Using a Color Wheel to Choose Quilt Colors

Quilter and colorist Heather Thomas shares some helpful tips and tricks to consider when choosing quilt colors for your next quilt project. By using a color wheel you can mix and match colors to see what colors will look best together. Follow along with Heather to learn how to incorporate use of a color wheel in your own quilting.

6 Responses to “Using a Color Wheel to Choose Quilt Colors”

1. Lisa September 30th, 2018

   You didnt explain how to use it for quilting. You just told what was on a color wheel. This was not really helpful

   Reply

2. Andrea April 1st, 2017

   Thank you for this informative video. I am a beginner quilter and this will be very helpful for me when choosing fabrics. My question was answered by you to the first person that wrote.
   Now I feel more confident in going to purchase.

   Reply

3. janette777 April 9th, 2015

   On my color wheel I have six “values” of color for each main color. If I am choosing for a quilt, do I choose fabrics all in the same shade or is it ok to pick different values as long as I stay within the colors designated by the wheel – ie: contrast, etc.

   Reply

   • National Quilters Circle April 13th, 2015

     Thank you for your comment. Those values range from light to dark and include tints, the lightest, the pure hue, the medium value and shades, the darkest value. The wheel does not include tones which can be any value and are muddy. I prefer to have a lot of contrast so, I tend to chose a selection of colors first then use a nice mix of both values and the color scale (tints, tones, hues, shades) making sure to repeat things; if I include a tone of one color then I include tones of one or more of the other colors, if I include a shade of one color then I include shades of other colors and so on. All in all, it is really personal preference. I would choose from many of the values in the color and then add a contrast color. Hope this helps.

     Reply

4. Larraine Wemyss April 2nd, 2015

   Very informative. .where can you buy colour wheels?

   Reply

   • National Quilters Circle April 6th, 2015

     Hi, Larraine. You can purchase the color wheel online or at your local quilt shop. Also check Hancock, Joann, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels craft.

     Reply