Using Transparency in Your Quilts – 3 Effects and How to Use Them


Playing with the illusion of transparency in your quilts is another way to add a sense of depth to your quilt. It lends itself well to modern designs, and even introduces an element of modernity into more traditional quilt designs.

If you’ve been wanting to trying something different and exciting in your quilts, transparency might be for you!

Bobbie experimented with using transparency in her quilt pattern, I Wove U. The hearts can be made opaque, BUT! by using a third fabric where the shapes overlap, she created the illusion of transparency. Bam! A whole new effect is created! (The instructions for both block variations are in the I Wove U pattern, but Bobbie jokingly calls this fat-quarter friendly three-color version “I Wove U Plaidly”.)

Let’s check out some of the different effects you can make.