Guide
Choosing quilt colours
Pick fabrics for value first and colour second. The pattern in a quilt comes from light fabric next to dark fabric, so a star in navy on cream shows from across the room, while the same star in red on orange melts away. Take a black-and-white photo of your fabrics to see their value.
Value beats colour
Value is how light or dark a fabric is. Two fabrics of different colours but the same value blur together; two of the same colour but different values make a crisp edge. That’s why a log cabin with light logs on one side and dark on the other shows a strong diagonal even in one colour family.
- Lay the fabrics side by side and take a photo with your phone.
- Switch the photo to black and white (the Mono filter).
- Sort them light to dark. If two look the same grey, don’t put them next to each other where the block needs contrast.
Give every fabric a job
- Background: the most fabric, the quietest colour.
- Main: the shapes you want people to see, like star points or logs.
- Accent: a small amount of the brightest colour, such as the centre square.
Twelve palettes that work
Each of these is one tap in the designer. They use generic colour names, so take the swatches to any shop.
- Indigo and muslin
- Red, white and blue
- Hearth and timber
- Sage garden
- Coastal
- Sunday picnic
- Desert sunset
- Amish jewels
- Nursery soft
- Berry patch
- 1930s feedsack
- Holiday
Questions
How many colours should a quilt have?
Three to five works for most block quilts: a background, one or two main colours, and an accent. Scrappy quilts can use dozens if the values stay sorted.
What is the best background colour?
Cream, white or a soft grey for classic blocks; navy or charcoal for a modern, glowing look. The background covers the most area, so it sets the mood.
Do the colours on screen match real fabric?
Close, not exact: screens vary. Patchwise uses generic colour names. For a true match, photograph your actual fabric and use the photo in the quilt.
Updated November 9, 2026