpful. Can't wait to see the pattern you choose. I'd almost be tempted to use the focus fabric like a panel or a design that uses it as very large blocks

[@michelleinScotland]

Yes very helpful. I tend to pick a hero fabric then the rest are solids; never really consider having other patterned quilts and different scales. Lots to think about thank you.

[@peterlilley6836]

This has helped me a lot luv teresa

[@lisalagan4501]

Thank you Rob. Great video! For now on, anytime I hear someone say that they are not good with choosing color I will refer them to this video.

[@lisalagan4501]

And I think the BQ pattern by Maple Island would work up nice with your fabrics. It would showcase your main fabric really well😊.

[@StitchinHeaven]

exactly what I was thinking too, and thanks for passing my video along, I am blessed to serve as a quilting coach.

[@candacepayne1735]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@pennykehus2309]

That was very fun. You do a great job. Thanks.

[@carlsass4500]

Hi Rob. Love your color choices on building out from your focus fabric. Almost picked that Henry Glass but ended up with the Tula Pink hissy fit dawn. Still not sure what will become of it... you know me! LOL Pattern wise, I'm not sure maybe cross and crown or bear paw. up to you ... Let you creative juices flow on this one!

[@marykatecurtis9557]

Great video not sure on a pattern but I know whatever you make it will be awesome

[@lollipop2409]

Yes, it was very helpful! I would like to see what quilt you made from this beautiful fabric.

[@anniestevenson5546]

love this video. It has been very hard for me to select fabrics

[@redpop41]

Very helpful

[@lindatower6437]

Great tutorial for my print challenged self

[@beverlygray8216]

Nice job Rob!

[@margiehogan5571]

Very helpful.

[@jeannetteyale3567]

Use the same method, but carry a door viewer to see lf fabrics disappear into any of the others if so take it out or sometimes just move next to one of the other fabrics

[@mariaangelesvenereo4143]

I would love to see what pattern will you be doing with that. Nothing comes to mind with that big scale print

[@amyhodge-yr3fh]

Very helpful thank you

[@carolynkauppila346]

Very helpful, I can't wait to see what you do and why.

[@marieantoinette3307]

My problem is the opposite. I have the fabrics but can't decide on the pattern I want.

[@marywise2014]

Lol my problem too. But want to use a larger square pattern/block for a faster completion using maybe 3 or 4 contrasting colors. Maybe a subject Rob could touch up on?

[@janepols9215]

Make half triangles with all fabric except the theme...make a center square with that one!

[@vickieaxell9518]

Thank you, just awesome. Not the wild purple flower one.

[@tammyd.5654]

Rob can you also go over color placement in a pattern I still find I struggle with the placement

[@mlyoung4004]

I would like to see the next step too...what pattern he came up with!

[@joannecarlow2153]

Thank you, Rob. This video was very helpful for someone like me who struggles with fabric choices. Please do share the choosing of the pattern and making the quilt.

[@nnickerson7636]

Hi Rob. I'm color challenged, if I picked something I really liked someone would have to picke the rest out for me, unless it was only 2 or 3 colors. Thanks for the info though. Hope you have a great day.

[@OrlaQuirk]

I used to think I was color-challenged. And I have to admit, I do not have as good a color sense as my sister and mother. BUT... by walking around carrying bolts of fabric over to other bolts of fabric, and asking the opinions of other people, whose color senses I really enjoy, I have found that my color sense has developed. More importantly, my confidence has developed. Good luck!

[@anndaily9872]

Very helpful and love all your choices

[@deborahgiliberti-rm8fx]

Thank you, very helpful.

[@janestephenson8767]

What colour would you use on the back of the quilt once you pick your theme pattern and all your other ones to go with it would you use the black? I think it should be a bright colour on the back to make it pop. What do you think?