The Helen Quiltalong Week 1 - Fabric Selection

Welcome to Week 1 of the Helen Quiltalong! Whether you’re quilting along in real time or bookmarking this for later, this week we’re diving into one of my favorite parts of the quilting process: choosing your fabric.

The Helen Quilt is a modern star quilt pattern that’s beginner-friendly, scrap-friendly, and perfect for a wide range of fabric options. You can use fat quarters, fat eighths, scraps, or jelly rolls — so hopefully this post will give you lots of options if you haven't already picked your fabric!

💡 What to Expect During the Helen Quiltalong

This quiltalong is designed to be fun, flexible, and full of support. Here’s what you can expect each week:

• A live Q&A video every week on Instagram. You will have a chance to submit questions prior to the video or ask questions live in the comments. This will usually be at 1pm PT on Tuesday during the quiltalong.

• Weekly blog posts with lots of tips and guidance.

• Visual inspiration and some videos on Instagram and YouTube

• Advice for beginners and experienced quilters alike.

• A fun community using the hashtag #thehelenqal on Instagram

• A free quilt coloring page to help you plan your layout

• Encouragement to use your stash or scraps creatively

What supplies do I need?

Here’s a quick list of supplies. You’re welcome to use your own tools, but I’ve linked the exact items I’ll be using for reference:

• Rotary Cutter

• Cutting Mat

• Long Ruler

• Square Ruler

• Stripology XL Ruler (Optional)

🎨 Week 1: How to Choose Fabric for the Helen Quilt

Not sure how to choose fabric for a quilt? Here are a few ideas tailored for the Helen Quilt pattern:

1. Make a Scrappy Helen Quilt

If you’re looking for a scrap quilt pattern that’s colorful and forgiving, the Helen Quilt is a great choice. Mix and match fabric scraps for your stars and background, or stick to a particular color family for a more curated look.

Scrappy quilts are not only sustainable — they’re also full of personality and a great way to make the money you spend on fabric go a little further. Check out the scrappy Helen Quilt example on the blog for inspiration.

I am going to be making a scrap quilt that focuses on pinks and purples. You can watch me start to sort through some scrap options in this week's YouTube video:

2. Use a Fat Quarter Bundle

Want a more cohesive look without overthinking it? Pick a favorite fat quarter bundle. The variety in prints and tones will give your quilt visual interest while keeping the fabric selection simple.

3. Go Monochromatic or Seasonal

Create a more subtle look by sticking to one color palette — think all blues, warm fall tones, or soft spring pastels. A monochromatic version of the Helen Quilt makes the star shapes pop in a more modern way.

📸 Share Your Fabric Pull!

Show us what you’re using! Post your fabric pull on Instagram using #thehelenqal and tag @kitchentablequilting. I would love for you all to comment on each other's posts and encourage each other as we go!

🧵 Need the Helen Quilt Pattern?

You can purchase the Helen Quilt Pattern here.