Quilt Along Rail Fence
Week 1
Hello and Welcome to Week One of the Quilt Along! Eeeek! I can’t believe it is finally here and we are on our way to making a quilt. The only thing that you need to do this week is choose your fabric. For this quilt pattern, Rail Fence, there are only three colors. So, in many way, three colors is easy because it means less options. For me, sometimes less options is also less overwhelming😉
Read these blog posts to find tips on colors and for types of fabrics.
In general, there is a strategy I like to use to choose my fabric scheme.
- Choose one printed fabric that you really really like.
- Next, I want you to look at the dark colors in the fabric. Choose one of the dark colors in a solid fabric.
- Now look at the light colors in the print. Choose one of the light colors in a solid fabric.
Another strategy for choosing fabrics is to look at the movement of the print.
- Again, choose a printed fabric that you really really like.
- Next, look at the movement of the print. Is it curvey, is the movement gentle?
- Next keep the colors in mind as you look for a contrary print. A contrary print to curves would be hard lines with zero curve. Choose a contrary print.
- Finally, choose a solid color fabric. This will pull the prints together and make harmony in your quilt.
In this example, the flowers have lots of curvey lines. Even the stems are curved. To contrast the curves, I chose severe straight lines but I coordinated the colors of light blue and white. Lastly, to create a harmony and to balnce the prints, I chose a solid fabric in light pink.
In the case of this fabric selection, I can’t link to a brand because they are not quilt fabrics. Well, actually, only the floral is by Liberty but it is Tana Lawn, which is not considered quilt fabric. The other fabrics are poplin.
I can link to the shop that sold them to me, Casa del Tessuto. They ship world wide and you can see more of what they offer on @Casa_Del_Tessuto_Roma Instagram.
Want to Join? There is still time!
There is still time to join this Quilt Along! Sign up and receive the free quilt pattern. In six weeks you will have a baby size or throw size quilt. If you choose the twin or queen size, you might need more time.
The Quilt Along runs from February 21 to March 28th. This means, you’ll have your completed quilt for Easter! For those who participate in Easter, the goal is to have your quilt finished before Holy Week which leads to Easter. I know for me that this week before Easter can be crazzzzy hectic. And, if you like a picnic…In Italy, we have Little Easter, Pasquetta, on the Monday after Easter Sunday. The Pasquetta tradition is to go on a picnic. Your quilt will be ready for a Pasquetta picnic or for you to take a nap after your Easter guests go home. Ha-ha!
Some Reminders about the QAL:
Fabric
The pattern is bases on 40” of usable fabric. The usable fabric means that I am not including the selvage. And, the fabric will be cut on the Width of Fabric (WOF).
This blog post will help you with understanding WOF and the selvage.
Let’s Stay Together:
INSTAGRAM
Be sure to follow me @GioiaMiaStudio
Instagram is enormous and to keep us together during this quilt along, let’s use a hashtag. Then we can follow the hashtag and follow each other’s accounts. #GMSRailFence #GMSQAL
How to Make a Hastag
Not sure how to make a hashtag (the pound sign, #)? After you choose your photo, Instagram will prompt you to write a post. After you write your message, you type this: #gmsrailfence or #gmsqal. (Some people don’t write a message. They just type the hashtag. It is up to you!)
More Quilt Along Information
Also, here is a blog post with in-depth information on this Quilt Along.
I’m so curious what fabric you will choose. I can’t wait to see your selection!
Happy fabric hunting! Sending you lots of joy from Rome!
Hugs,
Rachel