Welcome to 2023, my friends! I don’t know how 2022 treated you but I’m pretty happy it’s in the rear view mirror. Here’s hoping 2023 has some loveliness in store for us for the next 12 months.
Each December various organisations and paint companies like to reveal their Colour of the Year and it’s always fun to take a look at them. I’m happy to report they’re predicting lots of saturated colour to use in our quilts! Let’s take a look, shall we?
Pantone Colour of the Year 2023: Viva Magenta
After last year’s Very Peri, Pantone has announced its Colour of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta.
Kapow! That really packs a punch, doesn’t it? Viva Magenta is a bold and vibrant red with a touch of blue. I think of it as a cool red rather than a warm (orangey) one, if you know what I mean.
Viva Magenta is a bold and attention-grabbing shade, and as such it can be used to add a sense of excitement and energy to a project. Most of us associate reds with feelings of energy, passion and excitement, so it’s perfect for quilts that are meant to be uplifting and cheerful.
I feel like one of the best ways to harness that energy is to keep the Viva Magenta as the main colour. It really pops when matched with a neutral palette and creates a sense of drama and impact in a quilt.
As well as lively and energetic, Viva Magenta can also be used to convey a sense of depth and drama. It feels like quite a lush colour to me, invoking red wine and port, luxurious velvet and blood (that’s the drama). If you’re aiming for a more serious or contemplative quilt then adding Viva Magenta fabric could help.
Viva Magenta Colour Combinations
The first place I looked for colour palette ideas was at the Pantone site itself. They are pretty keen to let Viva Magenta do the heavy lifting, so all the colours they recommend for pairing are very neutral and/or pastel. Not a surprise really, they spent a lot of time and effort creating the colour so they want to see it front and centre!
Check out this post to see Viva Magenta shown against all of Pantone’s recommended matches. They also show Viva Magenta paired with white and gold and I think it looks very classy.
Some other options are to lean into the opulence of the colour and match it with deep, rich purples and dark blues.
Why not opt for a sunny palette and match Viva Magenta fabric with oranges, corals and pinks to give a sunset colour scheme?
And finally, if you’re not too sure how you feel about Viva Magenta fabric, perhaps just start small. As an accent colour I think it’s very pretty and adds a bright and eye-catching pop to any quilt.
Here’s my Triangle Trove quilt with a fun pop of Viva Magenta fabric against navy, light blue and an icy white. The warmth of magenta works very well here with all those frosty blues.
Viva Magenta in Nature
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for examples of Viva Magenta at work in the world around you.
We were at a plant nursery yesterday and found plenty of examples of this colour family.
So grab some Viva Magenta fabric and take a wander around the garden. It could yield some inspiration!
Kona Cotton Solids Colour of the Year 2023: Crush
Last year’s Kona Cotton Solids Colour was a very plummy purple. This year the makers of Kona solids fabric have gone with a colour called Crush.
It’s a warm and vibrant hue that’s a bit of an orange/hot pink mix that they refer to as a red, but I think of as hot coral. As with any colour, how you see it depends on the other colours it’s with. On it’s own, as seen below, the hint of coral-orange seems (to me) more dominant than red.
I will admit this colour is not in my regular rotation – it’s a lot to handle. As a redhead, this is one of the colours I actively avoid standing next to because it clashes terribly with my hair!
But I do like Crush – much like Viva Magenta it’s a very energetic and bold colour. It would bring a real pop to any quilt. While Magenta is kind of dramatic and rich, I feel like Crush is the younger, teenage sibling (Skipper to Pantone’s Barbie, if you will). It’s got a more youthful and kid-friendly feel to me (while Viva Magenta feels much more worldly and grown-up.) I think Crush would make a fantastic main colour for any child’s quilt (I love that it’s gender neutral, too, it will work really well in any nursery.)
In many ways the palettes I described above for Viva Magenta will work well with Crush. It would look fantastic with all the deep, saturated, lush purples and dark blues. It would also be perfectly at home in a sunset palette of oranges, pinks and purples.
And of course, using accents of Crush in a neutral palette would be so much fun. If you’re not too sure how much Crush is enough for you, then try a sprinkle just to liven things up.
You can also have a look at the Kona Solids Instagram account for some photos of the fabric in action.
Etsy Colours of the Year 2023: Indigo and Honey
Etsy couldn’t make up its mind this year so we get two Colours of the Year. I really love both indigo and honey, so I’m not upset about this.
I will admit that I do tend to use yellow and blue separately. (The fabrics above are destined for a Christmas Tree Mini Quilt, but there are other colours in there too.)
A Stash Knockout quilt in yellow scraps with white background.
I don’t usually use indigo and honey together unless it’s as part of a rainbow colour scheme, but I could see plenty of ways to incorporate the two colours as majority owners in the one quilt.
Here’s one I mocked-up earlier – my In the Stars quilt pattern with yellow stars on a blue background.
My Rectangle Log Cabin tutorial could be made with shades of blue in place of the grey you see below.
The Up and Away quilt pattern would look great with indigo accents instead of the aqua seen below. This is a great pattern for eating up fat quarters, scraps and yardage too.
Or you could go with the same pattern inverted. In the version below you could use deep honey yellow accents instead of the light gold with the navy.
Oh – here we go, like one of these:
How about this scrappy Star Sweep quilt pattern, but use a selection of dark yellow fabrics in place of the hot pink. It would look very celestial. (Or replace the hot pink with Crush for a very fiesty quilt indeed.)
2023: Make it a Good One
I hope 2023 has lots of wonderful things in store for you, me and the entire world. Surely we’re due a bit of Roaring ’20s by now (roaring with fun, not roaring with anger)!
Well, no matter what the year has in store, the colours above are doing their best to keep us happy and cheerful. There’s lots of bright, saturated hues to tempt you and encourage you to step out of your colour comfort zone. Why not give it a try?
And if you enjoy these colourful posts, check out the one I did for 2022.
Cheers,
Kirsty
P.S. I don’t think Queen Elizabeth has missed a colour trend yet.
That was very Instructive Kirsty. Thanks. Maybe the magenta in a community quilt, like the radiant quilt. I donated one in reds once through the palliative care nurse. Apparently one client was thrilled with it. her sister made it larger for her.
Thanks for all the great ideas!
This is the year for me to paint the interior – but Magenta? Maybe a pillow or two. But The Queen certainly pulled it off! Such a darling lady. Thanks – enjoy the Holiday!
Hi Joan – yes it’s a full-on colour. You’d have to be sure before you painted your walls!
You’re most welcome, Moira!
Thanks for such a comprehensive roundup of the 2023 colors.