Creating a temperature quilt is a fun and meaningful way to capture the highs and lows of the year through fabric and color. If you’re new to this type of quilting project, it involves assigning a color to specific temperature ranges and sewing a block each day or week based on the recorded temperature. The result? A beautiful, personalized keepsake that visually tells the story of a year’s weather patterns.
Choosing the right fabrics for a temperature quilt is essential to ensure your quilt turns out to be vibrant and cohesive. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting your fabrics:
1. Select a Thoughtful Color Palette
Your color choices will determine how well the temperature variations stand out. You’ll want a range of colors that smoothly transition from one temperature range to the next.
Give some thought to the background fabric (if you will have one). The background fabric should complement the “temperature” fabrics but provide some contrast to them as well. Choosing a background fabric that blends too closely to one or more of the temperature fabrics – will mute the effect of those fabrics.
My initial choice for a background fabric was black – all the temperature colors I chose looked amazing against the black background. When I decided I wanted to use this quilt on my king-sized bed – I realized that as pretty as the combination was – the black was too harsh for the decor in my room.
Then I tried a white background – and found that it was too stark. In the end – I settled on a very light marbled gray that subtly includes some of the other colors I’ve chosen to represent the temperatures. I did need to swap out one of the colors I had selected to represent one of the temperatures – but that was an easy choice to make.
Tips:
- Use warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) for hot temperatures and cool colors (blues, greens, purples) for colder days.
- Include a few neutral or transition shades for mild temperatures.
- Think about the visual impact you want—vivid and bold, or calm and muted.
- Choose a background that allows your temperature fabrics to “sparkle”.
Why: A thoughtful color palette ensures that your quilt is visually pleasing and clearly communicates the changes in temperature throughout the year.
2. Keep Print Patterns Minimal
While prints can add interest, they can also detract from the temperature theme by making it harder to see the distinct color shifts.
Tips:
- Opt for tone-on-tone prints or small, subtle patterns that read as solid from a distance.
- If you really love prints, consider using them sparingly for accent pieces or temperature extremes.
Why: Simple, clean fabrics allow the colors to be the star of the show and keep the temperature story clear.
3. Plan for Fabric Quantities in Advance
Temperature quilts require a lot of fabric variety, but it can be frustrating to run out of a key color mid-year.
Tips:
- Calculate how much fabric you’ll need based on your block size and the number of days or weeks you’ll be sewing.
- Buy a little extra fabric for each color, especially for ranges that occur frequently in your climate.
Why: Having enough fabric ensures that your project stays consistent and you don’t have to hunt for matching shades later on.
6. Test Your Color Arrangement
Before you commit to your fabric choices, lay out the colors in order to see how they flow together. Be sure to test your chosen fabrics against your background fabric as well.
Tips:
- Create a color key or swatch chart to reference as you sew. Here’s a link to the one I created – Temperature Quilt Color Chart.
- Move the fabrics around to find the most pleasing gradient.
Why: Testing your arrangement helps you catch any awkward transitions and ensures your quilt will have a harmonious look.
7. Consider Seasonal Variations
Depending on where you live, your climate might have dramatic seasonal shifts or more subtle changes.
Tips:
- Tailor your color ranges to reflect your local weather patterns.
- If your temperatures tend to cluster around a specific range, add more shades in that section.
Why: Customizing your fabric choices for your climate makes the quilt feel more personal and accurate.
Final Thoughts
Making a temperature quilt is a rewarding project that beautifully blends creativity and data. By choosing the right fabrics and planning your color palette thoughtfully, you can create a stunning quilt that tells the story of an entire year. Happy quilting!
More Info About Making a Temperature Quilt
Recording an Entire Year in a Temperature Quilt
Temperature Quilts – Choosing Blocks