Quilters at all levels have gone to a series of dead ends when starting their quilt project. Their reason? They need help figuring out which colors will look great with each other. As quilters, we are always drawn to the beauty of a colorful world, and we seek to imitate this. However, we shy away when trying to pick fabric for the project.
A solution was made to that problem by introducing the color wheel in the quilting community. Using a color wheel will be of great help, and by learning how to use it you will have an excellent understanding of choosing the right shades, tones, and fabric hues for your next quilt project. Read on to learn more about the color wheel.
What is a Quilter’s Color Wheel?
There are a lot of colors that exist, and sometimes choosing colors for your quilt pattern might be overwhelming at times. We end up being confused and scared to pick out the colors in the pattern that look great with each other. One way to solve this problem is the use of a color wheel. This is very handy for quilters to learn each color selection to have an excellent grasp of choosing the right shades, hues, and tones in fabrics they will include in their quilting project.
A little fun fact is that the first person to invent the color wheel was Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. Over the past years, many versions and renditions of the wheel came into existence, one of which is the Quilter's Color Wheel. At present, the color wheel consists of 12 pure hues, and these twelve are all based from the three primary colors that are red, blue, and yellow. It is divided into three different sections, namely: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Some color wheels also include shades, tones, and tints in the center of the wheel. Learning the individual characteristics of each division and hue will help you unlock your creative imagination by visualizing the color combinations that will look pleasing to the eye.
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors in the Color Wheel
Working with a color wheel is an exciting experience as you revolve around the twelve colors and experiment with patterns. Always remember that a color wheel is a guide and tool when you are having difficulty choosing your fabric colors; however, one must always unleash your artistic spirit in creating quilts and experiment with different variations because it will all work out in the end.
Primary Colors
The primary colors in the color wheel are blue, red, and yellow because it is the basis for every other color. These colors are arranged at equal distances from each other and are most commonly used in simple color wheels.
Secondary Colors
There are three secondary colors in a color wheel. These colors are created by mixing equal amounts of primary colors. Green is made by mixing yellow and blue. Orange is made of mixing yellow and red. Violet is made by mixing blue and red. These secondary colors are located midway in the color wheel between the primary colors.
Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are created by combining equal amounts of the primary and secondary colors from the ones nearest each other. The tertiary colors are named after the combined primary colors, which are the following: yellow-green, yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, and blue-green.
These colors will greatly help you find inspiration and a tool to match up fabrics.
What is a Monochromatic Quilt?
Trying your hand at making a single-colored quilt? Say no more! This is perfect for you to read. Monochromatic quilts are made with more than one color, which does not mean that it will be boring. You can choose what color you will work with and sew all sorts of light to dark shades, tints, and tones of the color.
To make the color more pleasing to the eye you can experiment and play with neutrals for its background. An important factor in making a monochromatic quilt is contrast. This technique of color and contrasting the fabrics make the design flow together in a more defined quilt pattern. In everything else, make sure to stick only to a singular color.
How to Use the Color Wheel for Quilting?
Quilting, in all sense, is an art form. There's nothing wrong with mixing and matching colors for quilt patterns while you are having fun. Also, it is fine to copy color combinations according to the color theory to help you branch out and create stunning color combinations. Quise are suggestions that you can use for using a color wheel for fabric selection.
First is the technique of using dark and light colors. Contrasting the dark and light colors will let out a more definite pattern of your fabric choice. Arrange the light and dark colors to make the pattern pop up visually. For example, the use of black and white colors. This light and dark pairing can be seen as dramatic, yet this can also be downplayed in a light/dark combo by choosing a mix of light and dark colors and blending the tone.
The second use of the color wheel in quilting is the use of neutral colors. The use of neutral colors holds up brighter, more intense hues and adds a place for the eyes to rest in a composition. Neutrals are peaceful colors and offer support when mixing them with other color palettes. They are always a welcome addition to your quilt.
Analogous colors are right next to our list. By using color, for example, red. The next colors you choose will be the two colors on the right and left sides of red on the color wheel. You have the artistic freedom to continue your way around the color wheel. There are a lot of options for quilts in which you can have a narrow or broader analogous color scheme.
Last but not the least, complementary colors are hues that are directly opposite to each other in the color wheel. For example, blue and green are complementary colors. These colors go well with each other and are natural pairs. Even with the apparent difference in color they seem to reflect differences in a pleasing manner.
The unlimited choices available for quilters is what makes quilting fun. By pairing and mixing colors opens a variety of patterns and color schemes of various fabrics. You can also narrow down and choose fabrics based on favorites and interests.
How to Match Colors in Quilting?
In quilting, the color wheel will be your true friend and guide. Using this excellent tool, it will be easier for you to find coordinating colors. You can always mix and match colors to see what colors will look the most appealing to your eyes. A technique of choosing one main fabric to use and then matching the colors to that. Never forget that quilting is an art, and you can confidently express what colors you want.
The color wheel is a must-have and top tier in learning and understanding the quilting world. You are an artist of your magnificent quilt, and now is the time to go and start your next project. Have some fun quilting!
