Darla Hall with Quilting With Darla
Trying to find the perfect color thread to quilt your quilt with can be challenging. My quilting teachers have always said to use a neutral color, like a soft gray or cream. I say "how boring!"
I have THREE ways you can use color to achieve amazing results with your quilting.
Let's look at a quilt... from 10 feet. What color does it read to you?
Did you say Blue?
It’s not a trick question, this one is blue...but what color blue thread would you use? There are many different values of blues from light blue (almost white) to a deep navy blue!
I chose a one that matched the medium blue. I wanted it to show in the light and in the dark places, that allows it to look different in the light, medium and dark places in this quilt. It gives it definition while creating an illusion of three different color threads.
Another way you can choose a thread color is to color match the fabric. Take a look at the background or take 10 steps (or feet) back and note what color the fabric “reads,” like the first example.
Here is an example where I color matched the fabric. I wanted the quilt design to have texture, not more color.
So I matched a light pink, hot pink and red...then a true white for the background. It’s so rewarding to get the desired result you are looking for. Can you imagine it with gray or cream? It would be distracting, adding an additional color and taking away from the vibrant color.
Sometimes experiments with thread color pay off! This quilt was a great example of an experiment that went incredibly well! It’s a little hard to see in the picture, but I started with the top row in a soft yellow, second row in a soft peach, then a light pink, then a pale lime green, a soft baby blue and gray.
Every row of this quilt was identical, except for the colors of flowers and it needed more interest. So I change the background slightly with thread color! It added interest, texture, and personality. My friend Jill was thrilled to win 4 Blue ribbons (at 4 different shows) and the judges loved the color transition of thread.
What will you do with your next quilt project?
Step away from the neutrals, add color and see where your creativity takes you! It could win you a few jaw dropping quilts and if you choose to enter it in a show, like my friend Jill - a few ribbons as well!
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