Using Ranges of Blenders - Sarah Fielke shows how to use a range like Groove from Caleb Gray across differing colour pallets.

I don’t usually advocate buying entire fabric collections, it’s not the way I shop. Usually I like to buy prints that make my heart race, then fill in with interesting graphics and backgrounds to make my own collection.

There’s always an exception to the rule though, and this exercise is all about buying a range of graphic blenders that can extend and excite the life of your existing stash.

I’m lucky to be able to work with this range to illustrate this little journey – it’s called Groove and it’s by Caleb Gray.

Most ranges of blenders come in several different prints and colourways. This one is a range of 39 fabrics, so it’s large – but the prints are of different sizes and shapes and there’s a good range of colours to choose from. You’re got the softer pinks and blues:



The black, red and whites



Some brights



Brown and green, and brown and blue, going into more cream backgrounds.

   

The bonus of a range like this is that it can start you down the road to so many different possibilities. I’ve picked out a few pieces of fabric from my stash that have been waiting for something interesting to happen to them, and had a play around with some possibilities.

I started off with this Amy Butler, which is an amazing large floral in clear pinks, blue and greens. we can go with the clean and pretty approach:



Or change the feeling to a bolder, sharper contrast by using the black, white and red fabrics. Pink and red always look fantastic together so this would be a striking combo.



Too much for you? Tone it down with the softer look of the brown and cream fabrics. Although the colours in the original fabric are quite clear, putting softer colours with it will create a more blending contrast.



Let’s try a more difficult colourway. The mustard in this Echino fabric is kind of difficult to match. We can change the fell of the fabric again by using different combinations of pattern. First, a funky, graphic and colourful combination:



Or try using the same graphic in several different colours to pull all the different colours out of the original print.



Here’s another one – an Alexander Henry with a white background. I have been hoarding this fabric but after doing this exercise it could be under the chopping block! Here goes:

Soft, sweet and feminine.



Slightly more masculine – this would be good for home decorating. An earthier colour palette.



And bolder, funkier and more graphic, pulling the brightness in the bird’s wings and the flower centres forward and making a slightly old fashioned fabric look contemporary.

Next time you’re fabric shopping or “stash extending”, consider that money spent on a range of graphics to excite you about fabrics already in your stash could be the way to go. You may even be able to use some of those specially kept fabrics you’ve had hidden away for years! Give it a go.