There’s something undeniably fresh and exciting about quilting with solids. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just dipping your toes into modern quilting, 2025 is the perfect time to embrace solid fabrics in your projects. Why? Because the quilting world is leaning into bold, clean aesthetics, and nothing showcases your piecing, color choices, and quilting techniques quite like solids do.
From playing with the color wheel to exploring different quilting textures, solids open up a whole new world of creativity. So, if you’ve been curious about making the switch from prints to solids, this is your year to go for it!
The Modern Appeal of Solids
Quilting with solids has surged in popularity thanks to the rise of modern quilting. Solids create a crisp, contemporary look that feels fresh and timeless at the same time. Unlike prints, which can sometimes hide intricate piecing or distract from quilting details, solids let your design shine.
One of the most exciting things about working with solids is the way they emphasize color relationships. With no prints to compete for attention, your quilt becomes a true study in contrast, balance, and movement—all guided by your color choices.
Playing with the Color Wheel: Cool vs. Warm Colors
Solids give you an opportunity to really dig into color theory and use the color wheel to guide your design. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use color effectively in your solid quilts:
Warm Colors (Reds, Oranges, Yellows) – These colors bring energy, vibrancy, and warmth to a quilt. They’re perfect for creating focal points or adding a lively, dynamic feel.
Cool Colors (Blues, Greens, Purples) – These shades evoke calmness and serenity. They work well for creating a soothing background or balancing out warm tones.
Monochromatic Schemes – Sticking to variations of one color (such as different shades of blue) can create a sleek, sophisticated look.
Complementary Colors – Pairing opposite colors on the wheel (like blue and orange or purple and yellow) makes for bold, high-contrast quilts.
Analogous Colors – Choosing colors next to each other on the color wheel (such as blues and greens) creates a more harmonious, blended look.
Balancing warm and cool tones is key. If you’re working with warm colors, using a balance of 60%-70% cool can prevent your quilt from feeling too intense. On the other hand, pops of warmth in a cool-toned quilt can add just the right amount of contrast to keep things visually interesting. Looking to the classics is a great example of this like a log cabin block with white and cool toned logs with the traditional red center for the heart of the home.
Highlighting Quilting Techniques with Solids
One of the most compelling reasons to work with solids is how they highlight the actual quilting itself. Without busy prints to camouflage stitches, your quilting design becomes a prominent feature. This is your chance to experiment with different quilting techniques and let them take center stage. Some techniques that look particularly stunning on solid quilts include:
Pebbling – This dense, circular quilting technique creates a gorgeous, textural effect that really pops against a solid background.
Crosshatch Quilting – A structured, geometric approach that adds a classic, grid-like texture to your quilt.
Echo Quilting – Outlining shapes with concentric lines adds depth and dimension to minimalist solid quilts.
Matchstick Quilting – Dense, closely spaced straight lines create a modern, textural background that looks especially striking in a monochromatic quilt.
By choosing solids, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to let your quilting be a major design element rather than just a finishing touch.
Why 2025 Is the Perfect Time to Dive into Solids
So why is this the year to explore solids in your quilting? A few reasons make 2025 an especially exciting time:
Bold, Minimalist Design Trends – The quilting world is embracing minimalist and modern aesthetics, making solids a go-to choice for quilters looking to create striking, contemporary designs.
Expanding Fabric Choices – More fabric companies are releasing curated solid collections, offering everything from rich jewel tones to dreamy pastels, giving you an endless palette to work with.
Focus on Custom Quilting – As longarm quilting continues to evolve, more quilters are exploring custom quilting designs that shine beautifully on solid quilts.
A Fresh Creative Challenge – If you’ve been quilting with prints for years, switching to solids is a fun way to push yourself creatively and experiment with color in a whole new way.
Ready to Quilt with Solids?
If you’ve been curious about quilting with solids but weren’t sure where to start, there’s no better time than now. Start with a kit or bundle from the shop. Take a look at the selection HERE or shop my patterns! Shopping small makes a big difference and I always do a little happy dance when you purchase something from Slightly Biased Quilts. Use this opportunity to play with bold color combinations, experiment with different quilting techniques, and see how solids can transform the way you approach your quilt designs.
Have you made a solid quilt before? Or are you planning to try one this year? Let me know—I’d love to hear about your creative process!
