Conclusory Color Tips
Welcome back to the final blog on our series of color! To close us out I’m going to give you a grab bag of tips that will hopefully smooth out your colorous journey.
Tips for Auditioning Fabric:
- Lighting – Make sure to use full-spectrum light whenever you can for auditioning your fabric to get accurate color representation. Without getting into the science of color reproduction, let’s just say sunlight is probably your best option for this but premium lightbulbs designed for accurate color reproduction do exist. Should you need to match at night, try different lights to see which lights best showcase the true colors of your fabric as different bulbs will reproduce colors differently.
- Environmental colors – Keep in mind the colors surrounding your fabric during the auditioning process. We prefer using a white cutting mat at the store instead of the more durable self-healing green mats specifically to avoid influencing the appearance of the colors. Also, be aware of how colored walls may reflect and cast color onto your fabrics.
- Get a digital perspective – Snap a photo of your fabric selection with your phone for a fresh perspective. While screens may not reproduce colors 100% accurately, this exercise can help broaden your awareness. Additionally, convert the photo to black and white to focus on the lightness of the fabrics and further refine your selection.
Other Tips for a Smooth Quilting Experience:
- Inspiration – Don’t know where to start? Try drawing inspiration from the world around you! It's perfectly fine to get ideas from other quilts, but don't forget to explore your surroundings. Photographs, flower gardens, even dog toys – the possibilities are endless! Just make sure your inspiration doesn't become an inflexible goal.
- Be flexible – Avoid getting fixated on one specific color. Rigidity can lead to creative paralysis or dissatisfaction. Continuously reevaluate your colors and be open to adjusting your plan based on how the colors feel and what you have available.
- Heart and Mind – Combine both your heart (intuition, emotions, or that nebulous feeling in your gut) and your mind (intentionality, color theory, color harmonies) in your creative process. The balance between the two will vary from person to person, yet using them in tandem can enhance your quilting experience.
We hope this journey through color has been helpful. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting and refining your skills. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@bluebirdquilts.com. Happy quilting!
Written by Staff Member/Artist Chris
Happy Colorful Stitching from Bluebird Janet’s blog!