Tutorial: How to Make Magnetic Fabric Swatches for Easy Color Selection

This fabric tutorial shows how to make magnetic fabric swatch cards from the Art Gallery Fabrics Solids color card for your personal use! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #sewing

Picking colors for your next creative project doesn't need to be stressful or difficult. Simplify the process by making magnetic fabric swatches for yourself so you can easily visualize color combinations and make fabric selections with confidence!

If you've been in the sewing world for long, there's a good chance you've experienced the goodness of Art Gallery Fabrics. This manufacturer makes fabric that is SO smooth (thanks to their fine weave and superior thread count) and has the dreamiest drape, making it ideal for quilting, garments, and really any project that you'd want to be extra soft! 

Because I use their fabric so often, I purchased the AGF Pure Solids swatch card and made it into an accessible magnetic fabric swatches board that hangs right in my sewing room. I can't tell you how convenient it is to have all of my favorite solids available and well organized when picking out colors for upcoming quilts.

This fabric tutorial shows how to make magnetic fabric swatch cards from the Art Gallery Fabrics Solids color card for your personal use! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #sewing

This tutorial for organizing fabric swatches can be applied to any of the fabric swatch books sold. And to make your life even easier, here's a handy list of some common solid swatches based on manufacturer:

AGF Magnetic Fabric Swatches Supplies

Note: Short on time and want even faster magnetic fabric swatches? Woven and Woolly has fabric swatches precut and ready to use in her shop.

She has Kona and Art Gallery fabrics PURE solids, and is always adding new colors as they come out. One of the best things about Woven and Woolly fabric swatches, or color chips, is that whenever new colors are released, you can purchase just the new colors in an “expansion pack." No need to purchase the entire color card again. Check out #wwcolorchips to see quilters using their color chips. 

This fabric tutorial shows how to make magnetic fabric swatch cards from the Art Gallery Fabrics Solids color card for your personal use! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #sewing
This fabric tutorial shows how to make magnetic fabric swatch cards from the Art Gallery Fabrics Solids color card for your personal use! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #sewing

You May Also Like...

There are SO many Suzy Quilts projects that feature Art Gallery Fabrics! Here are a few of our favorites:

The Shine quilt sew along includes lots of added tips and videos to help you make this modern quilt pattern. This fat quarter quilt pattern is beginner friendly and focuses on improv sewing. suzyquilts.com #quiltedpillow #quilting

When purchasing your Art Gallery Pure Solids color card, keep in mind that it's updated every year! The version I purchased was the 2020 version, and featured 110 swatches. The newest version updated in 2021 includes 10 additional colors for a grand total of 120.

Typically the fabric manufactures will sell swatch extensions so you don't have to buy a whole new card.

Step 1: Cutting the Cardstock Squares

Using your rotary cutter, cut one piece of cardstock into three 2 1/4" strips going the long way, then subcut into twelve 2 1/4" squares.

One piece of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock will yield 12 squares, so if you will need to cut up 10 pieces to yield 120 squares for the 120 swatches.

Step 2: Cutting the Color Card into Columns

Just looking at the color card in its perfect rows might make you want to leave them in tact, but magnetic fabric swatches really are so much easier to use when you can move them around and mix and match!

First, align the edge of your ruler 1 1/4" from the edge of the first column of swatches. Cut along this line using your rotary cutter.

To help myself stay organized, I only worked with one column of swatches at a time. That way, I avoided mixing up the fabric swatches and their names, which would be very easy to do if you worked with ALL of the columns at once.

Step 3: Remove the Fabric Swatches

Next, gently remove the fabric swatches from the card by pulling them carefully off. It is VERY important that you keep them in order so that you can match up the correct label with each one in the next step.

Step 4: Cutting up the Swatch Names

After you have removed all the fabric swatches from the column, align your ruler with the edge of where the swatches were stuck down. Cut along this line with your rotary cutter.

