23. How to Pick the Perfect Fabric Color

So we’re going to go a bit backward today and talk a bit about fabric selection. I realized looking at all the trapplique pieces over the Express Your Love quilt that I would have a problem quilting her body if the breath sections were stitched in place, so I decided to pull fabrics and select the body color, quilt it, and trapplique it as well!

free motion quilting | Leah Day

Picking this body color is super important because it will really tie together all the colors of the background, plus her hair, plus the breath sections together. Body is key, for this quilt at least!

In the process of making my decision I realized this would make a good video to explain exactly how I made my decision and why. Yes, color choice is always a personal decision, but hopefully this method will help you pick the fabrics for your quilts!

Yep, the gold was definitely the right decision for me. Would you have picked a different color?

free motion quilting | Leah Day

Let’s go quilt,

Leah

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

19 Responses

  1. There appears to a problem with the selecting fabric video. I expect there is a privacy setting. When I click on the video links (the picture and if you can't see the video click here) I get a black screen with the message "this video is private."

    I am eager to see the video once it goes public. I have been struggling with selecting both the color and fmq stitch for my body. I am confident your wise counsel will help.

  2. LAQuilts says:

    Anyone else having trouble viewing video. I get a message that says it is private

  3. Leah, it is saying video is marked as private….can't view

  4. I tried to watch the video but it says that it is private….bummer!

  5. Joni says:

    Leah, the video comes up with "This video is Private." I also clicked on the youtube link and got the same message.

  6. I can't watch the video, it says that it's private.

  7. Monika says:

    Hi Leah, the video comes up as private – is this a YouTube error or do you yet have to share it? Many thanks!

  8. Kim says:

    Your video is coming up as "private". I can't wait to watch!

  9. Leah,

    You video says it is private. Do we need to sign up to view them?

    Thanks,
    Sue

  10. Oh no, your video reads 'This video is private'… 🙁
    I think the gold is stunning!

  11. LAQuilts says:

    Hi Leah, I clicked on the video for today but it says that it is private. Has anyone else had a problem viewing todays video?

  12. Leah Day says:

    SORRY everyone!!!! I'm an idiot in a hurry and forgot to change the setting. It's updated now!

    Leah

  13. Pam says:

    I love the gold. When I saw it I felt, Wow!, this looks great. Good choice Leah and thank you for your advise on picking out colors.

  14. Nice, thanks. I love where you are going with your quilt. I wonder what you would have done different to the breath sections, how would you quilt them without trapplique and be satisfied with them?

  15. Me? Most likely I would have chosen an entirely inappropriate color for the body lol. The gold, however, is PERFECT!

  16. I LOVE the gold! It is totally the fabric I would have chosen! Next month I'm bringing my express your love to my guild for 'sew and tell' I can't wait!

  17. kupton52 says:

    Hi Leah….Oh I think you "chose wisely"….:) Love the gold…it really makes the gold/yellow thread pop…but in a good way. And….I hope this isn't too weird—but I love the lipstick you're wearing. I keep looking for a browned pink and that's what yours looks like in the video. Can you share the color and maker? Blessings….

  18. Leah Day says:

    Kupton52 – The lipstick was actually an Easter present from Josh! I'm so happy you like it. It's Lancome "Vintage Rose" with a pink lipgloss on top. I can't wear bright red lipstick because my mouth is so big I end up looking like a clown. This was just my shade so he did good!

    Cheers,

    Leah

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