A Quick Tip with Big Results

I learn little quilting tips all the time, working with such experienced quilters. This time it was one co-worker teasing another about whether she slapped her sashing on, or measured the length of the quilt, then cut the sashing to measure.  Just the day before I was discussing why a friend’s sashing had stretched and rippled at her long arm quilter’s. We had discussed placement (putting the longer side on first, then shorter). From the teasing, I picked up that you measure your side, cut the fabric to size, and pin it in place. In fact, pinning figures in to lots of solutions when quilting.

• ·         How do you make points match? Pin.
• ·         How do you keep your blocks the same size? Pin. (trimming to the block size helps, too)
• ·         How do you keep your sashing from rippling? Pin.

Many quilt designs end up with fabric cut on the bias, so it is stretchy. Triangles are especially bad about this.

I admit guilt. As a relatively experienced sewist, I tend not to pin when sewing, but for accurate quilting I cannot wait to see how this tip improves my quilts.

Color Theory

Embrace basic color theory 

By Capi Saxton 

Some people just have a natural ability to put colors together, but for those of us that struggle 

to know the difference between coral and pink, using the color wheel may help.   

First,  it’s important to know some basics of color theory, such as the four primary schemes: 

Monochromatic, Complementary, Analogous and Triad.  

Monochromatic colors are color schemes derived from a single base hue and extended using 

shades, tones and tints. Projects in these tones often have a soothing effect – such as an 

all-blue project that evokes the feeling of water growing deeper in color.  

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that create the strongest contrast. Think about red 

and green for Christmas, or orange and blue for some sport teams. These colors stimulate the 

eye, making projects pop.  

Analogous colors are groups of three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. 

They are best used with warm or cool colors, creating a scheme that is less vibrant than 

complementary ones.  Think about red, orange and tangerine, which allow for a variety of 

tones but stay in the same color family.  

Triadic colors use three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. Triadic color schemes 

tend to be quite vibrant, even when using pale or unsaturated versions of hues. The colors of 

Halloween - orange, purple and green – are a popular triadic scheme because they bounce off 

each other, creating wide visual interest. 

Knowing these things can help you consider what feeling you want your project to encourage. 

When making projects for children or ones where you want to spark creativity, use triadic or 

complementary colors. Use monochromatic or analogous colors when you want to encourage 

calm or soothing environments.   

Fabric designers create entire lines that use these principles.  Whenever possible it is easiest 

to let them do the work and select from the collection they create.  But as always, our great 

staff is available to help you find just the right combination to make your project the best it 

can be.   

We have a color wheel in our shop and all of our staff has been trained to effectively use it 

when creating projects.  Please take a moment to allow us to help you find the right color for 

your project.  

Happy Stitching!