Hi there! Today, I want to delve into the art of selecting fabrics for your collage quilt. One of the most common questions I receive is whether the fabric or the project idea should come first. The truth is, it varies. Sometimes, I'm inspired by a specific project and actively seek fabrics that align with my vision. Other times, the fabrics themselves spark an idea that leads to a new quilt creation.
Let me illustrate this with a couple of examples from my own quilting journey.
For instance, when I created Mia, the Valentine-themed fabrics I had on hand inspired me to design Mia's dress as a Valentine-themed collage. Sorting through my fat quarters, I gathered fabrics that I felt would bring Mia's dress to life in the way I envisioned. A useful technique in this process is to scrunch fabrics together in a bundle to see how they interact visually. This method quickly reveals which fabrics complement each other and which ones stand out.
Once I had a combination that I liked, I was able to create the perfect Valentine's dress for her.
Another project, Peppermint, was born from my extensive collection of Christmas fabrics. When I came across the Peppermint pattern, I immediately knew it was the perfect match for my holiday-themed stash. Choosing fabrics for Peppermint required a more structured approach due to its defined color palette. I carefully laid out the dark grays for Peppermint himself, combined tans and whites for the ground, and used blues for the sky. This step-by-step arrangement allowed me to assess how the fabrics interacted within the quilt's overall composition.
When I am working with this many sections, I will often label and stack the groups together so I don't forget where I wanted them in the quilt.
Occasionally, I will find that my choices don't work once they are cut and placed into the collage. For example, I had a lot mor blues for the sky that I didn't end up using because they just didn't look right once all the pieces were together.
For most of my projects, such as Mini Havana, I choose the pattern first and then dig around my stash to find the best fabrics. I love seahorses and I bought the Mini Havana pattern before I ever knew how to make a collage quilt. Because of my daughter's obsession with mermaids as a small girl, I had a LOT of mermaid and ocean themed fabric. I also purchased the Tilda Cotton Beach fabric because I loved the colors and knew they would work perfectly within this quilt.
It's important to note that sometimes, what initially appears to be a mismatched collection of fabrics can surprise you when used in a collage. Take, for instance, the fabrics I chose for the Dee Ceased pattern. At first glance, these fabrics may seem an odd combination, but when strategically placed, they came together beautifully to create Dee's flower crown.
