How to Pick the Right Color Assortment of Fabric for a Quilt

Written By Erica McCarthy

When it comes to quilting and sewing, I firmly believe there are no rules. As the older generation loves to say, “There are no quilt police.” And they’re absolutely right. You don’t need anyone’s permission to put together fabrics that make you happy.

That being said, one thing I personally pay close attention to is color value in fabric selection. Having a balance of light, medium, and dark fabrics helps create depth, contrast, and visual interest in my quilts. In this post, I’ll share how I think about choosing fabrics, plus a simple trick you can use with your phone to check your palette.

It's important to remember that this is simply what works for me. If you love your fabrics together, that’s reason enough to use them exactly as they are!

 

Step 1: Understand Fabric Color Values

 

I put fabric into one of three value categories:

·      Light fabrics – i.e. whites, creams, soft yellows, or pastel tints.

·      Medium fabrics – i.e. mid-tone colors that don’t stand out as super light or dark.

·      Dark fabrics – i.e. deep shades such as navy, black, or saturated jewel tones.

 

You don’t need an equal mix of all three. The goal is simply to be intentional about contrast. A quilt made entirely of the same value can sometimes look flat, while mixing values creates depth and movement.

 

Example: Pastel Quilt Palette

 

If you’re working with mostly soft pastels and whites, you can still create contrast by thinking in terms of values within the pastel family:

·      Light value: pastel yellow or white fabrics will fall into the light category.

·      Medium value: a blush pink or mint green can serve as your medium tones.

·      Dark value: a pastel purple might be the “darkest” in your quilt.

Even subtle patterns matter! A light fabric with a busy print may actually read as “medium” when viewed from a distance.

 

Step 2: Use Your Phone to Test Fabric Contrast

Here’s my favorite trick: use your smartphone camera to check the true fabric values in your quilt palette.

The same row of fabric swatches as the first image, but shown in black and white. This highlights the contrast and value differences among the patterns and shades, making it easier to compare lightness and darkness without color influence.

 

On an iPhone:

1.        Lay out your fabric choices on a flat surface.

2.        Open the Camera app and take a photo.

3.        Edit the photo and apply the black-and-white filter - I think the "noir" setting works best.

4.        Look at the picture — you’ll instantly see which fabrics are light, medium, and dark.

 

On an Android:

1.        Take a photo of your fabrics.

2.        Open the editing tools.

3.        Switch the photo to a grayscale or black-and-white filter.

 

This quick check can be eye-opening. Sometimes a fabric that looks “light” in person might actually fall into the medium or dark category when you strip away color.

Compare these photos to see differences when looking at the colors vs. the values. In Photo A, the colored image looks like the two darker fabrics are close in value, but when viewing in black and white, you can see there is a clear balance of color value and contrast between the fabrics. In Photo B, the colored image looks fairly balanced, but in black and white, the left and middle fabric are incredibly close in value, and may blend together within a quilt block or sewing project.

Two side-by-side comparisons labeled A and B. Each shows three fabric swatches in color on the top half and in black and white on the bottom half.

 

Step 3: Compare Color Palettes

Here are three scenarios you might notice when choosing quilt fabrics:

·      Palette with not enough light values: The quilt may look heavy or muddy without highlights.

·      Palette with not enough dark values: The quilt may lack depth and feel too “washed out.”

·      Balanced palette: You’ll see a clear distinction between lights, mediums, and darks, which creates harmony and contrast.

 

If you like quilts with bold pops of color, aim for a wider range of values. If you prefer a soft, blended look, stay closer within one family but include at least a touch of contrast.

 

At the end of the day, quilting is about joy and expression. The fabrics you choose should inspire you, make you excited to sew, and bring you happiness when you see the finished quilt. Color theory is just a tool to help you along the way, not a rulebook.

So gather your favorites, snap a quick photo, and trust your instincts, because the best color palette for your project is the one you love.

Erica McCarthy