Color is such a wonderful thing. We all have certain colors we like, but some get confused as to what colors are and how to use them together. Knowing about colors can help you, if you'll learn just a few basics.

There are only six colors. Three primary colors and three secondary colors and everything else has to fall into one of those categories. If someone said to you, "I would like to have a quilt made with Brown, Pink and Cream." You would be able to say back to them that those were not colors. And, you would be correct. So, if someone wanted Brown in his or her quilt, which color group would that fall into? What color is Pink? Or Cream? Let's go to the beginning. When we were in first grade, we were taught the primary colors. Do you remember? They are Red, Blue and Yellow. The only other colors are secondary colors and that happens when we add two of the primary colors together.

For example:

·Red and Yellow make Orange, Red and Blue make Purple, and Yellow and Blue make Green.

.By the way, White and Black are not colors.

That is a total of 6 colors, RED, YELLOW, BLUE, ORANGE, GREEN AND PURPLE and that's all you get. Everything else is called a Hue*, which means deviation from pure color. It's no wonder we get confused about all this when every color manufacturer has a special name for each color they come out with. So, what color is brown?

I'll explain.

·Of the six colors we have, there is a light, medium, and dark version of that color. After all, if there were no light, there wouldn't be color at all.

·Think about yellow - It can be so light that it appears to be - Cream It can be so dark that it becomes Brown - So, the Brown and the Cream in the above-mentioned quilt both become Yellows.

·What about the Pink? How do we get what we call Pink? We start with Red and add White to it. That's all Pink is. So the colors that person really wanted her quilt to be is Red with light and dark Yellow. Since Red and Yellow are both primaries, they will look wonderful together. I can guarantee you that the finest paintings completed by the "Old Masters" were never painted without the three primary colors.

If you ever see a quilt with colors you just absolutely love, but have trouble seeing what's really there. Ask yourself these 4 questions:

1.What color do I see? (Has to be one of six)

2.What hue is it? (It can be a pure color or a hue – you have to figure out which it is)

3.What tone is it? (Is it light, middle value or dark)

4.What intensity is it? (Is the saturation of color - an emerald vs. an olive)

Working with color can be so much fun. Have your favorite quilt shop teach a class on color if you want to know more or are having trouble with it in your quilts.

*Hue is a two-word color. For example: A pure color would be RED - a Hue would be an Orange/Red, Yellow/Red, Purple/Red.

Lynda Hall

NOTE: The quilt shown above is Snow Trails....the colors used were Red (pinks) and two values of yellow (light yellow-cream, and dark yellow-brown) 

Complimentary colors are colors that compliment each other and are across from each other on the color wheel. You have three primary colors with three secondary colors that compliment - a total of 6 colors in all.

Most of the time when you see a quilt that you think is beautiful and you can't quite take your eyes off of it, it's because the maker put together colors that are complimentary to each other.If you don't know which colors compliment each other, do yourself a favor and go to an art store or quilt store and pick up a Color Wheel. Having this tool in front of you when you are choosing colors will help you decide which ones you need to compliment what you have chosen as your main colors.

For example: Let's say you want to make a quilt using Red, Black and Cream. What colors are you looking for?

·First: Black is not a color!

·There isn't a color as Cream: so you need to first put it into a category (Blue, Red, Yellow, Green, Orange or Purple - which one is it?) It's Yellow.

·Red is a color on the color wheel So, now I have chosen Red, Yellow and Black for my quilt. When you are choosing fabrics for your quilt you want to pick out the Red, Yellow (Creams) and Blacks that you want to use, but to add additional dimension to your quilt, use complimentary colors as well. Complimentary colors do just that - they need to compliment or add to, not diminish the look of your quilt. So, add them sparingly!!!!!

·Red is a color in the quilt, so on your color wheel directly across from the Red you will see Green so let's add that to the colors for the quilt.

.Yellow is a color in the quilt. On your color wheel directly across from Yellow, you will see Purple. Add Purples to the mix.