Next, trim each name to 1/2" tall. To do this, center the 1/4" line on your ruler between the two lines of text, trim the top, then cut again below the name so that it measures 1/2". Place the name next to its corresponding swatch, making sure to keep them in order. Repeat for the rest of the names on the column.

Step 5: Press the Fabric Swatch

When you peel the fabric swatches off of the color card, the edges may roll a bit. To combat this, gently press the larger side of the swatch. If some of the adhesive came off with the swatch, be very careful not to touch that with your iron, and do not press out the crease.

Step 6: Attaching the Swatches to the Cardstock

Take one swatch, the corresponding name, and one 2 1/4" square of cardstock at a time and align the crease in the swatch with one edge of the cardstock square as shown above. 

Take a piece of double sided tape and attach it to the cardstock on the side with the shorter piece of fabric overhang. This will be the back of your AGF swatch card. Peel off the protective layer, and press the fabric firmly down to adhere it to the tape.

Repeat with a second strip of tape on the side of the swatch with the larger fabric overhang. This will be the front of your AGF swatch card.

Step 7: Adding the Swatch Name

After your fabric is attached, it's time to add the swatch name! Adhere a piece of tape to the back of the name of the swatch.

Peel off the protective layer, and center the name on the front of the AGF swatch card. 

Step 8: Adding the Magnets to the Fabric Swatches

Last but not least, depending on the size of your magnets, you may need to cut them up. I'm using these larger magnets so with my paper scissors I'll cut them into thirds. Take one piece and stick it to the back of your newly completed swatch card. 

And just like that, you've completed one of your magnetic fabric swatches! Only 119 left to go! It may seem like a lot, but this is the perfect project to work on while binging Netflix or listening to an audiobook or podcast. I did one or two columns a day, and it came together really quick without getting too monotonous.

This fabric tutorial shows how to make magnetic fabric swatch cards from the Art Gallery Fabrics Solids color card for your personal use! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #sewing

Now, the entire rainbow of creamy, dreamy, Art Gallery Pure Solids is right there when I need to work on a new color palette or order some new solids. Plus, who doesn't love looking at all those gorgeous colors hanging in their workspace? These AGF swatch cards are the perfect mix of form and function!

This fabric tutorial shows how to make magnetic fabric swatch cards from the Art Gallery Fabrics Solids color card for your personal use! suzyquilts.com #sewingdiy #sewing

13 thoughts on “Tutorial: How to Make Magnetic Fabric Swatches for Easy Color Selection

  1. Tamara Oster says:

    I love this project, thank you for a wonderful tutorial! Hugs to you and the entire Suzy Quilts support staff. ❤️ 😘

  2. Nicole R. says:

    Brilliant idea! I just received the color swatch card for Paintbrush Studios Solids. Will definitely be turning them into magnetic fabric swatches!

  3. Marcia H Baker says:

    I’ve bought the magnetic whiteboard & magnets. This is a great idea.I have such trouble picking out colors & this is great! Now I have to recover from surgery on my dominant hand to sew again! Thanks Suzy!

  4. Mechelle Sharp says:

    Question, do you apply the magnet with the double sided tape to the back of the fabric swatchcard or? Thx.

    • Suzy Quilts says:

      Use double stick tape to attach the fabric and the name of the fabric to the cardstock. The magnets linked here have an adhesive back so they will stick to the cardstock on their own.

  5. judy koerner says:

    Great idea! Although with my very low income, I will be finding a way to DIYing my way. Thanks for the tutorial.

  6. Vicki Edge says:

    I adapted this tutorial to make individual Kona solids swatch cards…all 365 of them! Thank you for this awesome tutorial. On to Art Gallery!

  7. Barbara says:

    I am curious what weight (correct terminology?) of card stock? It comes 120, 100 and 80. Thank you for a great rainy day project!

    • Laura Hopper says:

      Hi Barbara! You can find a link to the 120 lb card stock used in the supplies section of this tutorial, along with anything else you might need. Enjoy!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *