Thursday, November 6, 2014

Pointers To Help With 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.

This very practical and attractive addition to a working area has multiple uses. First of all, it allows you to get a broad view of how fabrics are working together. In the past, many quilters used the floor to lay out blocks. They may have had to stand on a stool in order to see the full effect of their layout.

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.

One practical tip is to start out small by placing a few swatches on the wall at first. This is a good way to plan a larger quilt through working out the core colors and patterns. You can even start with small swatches in order to keep waste to a minimum.

As well, you might try creating a miniature block of the quilt you intend to make. That means downsizing measurements of a typical block so that you use less fabric. This process gives you a thumbnail sketch, in a sense. It gives you a quick idea of whether you chosen shades will harmonize.

The great thing is that a miniature block does not have to go to waste either. Over time, you may accrue a number of mini blocks which can be sewn together to create a miniature quilt. Alternatively, you might use them in home furnishings such as cushions.

Other uses for design walls for quilting are to work out how fabrics will intermingle in terms of patterns. Pattern is just as important as color in this art form and it can be tricky to know how to use several fabrics together. For instance, strips, florals and dot patterns might seem to busy in combination but with some practice it is possible to integrate even these patterns smoothly. For more tips, including how to make design walls, you can find lots of useful advice online via quilting websites and blogs. As well, check out the range of magazines which focus on the subject. Thankfully, today it is easier than ever to get tips on this creative pastime thanks to the Internet which brings those with shared passions together.




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