Saturday, November 8, 2014

Tips On Using A Quilt Design Wall

By Christa Jarvis


You may have never heard of a wall for designing quilts but it is a great new invention to help for quilt makers to work out colors and patterns. Not only is it very practical, but it looks great too. The following guide has a range of useful tips for how to use a quilt design wall in your home.

The great thing about this a design wall is that it allows you to quickly work out the effects of different patterns and colors in combination. In the past, many quilters used a floor to place fabrics together. This has its drawbacks because it is hard to get a visual grasp of the whole picture. Quilters might have to stand on a chair in order to get the height needed for a good view.

As an alternative, the design wall allows you to stick fabrics too it to get an immediate idea of the visual effect. Simply taking a few steps back allows you to view the overall harmonies of colors and patterns. Large design walls are great for working with many different fabrics at the same time and still keeping an eye on the overall visual appeal.

After all, part of the function of a quilt is to bring together a variety of colors. This is an area where the design wall really comes into its own. You can place several colors together, adding and removing until you find the right combination of harmonious hues.

Starting small is a good idea if you have a limited budget and need to conserve your fabric investment. There are lots of ways to do this. One option is to begin with a few small swatches of fabric just to get a sense of how they work visually.

Another trick is to create a miniature block a fraction of the size you are planning for the finished product. This allows you to conserve fabric which is important particularly if it is expensive. A mini block is a quick way to get an idea of how the fabrics will work together.

Best of all, miniature blocks do not have to go to waste. If you accumulate a number of them, you could use them to make a mini quilt. It is also a great idea for a small quilted accessory such as a pillow.

Some other uses for design walls in quilting include testing how patterns work together. Experienced quilters know that pattern is as important as color and it can be a challenge to bring together several types. For instance, stripes, dots and florals might seem like a crazy combination. However, an experienced hand and eye can make even these work together in harmony. For more tips on this subject, you can find many free resources on the Internet. These include blogs and websites which are dedicated to quilting. Check them out to find tips and suggestions including how to make your own design wall.




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