Color Theory for Quilters

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Develop your own sense of color with Katie Pasquini Masopust in this inspiring tutorial. While Katie teaches, she suggests practice exercises to apply what is being presented. Create a fabric color wheel while learning about the placement and interaction of color. Value is explained, along with classic color schemes. View multiple types of composition and study colors emerging from nature. Then, explore the true magic of color with examples of transparency. The interactive approach ensures that the content offered in this class will affect the way you see color in your projects and build confidence about your own color choices. For your convenience, this class can be purchased for online viewing or purchased on DVD.

Course Curriculum

Color Theory for Quilters by Katie Pasquini Masopust - 1hr 19m

Lesson 1. Introduction 0 Hours 8 Minutes00:08

Lesson 2. Making a Color Wheel 0 Hours 10 Minutes00:10

Lesson 3. Value 0 Hours 15 Minutes00:15

Lesson 4. Classic Color Schemes 0 Hours 10 Minutes00:10

Lesson 5. Composition 0 Hours 18 Minutes00:18

Lesson 6. Color Schemes from Nature 0 Hours 7 Minutes00:07

Lesson 7. Transparencies 0 Hours 11 Minutes00:11

Check items to add to cart or select all LIST PDF

Checkboxes indicate items available for purchase from shop.americanquilter.com

Fabric:

#4611 - (3–4) 20" squares solid white or gray

White Supreme Solid Cotton Fabric

White Supreme Solid Cotton Fabric

Member Price: $7.96

Members Save: $1.99

Regular Price: $9.95
(100+) 2½" squares of many colors and values

Other Supplies:

Inspirational color photograph (flower, fruit, animal, magazine advertisement, etc.)
#4828 - Sewline™ Fabric Glue Pen

Sewline™ Fabric Glue Pen

Throw your pins aside! This clever glue stick contains a water-soluble blue glue that dries clear. It’s a quick, convenient, way to hold fabric for sewing. Great for quilting, applique work, hemming, and general sewing. Once glued, the fabric pieces can be pulled apart if they need to be readjusted.
*Includes REFILL

Member Price: $6.36

Members Save: $1.59

Regular Price: $7.95
Pencil
#6402 - Scissors

Karen Kay Buckley’s Purple Perfect 7½” Scissors

The blades of Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect 7½” scissors are sharp to the very tip, with a soft grip handle and a plastic protective cover. One blade is micro-serrated and one is a regular blade which can be sharpened. The serrated blade pulls the fabric into the scissors rather than pushing it away like traditional scissors. Easy for right- or left-handed users in a great size for cutting single or multiple layers of fabric.

Member Price: $23.96

Members Save: $5.99

Regular Price: $29.95
Rotary cutting ruler with 60° angle
Camera (The camera on your phone will work fine.)
#11874 - Iron
#10471 - Ironing Surface

Optional

#11606 - Electric Quilt® 8 quilt design software (EQ8)

Electric Quilt 8

From professionals to the everyday quilter, the Electric Quilt 8 has all the right tools and features for every designer. The EQ8 is redesigned with a friendly new look that includes large interface elements for faster, more intuitive learning. It comes with more than 40 new and updated features, and the package contains a software download license that is used to claim, download, and install the software from ElectricQuilt.com. Complete instructions are included.

*System requirements under description tab below.

Member Price: $191.96

Members Save: $47.99

Regular Price: $239.95

If I have never taken an art class, will I be able to understand what Katie is teaching?

If you have never taken an art class, you will especially want to take this class. We make color choices every day, and Katie is adept at explaining color in a way that everyone can understand. Completing the course and engaging in the exercises will truly expand your knowledge of color in a way that is practical and exciting.
What project will I make for this class?

While this is not a project class per se, you are encouraged to use this class as a workshop in color theory. Kathie has filled this class with valuable exercises designed to build your skills in how to use color. This will be useful when choosing fabrics and colors for quilts, crafts, and decorating.
What if I have questions?

We recommend that you watch the class in its entirety and become familiar with any downloadable materials. At that point, if something is unclear, go to the tab that allows you to ask a question and Katie will get back with you.
When can I start the class?

We know you are excited to get started. After you have purchased the class, you can enjoy it anywhere and anytime you have the Internet. The class belongs to you, so watch it as many times as you like!

Instructor Gallery

Dave Dabay – April 18, 2020:

Very well done, I learned a lot and enjoyed the course. I found plenty of fabric options in my small stash and was able to follow the color theory as well as the quilt possibilities. I really was motivated to test the transparency task and found that I enjoyed it immensely. Probably enough information for a class of it's own. Katie is easy to follow and listen to, job well done as was the vide…

o itself.

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Millie Shenton – May 12, 2018:

This course is very helpful. I have been a quilter for a few years but I am NOT an artist - so I limit myself to recreating others' work. I have considered observing some college art classes as I always struggle with color, composition and value, so this class is just what I needed. Personally, I cannot say it an easy class for me, but it is certainly a necessary one to get me to the next level.…

Thank goodness it's online because I would have worn out a DVD with all the stop, go, stop, repeat! LOL!! I will be watching and re-watching this class. You can't truly learn how to swim in the shallow end of the pool - so jump in the deep end - the water's fine. Thank you, Katie, for a much need boost to the next level to be able to design my own quilts.

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Pia Lindegaard – July 11, 2017:

Very fine course - would love another course of transparency alone.
Cheree Carlson – April 20, 2017:

There is a lot of good information on color theory here. Unfortunately, getting full benefit from the course requires that one either have a huge stash, or be willing to purchase fabric in a wide variety of tones.. As a beginner, I haven't the stash or the cash. If there had been a sample color wheel with actual colors on it in the pdf instead of a blank to fill in yourself it would have helped qu…

ite a bit.

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Maureen Hendricks – November 3, 2015:

I found this to be an excellent video on color theory. Katie presents the subject matter in a very clear and straight forward manner. Her explanations of color terms and definitions are easy to understand and her class exercises are well paced. I found her seven drawer color system of organizing fabric to be ingenious. Quilt composition and transparency were distinctly explained and demonstrated…

. I would highly recommend this video to someone who needs more clarification on color theory.

more
Mary Mattimoe – November 2, 2015:

Color Theory for Quilters serves as both a delightful introduction or kind refresher for someone of any skill level. I love that Katie's playful nature came across in the lessons. There were several ideas that had eluded me until watching this like the Graphic Grayscale and how well she does transparencies.
I do highly recommend this course especially for people participating in critique grou…

ps. This course would be a great way to get everyone understanding color vocabulary and on the same page.

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Cindy Barfield – October 31, 2015:

Very understandable. Easy site to navigate. Love seeing all 3 color wheels to see how backgrounds influence all our colors. Value class was extremely helpful, sorting my fabrics will help me figure out my shopping list! Visuals are awesome. Seeing her quilts that utilize these techniques was so helpful. Love her honesty, humor and understandablity ( is that a word like purpler? ). Found it very…

helpful to see the assignment and then go to studio, do my assignment & then come back to watch it again to see what I missed or didn't get. Transparency is my new favorite thing to do!

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Maureen Hendricks – October 30, 2015:

I found this to be an excellent video on color theory. Katie presents the subject matter in a very clear and straight forward manner. Her explanations of color terms and definitions are easy to understand and her class exercises are well paced. I found her seven drawer color system of organizing fabric to be ingenious. Quilt composition and transparency were distinctly explained and demonstrated…

. I would highly recommend this video to someone who needs more clarification on color theory.

more
Mary Mattimoe – October 30, 2015:

This is my favorite lesson! I love seeing the transparencies come alive once the lines match!