Complementary colors are those across from, or opposite each other on the color wheel. When you place complementary colors next to each other in a quilt, they have high contrast, meaning they stand out from one another. The classic complementary color scheme is red and green. Most of us gravitate toward that color scheme naturally during the
month of December, without ever realizing that combining those two colors follows the principles of the color wheel. Here is my Christmas quilt from 2005 that I have hanging over my staircase bannister:
The quilt below is my “Ode to Joy,” a celebration of poppies in the spring. I used the red/green complementary colors, and notice how vibrant the quilt is and how well the poppy stands out from the background (grasses in the field).
So how does this apply to making your quilt? Complementary colors make a high-energy quilt. They also provide instant contrast, a necessary element if you are using a block that needs to stand out from the background. Examples include star blocks, Irish Chain, Bow Tie, or anything else with an obvious representational design in the block. Imagine using fabrics that blended together if you were creating a Lone Star quilt. What a waste it would be to do all that that cutting on the bias and precise piecing, only to have the star fade into the background.
What about other color combinations? Blue and orange are also complements. Before you say “yuck,” envision a field of pumpkins against a blue sky, or squash soup in a blue ceramic bowl. Also yellow and violet are complements, but you see them used together less often. Winter pansies offer up that color combination straight from nature.
Work a couple of these complementary color schemes in your color journal by doing this:
- Select a favorite color from the color wheel.
- Go directly opposite that color on the wheel to locate it’s complement.
- Go to your stash and cut fabric swatches for both colors. You can even pick several swatches for each color to really add variety.
- Paste them down in your color journal and title the page “Complementary Color Scheme.”
Extra Credit: See if you find one piece of fabric in your stash that contains both of your complementary colors. Kaffe Fassett creates stunning fabrics by including several shades of one color with a bit of its complement thrown in.
If you are enjoying these lessons, check out my class Color Wheel Recipes. I teach this class at Sew Memorable in Dawsonville, GA and I’m available to teach to groups. I’d love to visit you and your guild.
