How to Design With Color for Quilts & Afghans

Quilts and afghans can be designed using multiple colors or single shades.

Quilting and crocheting or knitting afghans is not only a therapeutic hobby, it also produces heirloom treasures that can be put to use. Quilts can be used as couch throws, bed coverings or even as wall hangings. Afghans are used for blankets and coverings throughout a house. Both crafts require a steady hand, an attention to detail and an eye for matching the right colors in the right patterns. Knowing how to best use colors will help you produce quilts and afghans everyone will admire.

Things You'll Need

• Photo or picture of room quilt or afghan is being used in
• Color samples, such as paint chip samples
• Blank, white paper
• Colored pencils

Instructions

1. Choose where the quilt or afghan is going to be used. When giving as a gift, obtain a picture of the primary room the piece will be used in. For example, if making a quilt to hang on a wall in a living room, find out the colors and style of the room. If making an afghan for a child's room, look at a picture of the colors used to decorate the room. Get pictures if possible to make remembering exact colors easier.

2. Write color options on a list to get ideas. For example, if making a quilt for a living room that is decorated in shades of blue and brown, opt for colors such as different hues of blue, deep reds and creams for the overall quilt color. For afghans and quilts for a baby boy's room, use shades of pale blue, yellow, brown or white as the base color and accentuate with darker shades of the same colors to create a unified look. Opt for colors that are neutral and can be used in various locations of a home if the quilt or afghan is being made for general purposes. Neutral options include tones and hues of brown, cream, beige, white, tan and even sage green or cornflower blue.

3. Using a white piece of paper, sketch out the color scheme and pattern for the quilt of afghan. Use colored pencils, paint chip samples, yarn pieces, or fabric swatches attached to the drawing to further illustrate the colors and how they pair together. Compare the drawing to the photo of the room. If you do not have a picture of the room, take your colored drawing to the location if possible to ensure the color scheme matches.

4. Take the final version of the drawing along with you when you go to purchase the materials for the quilt or afghan. Keep thread color in mind as well for quilts, as the thread will be visible and needs to match the overall color of the finished product. Know that thread color can be of a similar color to blend in or used as an accent color to the quilt or afghan.

5. Lay out all materials before assembling the quilt or afghan to get a visual representation of the final product before you begin any work. Reorganize fabric blocks or swatches if using such pieces for a quilt to create different designs and patterns.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to make the quilt or afghan in colors chosen by the recipient to ensure that the piece is used and not stored out of sight.

• Use caution when quilting, as quilting needles are sharp and can be dangerous to babies and toddlers.

References

• Craft Stylish: Thread Holds It Together and Embellishes Too
• Craft Stylish: How To Make A Rag Quilt
• Craft Stylish: Granny Square Blanket