Choosing fabric for a project

I love picking fabric for a project. It’s my second favorite activity in quilting. My favorite activity is… yes, you guessed it, buying fabric.

Buying fabric

Joy of fabric shopping

I regularly purchase fabric, not necessarily for a specific project, but rather for the joy of finding fabrics I love that I can use in the future.

Taking advantage of sales

This approach allows me to take advantage of sales and special offers. I’m not concerned with having the latest collections; I feel satisfied when I discover good quality, beautiful fabrics at a fraction of the regular price.

Preferred brands

Buying fabric online presents the challenge of not being able to feel the cotton before purchasing—it often feels like a gamble. That’s why I opt for well-known manufacturers.

I prefer to buy well-known brands such as, but not exclusively:

• Moda
• FreeSpirit
• Art Gallery Fabrics
• Kaufman
• Michael Miller
• Lecien
• Nerida Hansen
• <a href="http://Connecting threads

When I encounter a new manufacturer, I always check online reviews to ensure their quality.

Background fabric choice

Most of my quilts prominently feature a light solid background, and I almost always opt for a creamy off-white for this purpose.

Although I’ve explored a range of cream and white shades, my all-time favorite remains Moda Bella Snow.

Availability of quality fabrics in Australia

In my experience, accessible options for reasonably priced, high-quality quilting cottons in Australia are somewhat limited compared to those available in the US. Living outside of a large metropolitan area means that my best option is to shop online.

Below is a curated list of shops I have personally used or discovered, known for their reasonable prices and appealing fabric selections. This is an ongoing list, so I will update it as I find new favorites:

• Freddie’s fabrics

• Motifsbyhand

• Three wishes patchwork

• The Oz material girls, Utopian threads

• Fabricology
• The Rural Stitch Co.
• TwoInStitches

If you are aware of other Australian fabric shops worth exploring, please share their details in the comments. Alternatively, if you know of any fabric stores that offer competitive prices and dependable shipping to Australia, I would love to hear about them.

Choosing a colour scheme

I envision my fabrics as vibrant tubes of paint, each in a different hue, ready to be used to “paint” my quilt designs.

To illustrate this concept, let’s take a look at one of my most popular quilts.

I designed Colour Fair Down Under with a vibrant rainbow color scheme in mind, but the beauty of this quilt is its versatility. It can be made in any color combination you desire—your creativity is the only limit. Simply browse your fabric stash to find a combination that resonates with you!

In the video below, I share some alternative color recommendations for this quilt, along with a few handy tools. One tool I highly recommend is kuler.com, which helps generate visually pleasing color palettes.

Additionally, you can utilize the coloring page included in the pattern to experiment with different color schemes and find what suits your style best.

Now, let’s dive into some inspiring suggestions and helpful tips:

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