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A favorite and versatile quilt size is between 54 and 60 inches (135 and 155 cm) square, which can be used for a baby as a wrap, play rug, crib quilt, or toddler-bed quilt, or for an adult as a lap quilt. Larger square quilts can be used as throws. This book also features rectangular quilts for use as baby stroller and crib quilts, twin-bed quilts, throws, or elegant wall hangings.

If you are unsure of the value of a fabric, you can view it through a value finder, which is a red screen that eliminates the color and allows you to see the degree of light and dark—the value. You can achieve a similar effect by photocopying a fabric in black and white and looking at the values of the grayscale. Another technique is to stare at the fabric and gradually squint at it; the darker fabrics “disappear” first. This is a good technique when you may be confused between brightness and lightness.

If you are using print fabrics, the scale of the print is a very important factor. Your quilt needs to hold interest both at close range and from a distance. Keep in mind that small prints will look like solids when viewed from a distance, and try to use a variety of scales. Geometric designs add movement, encouraging the eye to move over the surface and allowing you to see the other fabrics. There are also monochromatic prints and textured solids available; these are good substitutes for a solid fabric, giving a softer overall finished look.

You can always experiment with coloring a quilt design on paper before making your fabric selection, but remember that no colored pencil or felt-tip pen can recreate a fabric or its effect when placed next to another. If you are unsure of your fabric selection, purchase only a small amount and try a fabric mock-up. Quiltmakers are avid collectors of fabric, often buying without a project in mind. If you already have various fabrics on hand, you can use them for some of the projects in this book. If, however, you plan to purchase additional fabrics, take the existing fabrics along with you to see them all together, as it is very difficult to carry an image of color in your head. Finally, always be prepared to change your mind.

All of the fabric sizes in this book give a margin for error so that you can purchase fabric with confidence. Most rotary cutting projects involve cutting strips first; these are best cut from across the width of fabric. Therefore, take care if a design calls for a quarter: most quilting-supply shops sell quarters either “fat” or “long.” A long quarter is cut 9 inches (25 cm) deep by the width of the bolt. A fat quarter is cut 18 inches (50 cm) deep by the width of the bolt and then split at the fold to give a piece that measures 18 x 22 inches (50 x 56 cm). Only buy a fat quarter if the design specifies such a size.