Pulling fabrics for a new quilt projects can be fun and, sometimes, overwhelming. So many colors; so many choices. The Anachrome quilt design was inspired by 3D image technology — like that used to create 3D movies. The nice this about this inspiration is that it has built in colors. This technology relies on cyan and red to generate the 3D effect.

While these colors came from the inspiration, they are only one of the many options to helping this unique pattern to shine. There are many secondary patterns in this design and your color choices and placements will impact was pattern comes to the forefront.

Below I provide some approaches to how you might select fabric colors for your Anachrome Quilt pattern. Plus, you can also see tester versions below which demonstrates how the quilt looks when made with scraps, made with solids and made with a mix of prints. I hope these tips and examples spark ideas and good feelings and make you want to create (even if it’s not a quilt!)

Fabric Requirements

Anachrome quilt provides fabric requirements and instructions for constructing this quilt in three different sizes:

CRIB (38" x 55")
THROW (57" x 72")
TWIN (66" x 88")

Tester Versions

Because this quilt offers so many possibilities for construction method (traditional or FPP), fabric pull (scrappy, solids, prints) and colorways, I sought out testers that I knew would be interested in showcasing this variety.

Throw size Anachrome Quilt by Natalie at stonesimplecreative

Natalie from Stone Simple Creative chose a rich color palette in PURE Solids from Art Gallery Fabrics. This quilt turned out so stunning that Linli at Lamb and Loom decided to make a quilt kit out of it. Natalie also chose a modern, minimalist quilting design that features a mixture of circles and hexagons. 🧑‍🍳 😘

Haley from Mistletoe Quilting Co. leaned into purple and gold for her test of the traditional templates. She also used a mix of solids and a blender print.
Haley pulled fabrics from her stash for this test version.

Kaitlin at freetimefibers took the sustainable quilting route and used fabric she received from other quilter’s detashes to create this scrappy version of Anachrome.
The “four-patch tilted diamonds” really stand out thanks to her fabric selections.

Four different approaches to fabric selection for this quilt

Like most things in quilting, there are myriad ways to approach a fabric pull. When the pattern testing process began, the testers felt overwhelmed with all the options available with this quilt and asked if I could provide guidance. So, I pulled together four approaches you could use to select a color palette for the Anachrome quilt.

Two Colors in Three Values

In this approach, you’ll select two colors for your quilt, then use different shades of one color for Fabrics A-C; and shades of the other color for Fabrics D-F. This is the approach I took for my sample quilt.

THE FABRICS

Art Gallery Fabrics:
Hibiscus
Coral Reef
Grapefruit
Tile Blue
Cozumel Blue
Fresh Water

Three Colors in Two Values

In this process, you’ll select three colors and use a light version of Color 1 for Fabric A and a dark version of Color 1 for Fabric D. For Color 2, light version for B and dark version for E. For Color 3, light version for C and dark version for F.

THE FABRICS

Art Gallery Fabrics:
Cozumel Blue
Grapefruit
Lemonade
Tile Blue
Coral Reef
Parrot

Notice that this colorway uses several of the same colors as the prior colorway but in different placements.

Warm + Cool

This color way uses a range of warm and cool colors (this has a rainbow of colors). The warm colors for Fabric A-C and the cool colors for Fabric D-F.

THE FABRICS

Art Gallery Fabrics:
Raspberry Rose
Burnt Orange
Summer Sun
Amethyst
Cozumel Blue
Parrot

Light + Dark

You can use value to make different patterns stand out. In this colorway, I used lighter colors for Fabric A and D to make the "diamond 4-patches" stand out.

The Fabrics

Art Gallery Fabrics:
Rock Candy
Raspberry Rose
Festive Fuchsia
Sweet Pink
Amethyst
Wisteria

Color Your Own

You can color your own Anachrome Quilt on PreQuilt—for free. Actually, all of my quilt patterns have digital coloring pages available on PreQuilt. You can select fabrics from all the major manufacturers to color in your quilt and decide on your fabric pull.

About the Anachrome Quilt

My Anachrome sample quilt was made using Ruby and Bee Solids from Windham Fabrics. Haley Fetter of Mistletoe Quilting Co. added edge-to-edge quilting in orange thread.