Fabric Color & Value Planning

Value is how light or dark a fabric reads, regardless of its color. A quilt pattern appears because neighboring pieces contrast in value; two fabrics of different colors but the same value blur together from across the room. Sort fabrics by value first, then check the color scheme, then the print scale.

Checking value

Photograph the fabrics together and view the photo in black and white
Squint, or step back several feet
Use a red value viewer for most colors; it does not work on red fabrics, so use a green viewer for reds
Lay fabrics in a line from lightest to darkest and look for any that jump out of order
Check the background fabric against every other fabric it touches

Color schemes

Scheme	Built from	Feel
Monochromatic	One hue in many values	Calm, elegant
Analogous	Neighbors on the color wheel	Harmonious
Complementary	Opposites on the wheel	Lively, high contrast
Split-complementary	One hue plus the two beside its opposite	Lively but softer
Triadic	Three hues evenly spaced	Bold, playful
Scrappy	Many hues held together by value or background	Cozy, vintage

Warm colors tend to advance and cool colors recede. A common decorating proportion, roughly 60 percent main, 30 percent secondary and 10 percent accent, works well as a starting point for yardage.

Fabric roles and values

Rate value from 1, lightest, to 10, darkest. Record print scale as small, medium or large.

Fabric	Role	Hue	Value 1 to 10	Print scale	Share of quilt	Yardage
	Background
	Focus or feature print
	Light
	Medium
	Medium dark
	Dark
	Accent
	Binding
	Backing

Print scale mix

Scale	Reads as	Good for
Small or tone-on-tone	Nearly solid	Small pieces, backgrounds
Medium	Texture	Most block pieces
Large	A picture	Big squares, borders, backing
Stripes and plaids	Direction	Binding, sashing, deliberate movement

Large prints lose their design when cut small. Save them for pieces at least several inches across.

Swatch notes

Pin or tape small swatches beside each line

Seeing color accurately

Choose fabrics under daylight-balanced, high-CRI light; warm household bulbs shift colors and hide value problems.

Daylight Company Artist Studio Lamp 2: A 6,000 lux, 95+ CRI daylight lamp over the sorting table is what makes the value test on this sheet honest; a warm bulb hides value differences.
OttLite Flex LED Floor Lamp: A 95+ CRI floor lamp that adjusts from 49 to 71 in, so you can put true-color light over a design wall or a cutting table.
Daylight Company DuoPro Double Shade Table Lamp: A 6,000K, 95+ CRI double shade lamp at 2,100 lux for judging swatches at the machine rather than carrying them to a window.
Missouri Star Handy Grip Pin-Free Quilt Design Wall 62 x 72: Stepping back from a 62 x 72 in flannel wall is the squint test: value problems show up at distance that you cannot see at arm's length.

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