Patchwork Pals of Greater Lowell

For our series on color theory each month we will learn about a color scheme and we will be asked to use what we learned to make a 10 " block.  You may use any color for the background sections of the block.  Just remember to use the same fabric on each block's background.

The photo shows a few of the achromatic blocks (no color) from our December meeting.

due March 2012 - Primary colors

The primary colors are the three colors from which all other colors are made.  No colors can be mixed to make any of the primary colors - they are the true colors.  The primary colors are blue, red, and yellow. For the March meeting please bring in blocks made only of red, blue, yellow, and your background color.

due February 2012 - Complementary

Complementary colors are opposites on the color wheel, directly across from one another.  This means that in our eyes the two completments provide opposite images that complete the color wheel.  For example; red and green are complements.  Red is a primary color and green is made up of equal amounts of the other two primary colors (blue and yellow).  Thus making a full circle of the color wheel and providing a comfortable harmony for our eyes.  The secret is to use unequal amounts of each color.

due January 2012 - Monochromatic

Make a block out of a single color and the range of that color.  Include that colors tints (adding white), tones (adding grey), and shades (adding black).  For instance if you selected purple as your color your range would be from lavender (tint) to a deep-dark purple (shade). 

due December 2011 - Achromatic

Achromatic refers to the absence of color.  When you work in an achrimatic color scheme you are working exclusively with the true neutrals of black, white, and grey.