{"id":53,"date":"2009-08-19T13:51:00","date_gmt":"2009-08-19T17:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oliverands.com\/blog\/2009\/08\/principles-of-fabric-selection-be-eclectic\/"},"modified":"2018-11-28T10:55:33","modified_gmt":"2018-11-28T15:55:33","slug":"principles-of-fabric-selection-be-eclectic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2009\/08\/principles-of-fabric-selection-be-eclectic.html","title":{"rendered":"principles of fabric selection: be eclectic"},"content":{"rendered":"
Fabrics within a collection are made to coordinate with each other. But who said you have to stick within a collection and follow someone else’s creative vision when you’re selecting multiple fabrics for a garment?<\/p>\n

I think it’s fun to mix things up and create your own matches across fabric collections. When things don’t match perfectly, it’s a little more interesting. And when you pull fabrics together from different collections, your designs will be less predictable. Start looking to make eclectic combinations, and you might find some surprises in your fabric stash or in the fabric store.<\/p>\n

Here are a few photos from the Flickr group that caught my eye.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I love gingham with floral prints. The combination of the angular squares with the softer, rounded shapes of the flowers in this Tea Party Sundress<\/a> is visually interesting, and the white space on the floral balances the busier regularity of the gingham.<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The different fabrics in this Tea Party Sundress sewn by Molly of the Purl Bee<\/a> may not match according to traditional or literal standards, but when they’re pulled together and two different buttons are added to the mix the dress has a fascinating, contemporary look.<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This Popover Sundress by sasikirana<\/a> exhibits a great mix of scale between the oversized floral and the smaller, more conservative and traditional polka dot used for the yoke. And do I see a note that this has been made from a Marimekko pillowcase?!? Now that’s an eclectic choice of fabrics!<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The pink and purple colors in the over-sized polka dot print used for the yoke are similar to the colors in the Heather Ross print used for the rest of this Tea Party Sundress<\/a>, but they’re from completely different collections. As a result, they look interesting together, don’t they?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Notice the completely different feel of the two prints selected for this Swingset top<\/a>. You wouldn’t ordinarily think of combining a more conservative floral print with a more contemporary abstract print. But they work very well together–not despite, but because of, their differences.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>And, finally, this is a 2+2 tunic I recently made for S. The colors are similar, while the oversized scale of the trim fabric complements and balances the smaller print used for the rest of the blouse.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: don’t be afraid to be eclectic when you’re selecting fabrics to coordinate for a garment. Eclectic can be interesting.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fabrics within a collection are made to coordinate with each other. But who said you have to stick within a collection and follow someone else’s creative vision when you’re selecting multiple fabrics for a garment? I think it’s fun to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20687],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-53","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-principles-of-fabric-selection"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Bebe-774945.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5jZS5-R","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2009\/05\/principles-of-fabric-selection_22.html","url_meta":{"origin":53,"position":0},"title":"principles of fabric selection: introduction","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"May 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Every season at Quilt Market, the show's organizers sponsor a series of Schoolhouse presentations for shop owners who are interested in learning more on topics of interest to them. This season, Oliver + S led two Schoolhouse sessions. One of our talks focused on how savvy retailers can increase sales\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/fabric2-778396.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":49856,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2015\/09\/introducing-woodland-clearing-fabrics-with-kaufman.html","url_meta":{"origin":53,"position":1},"title":"introducing woodland clearing, fabrics with Kaufman","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"September 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We're happy to announce Liesl's newest fabric collection, Woodland Clearing. The line, from Robert Kaufman, will be available in January 2016.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/woodland-clearing-mood-board-with-text.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":63,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2009\/06\/principles-of-fabric-selection-look-at-the-supporting-fabrics-in-a-collection-not-necessarily-the-central-prints.html","url_meta":{"origin":53,"position":2},"title":"principles of fabric selection: look at the supporting fabrics in a collection, not necessarily the central prints","author":"Liesl Gibson","date":"June 26, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"As a rule, most quilting fabric collections are comprised of a group of prints that are intended to work together. There is a formula to assembling a collection like this, and most groups work around one central print that holds the collection together. That print is usually larger in scale\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/1-710302.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":65657,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2018\/05\/fabric-shopping-in-indianapolis.html","url_meta":{"origin":53,"position":3},"title":"fabric shopping in indianapolis","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"May 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019re continuing our fabric shopping series, visiting cities form all over the world. Today we\u2019re bringing you a fabric shopping guide for Indianapolis, Indiana.","rel":"","context":"In "general post"","block_context":{"text":"general post","link":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/list\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oliverands.com\/community\/content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IndianapolisF.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":63035,"url":"https:\/\/oliverands.com\/community\/blog\/2017\/10\/fabric-shopping-in-melbourne.html","url_meta":{"origin":53,"position":4},"title":"fabric shopping in melbourne","author":"Rachel Le Grand","date":"October 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019re continuing our fabric shopping series, visiting cities from all over the world. 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