Let's see: now you have Red, Yellow (or Cream), Black, Green and some Purples. When you put these together in your own quilt, it will be fantastic. If you decide to make a quilt using these colors, I'd love to see it.

Hello, I'm Lynda Hall of Primitive Pieces by Lynda. I've been designing quilts for patterns for almost 3 years now. Since I started my line of quilt patterns, I've been able to design and create 28. Out of those 28 patterns, 16 of them have been hand quilted by me; you see I'm a one-woman show (except for my Mom who does most of the appliqué for me). I'm not telling you this to brag, but to tell you that I'm having a whole lot of fun doing what I'm doing.

I've just recently started teaching others, and it amazes me what I see and hear. It's quite obvious right off the bat that I have horrible sewing habits; although I took home economics in school, my mother is a wonderful with a needle and my Gramma was a dressmaker. I don't press every time I sew a seam, I don't always use the same colored thread, and I don't like to cut plaids (which are my favorite) straight. I love the way it makes my quilt all g-woppied when the plaids are crooked.

You see, I love primitives and the fact that I can make a new quilt look as old as if my Gramma made it makes me happy. Remember the saying, "She did the best she could".It seems that others think exact measurements are a must, that pressing each seam takes precedent over all else and that if point and/or corner doesn't exactly come together perfect — red flags start popping up and the seam ripper once again gets over used. Can you imagine the number of people that would be in attendance if the frogger club (rip-it, rip-it, and rip-it!) ever met? I bet Martha wouldn't be there!

I listen to people,who after making a quilt are never happy with the end result...I wonder why that is? As soon as the quilt is finished they get the shoulda, coulda, woulda's. Obviously it's some kind of mechanism that gives us an out if someone says, "Maybe you should have done it..?" "You could have made it with more..." or "Wouldn't it have been better if..." When we start a hobby, it should be with one thing in mind: fun! Why would we do something that is going to take up lots of our time, hurt our fingers, and destroy our budgets, if not for enjoyment? Must we suffer through everything we do? This is supposed to be fun...we have jobs so we can suffer.

Just the cost of said hobby would be enough to rival the national debt wouldn't it? Maybe we should reassess why we go through the motions only to be unsatisfied with what we do.

Making a quilt for my pattern line has to be fun or I'm not going to do it. If a design I come up with has inset seams...they either get taken out, or someone else can make the quilt, especially if the pieces are too small, or the colors are not what will make me happy, etc., etc., etc. I really believe everyone should be true to themselves.

If when I'm making a quilt, a seam on a 9 patch doesn't come together exactly right — then that's the way it's supposed to be and I try harder the next time. If a star point gets included in the seam allowance, then isn't that the way it's supposed to be? If I appliqué a piece for a quilt and a stitch gets a little to big, or if I'm hand quilting and a stitch becomes a toe hooker is it the end of the world? I don't think so.

Have you ever done any of those things and they come out right? I think that calls for some sort of celebration...or at least a hot fudge sundae!

If you are making a border and it doesn't fit because it's to short (well, of course you measured!) then scab a piece on to make it work. If the post block isn't in the corner, who cares? If it's too long, then whack it off. Relax, smile and tell everyone you just planned it that way.

If you sew the entire quilt together and see a mistake smack dab in the middle: explain that you did that just to keep everyone on their toes and that they get the prize because they found it.

What I do know is that it's not brain surgery. There is something to be said of the person that can make a quilt and say, "Wow, good job! I really like what I did."The next time you hear yourself complain about what you're making I hope you'll think of me. Until next time! And have FUN! (article written 2004)

I certainly I don't think I'm an expert on the subject, but there is a look that I love, and without trying very hard I can make it work.

Having been asked, on numerous occasions, how I get an old fashioned, antique look to the quilts that I make, I have to say I love the darker, more dramatic colors. When out fabric hunting, it's those that I look for. I'm more of the Old Master's work kind of person. There are stories about impressionistic paintings and how they came about. When the old masters ran out of black, impressionism was born. They started painting lighter and brighter paintings and watercolor quilts are perfect for this.

My special love is working with plaids. When I use them, I'm not fussy about having them straight and on the line of the plaid when I cut them. This makes them have a tendency to be a bit off kilter. I also like working with grayed down colors that have prints of medium or larger size. Never do I work with solid colors, because I like the idea of all those textures you get with prints, plaids, checks and calicos.

Hardly ever buying a tremendous amount of any one fabric makes me run out, and forces me to look for another similar, but different fabric for the quilts I make. After all, Gramma certainly wouldn't have had bolts of fabric to work with. She made do with what she had.

I have a tendency not to have high contrasts going on most of the time, and love the way your eye has to search out what's really happening in the quilt, as opposed to having it all there in the first glance.

I love the old traditional blocks, but hate the inset seams, so make sure to take them out when designing my blocks. It does add extra pieces and seams, but it can be made to look scrappier, and that's what really makes me happy.

I have never over-dyed fabrics to gray them down, as there are so many wonderful fabrics out there, but I do tea-dye muslin for an older, worn look. This picture of Aunt Maggie's Dancin Shoes has muslin which I did tea dye.

Hand quilting is what I think makes the quilt look older. There is nothing wrong with machine quilting, and I have seen some beautiful work. However, I'm about as old fashioned as they come, and prefer hand quilting. I'm not particularly fussy about each stitch being perfect. If it happens it happens, if not, it was suppose to look like that. I like the way an over all quilting pattern looks on my quilts. It adds another dimension to the quilt when finished.

I hope some of these ideas or thoughts on the subject helps you make the quilt you are making, look a little like an antique. Gramma would be proud!

Each time a pattern is born considerable effort is made to make sure it's correct; however, from time to time in my excitement to share a new pattern, errors occur. This is the place to come first to see if a correction has been made if you feel the pattern you have is not correct. Or, if you just have a question about a pattern, please contact me lynda@primitivepiecesbylynda.com and I will be glad to talk with you about it. If you have an incorrect pattern I will be more than happy to send you a corrected one if you will provide me with your mailing address. Again, I apologize in advance for any errors that may occur.

PRETTY PANSY POSEY PATCH has the following corrections - This quilt has a wonderful vine that grows in the 2nd border, along with some leaves. In each corner there is another pansy posey but in the directions you have it doesn't tell you how they get there. This error has been corrected and updated in current patterns, but if you have an older one....this will explain how it goes.

Before making your vine for the second border, I suggest finishing all borders first. Cut 1 1/2 inch strips of assorted green fabrics and sew them together making your vine. Fold under 1/4 inch and press all the way down, turn it over and fold under 1/4 inch and press all the way down the other side. Pin your vine in place and applique it on. The leaves are generic ones, and you can vary the size a bit to make things interesting. A pansy posey is appliqued on in each corner, overlapping the outside border. Refer to your colored pattern cover for placement.

PRAIRIE CHRISTMAS STAR It has been brought to my attention that some of you could possibly have the wrong templates in your pattern. If you will write to me directly I can send you the corrected ones. Also, just a note, you will see a page in your pattern that has the E template piece along with what looks like the logs for the outside part of your star square. This is only to show you placement. The logs templates for your block are included and show the correct seam allowance.

I have just heard of this error July 30, 2004. Any patterns sold after this date will be corrected. Thank you!

THE HAT LADIESOnly the earliest patterns ever sold will have errors in the patterns. The rotary cutting instructions for The Hat Ladies were mixed up. These are the correct rotary cutting instructions: A piece - pink/creams/blacks - cut 3 3/8 inch squares and cut diagonally twice to make 4 small triangles B piece - pinks/creams - cut 3 inch squares and cut diagonally once to make 2 triangles C piece - red/black/green - cut 5 1/2 inch squares and cut diagonally twice to make 4 triangles D piece-plum/rose reds - cut 6 1/2 inch squaers for the centers of your block. NOTE: This square will appear to small, but because the ABC units you make to sew on two sides of this square is all biased - pin at each end and work the rest in - it fits perfectly. The block is 12 inches finished.

MOONSHINEThe rotary cutting instructions for Moonshine are absolutely correct; however, the templates do not match. Use either all the templates, which will make your pieces smaller OR use all the rotary cutting instructions to make the quilt as it appears. Sorry for this confusion. I decided the template pieces were way to small so enlarged it a little and forgot to go back and change the template pieces.

NIGHT FLIGHTIt seems that after all this time, Night Flight has a slight error. The A piece directions say cut 1 1/2 inch strips into 1 1/2 inch squares. If you have cut them that way you will end up with a 16 inch block instead of 17 inches stated in the pattern. If you cut those A squares 2 inches, the block will be 17 inches as stated in the pattern. Either way the block will go together just fine. It just will end up a difference size. Sorry about the confusion.

GRAMMA'S VEGETABLE SOUPThe drawing in your packet is correct, the cutting instructions is also correct. However, it seems that the written words don't correspond, so here are the corrected written words for this pattern:

1. Start with the center by sewing 4 red a's together making a square. Set this on point to add the next sections.

2.Sew 2 yellow b's and 1 red b together. To the top of this unit (red center piece) add 1 orange B. Make 4 and sew these onto the corners.

3. To a Red C piece sew onto each side an orange B piece. Refer to your drawing. To each end of this, add one Green B piece. Make 4 - sew one onto each side.

4. The last part will be to add one Blue A piece to each corner. You have completed your first block. This quilt has 16 blocks that you will make exactly as shown above. The rest of your pattern instructions are correct.

MY YESTERYEAR COLLECTIONIn the new booklet, there is a typo error. It says you should make 5 of the geese units, when it should read 6.......everything else in the pattern is correct. I apologize for this inconvenience.

PINNY'S POSIESIf you have one of the old Pinny's Posies pattern the template cutting instructions letters were reversed. Here are the correct letters and how many to cut for each block: 8 Red A's, 8 Middle value yellow A's, 8 Black B's, 4 middle value yellow b's, 4 dark yellow (brown) b's. There is a total of 32 pieces per block.

The block size in the old patterns could say 12 inch blocks.....this is incorrect. They are 16...so if you have that in your pattern, please write to me for a corrected pattern. There is also a question about the borders. I love the way each border looks being different...so if your pattern says Top and bottom borders are 4 inches finished, right side 5 inches finished, and left side 6 inches finished.....that is correct. You may choose to have them all the same size with post blocks..it's up to you.

BAKING DAYThe cutting instructions in the pattern are correct, but the template letters on the visual provided do not reflect this. They should read D&E for the 2 3/8" x 8" logs and the corner triangles should read F & G.

SHE LOVES ME SHE LOVES ME KNOTOn 06/11/08 it was brought to my attention that there are errors in this pattern. It's confusing because the instructions say the block is 15 inches and the cover says 14 1/2. This is why. The center block where you applique the ring of flowers is 14 1/2 inchs, but there is a strip 1 1/2 inches that is added to one side so that the 5 HST strip will fit. The outside sashings or border's if you want to call them that measure 3 1/2 by 15 1/2 instead of 3 1/2 by 15. I do apologize for these errors and I appreciate Jeannette for letting me know. If you purchased this pattern before the date mentioned above you will need to make these changes. Otherwise, the pattern printed now will reflect them.

SNOW TRAILSIt has been brought to my attention that Snow trails has a couple type errors....it states that the finished block is 6 1/2 inches, which is correct. However, it states that you should cut the squares 6 1/2 inches instead of 7....seven inches is correct. Also, it states that there are 28 inside double trail blocks and there are 31. There has also been questions about the fabric requirements being to low. Fabric requirements are always estimated. I make everything as scrappy as I can and I don't always give the most accurate amounts. If anything I am probably conserative due to the fact that most of us have so much fabric in our stash. Your local quilt shops are there to help you if you have any questions.

PETER PAUL AND AUNT MARYThere has been a question regarding the template size for this quilt. Because of the size of the template it was printed on 4 pages. It has to be overlapped so that it will fit the 12 1/2 inch square you will place it on to cut it out. However, it doesn't state for you to do that. And, down at the bottom for template B it states you should not overlap....that is wrong. If you overlap the template A pieces approx. 1/2 inch both ways the template b piece will overlap that much as well. These templates include the 1/4 inch seam allowance. Having said all that, when you sew all the pieces together the block will probably measure 12 3/4 inches....TRIM THIS DOWN TO THE 12 1/2 BLOCK SIZE. I apologize for this error and corrections will be made to the original instruction sheet.

GATHERING BASKETSIt has been brought to my attention that there is an error in the Gathering Baskets pattern. On the third page the last paragraph it says to cut 6-9 3/4 inch squares. You will need to cut 33-9 3/4 inch squares in order for there to be enough to use for step 2 on page 4. Also, the diagram on page 3 shows the 9 3/4 inch square cut in 4 pieces. It should be only cut once to make 2 triangles. (I apologize for this error and personally thank Jeanne at Quilts Plus for bringing this to my attention) You will need to cut 9- 9 3/4 inch lighter squares to complete your sawteeth borders.

FUNDA BUNDLE 1The Railroad Crossing pattern in this bundle contains an error...Everything is correct, except the graphics showing how to put the block together. The center square should be placed on a table in front of you ON POINT. The three b's sewn together in groups of 3 are then sewn onto two sides of that center. The remaining two b units have a C triangle sewn onto each side, then sewn onto the center section. The corners, d template are sewn on and your block is complete. The cutting sizes are correct. The pattern instructions have been corrected and reprinted, however, if you have an older pattern please print these corrections and put it with your pattern for reference. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

PRIMITIVE YOUNGINSIf you have purchased the Primitive Youngins book - you will find that there are some templates missing. The Hearts that the Primitive Youngins hold between their hands and the numbers for the Hopscotch Quilt are missing from your book. If you will email me, I will send you a PDF file so you can download them to tuck inside your book. Anyone purchasing the book from this day forward 06/08/10 will have them inside the book when you get it. I do apologize for this error.

A LITTLE PORCH TIME book It has been brought to the Kansas City Star's attention that corrections need to be made to the publication of their book. These are the corrections in the two Panels – C & E. Please accept our apologies for these errors.

Section C: Cut the bottom right piece 17” x 8 ½”

Section E - E2: After making the Nine Patch strip, sew a strip 21 ½” to each side (not 21”). Cut a strip of background fabric 1 ¾” x 24” (not 2 ¼” x 24”) to sew to the bottom of the zinnia/Nine Patch block.

E3: Cut the background for the sawtooth block 18” (not 18 ½”) x 20 3/4”, or if you prefer, piece the background with 2” strips along the left side and the top. After attaching the sawtooth strip, the block should measure 18” x 24”. Trim if necessary.

THE BUNDLING BOARDThe applique pieces in the Bundling Board pattern need to have the seam allowance added. It does show the center and leaf as having it already there; however, the outside line on the leaf is the correct finished size. Add a seam allowance to it as well. The center piece IS correct.

Angelic Bundle The math shown on the angel drawing in your pattern is incorrect.   Please write to me and I will be happy to send you a revised copy.  Also, there are no templates shown for the fence posts and/or railings.  You can cut the posts 1/2 inch wide x 3 inches tall and cut the railings 1/4 inch x 5 inches...refer to your drawing...they just need to fit in the space on each side of the cabin.  As of 11/23/11 the pattern has been corrected.

GRAMPA'S SAW MILL - It has been brought to my attention that  there is a typo on page 1 of the pattern instructions down at the bottom.  It says Cut 16 - 2 7/8 inch squares - cut one (should be once) diagonally to make 32 orange triangles.  I apologize for this error.

Thank you