Thank you all for playing along with the Thrifty Monday party! I’m excited that you all enjoyed it and will look forward to next week. I had no idea how many would participate, so now that the word is out, I’m sure more will join in next week too.
Also, next week, on Wed., May 6th, I’m going to host a Garden party so get your pics ready to share. It will be a fun pre-summer fling to show off what’s blooming in your yard OR what projects you are up to outside. I’ve been working my butt off in my flower beds the last couple of weeks getting some flowers planted, beds mulched and look forward to sharing. Come on back for the Garden Party next Wednesday! Grab the button & spread the news!
Growing up with a mom who sewed everything for us, I spent many hours following her around the fabric stores near our house wishing she would hurry up. I can still remember the old warehouse fabric store with bins and bolts of fabrics, but I wasn’t that interested as a young girl in the fabrics that came home with us to be made into a dress or blouse or something for us girls. She made all our clothes as youngsters and it was a happy day when I got to be a teen and earned enough money to buy some “store-bought” clothes, especially jeans and some fun pants. She even made Barbie clothes for us. We really lived a frugal life in those days. But, when I got older and bought my first house, I really was excited that my mom could sew. I spent hours dreaming of pretty window treatments and what I would do with all those windows waiting to be adorned. Mom was always willing to give it a try even if she wasn’t sure how it would turn out and she has sewed many window treatments for me over the years. I love the ones in my house to this day.
(all from Fabric.com)
I’m not a total expert on mixing fabrics, but I think I have a pretty good eye for putting things together that work. I learned to mix stripes with florals and if you choose a main large print, then to make sure the other fabrics don’t compete with that. Choose your main fabric, then coordinate with it. I love stripes and florals or florals and checks or plaids. You can always throw in a small patterned print with those too. It really gets fun when you add in a couple more prints to the mix and I enjoy a room with about 4 to 6 different fabrics. So, how do you mix them without them looking like a hodge-podge? Well, as I mentioned, start with a main fabric, add a solid or near solid, a stripe or plaid, a mini-print, and go from there. You want to be sure the colors all relate to each other and nothing looks out of place when you line them all up.
Take a look at all of these fabrics I found online from Fabric.com. I thought these were good examples of mixing patterns. I know some people have a really hard time mixing fabrics, but it has always come pretty easily for me. I probably play it safe for the most part and am not nearly as adventurous as the designers out there are, but this method works for me. See if any of these appeal to you.
(First Fabric: Robert Allen; next Bosporus)
(All by Waverly)
(Robert Allen)
I hope this helped a little with choosing fabrics and how to mix and match them for a fun room. I’ll do another post soon about window treatments and how I’ve put those together in my own house. I’m very fortunate to have a sewing Mama and she has sewed so many things for me over the years. She’s almost 81 now, so I really don’t like to ask her to do a lot of sewing for me anymore and now that I found a bargain sewing machine at a yardsale last year, I really want to learn to sew a few things myself. I will never be as good as she is though!
Tim, the Remodeling Guy, is hosting a Spring Round-up Party on Friday, so I’ll be posting mine a day early on Thursday and linking to his party on Friday. I’ve got a fun fountain project that I’ve finished up outside and can’t wait to share. Click the pic and go on over to Tim’s and check it out if you’d like to participate too.
Thank-you for the tutorial on fabrics! Nice post!
And I love the story about sewing when you were small.
love, kelee
Great job on the fabric choices. Nice job it is nice to see sometime a little different.
Excellent post. Beautiful fabrics. I used to be so happy when my mom made new Barbie clothes, thanks for bringing back the warm memories.
hey rhoda nice post, I enjoyed those beautiful fabrics
sarah
Are you my twin sister?! My Mum made all our clothes when we were little, all of them. I felt so empowered when I got a part-time after school job, just so I could spend my wages on (real) Levi’s, and underwear which wasn’t homemade. All our Daisy and Barbie clothes … sigh. As a Mum I now understand the love and necessity which made her do it, and feel sad that she now can’t. You certainly have a way with putting fabric together, your suggestions are lovely. Thank you for the time you put in to your amazing blog!
Loved the post. I had just gotten
home from United Textiles when I
read the post. Have you found this
wonderful fabric store out in
Bessemer yet?
My Mom made all our clothes and Barbie clothes too. I made my
girls clothes when they were little
and now that they are married I’m
always working on projects for someones home. Curtians, pillows,
cushions. Even now taking upholestry class so I can do even
more and loving it!!
Hi Rhoda! The rustic toile (colored pattern) is one of my favs. We started this fabric in a client’s home and sadly never got the chance to finish due to their finances. We did make a table cover and it was beautiful! Have a great day. I love how it looks antique and crackled!
~Misti
I think the ladies just don’t trust themselves to make the choices for window treatments and things because of the expense involved.
I noticed one of those green Robert Allen striped fabrics is almost the same as on my blogs template. I am sure these women have made the best “fabric” choices already when putting their blogs together. Now they just need to transfer that knowledge and talent to the real fabrics.
Can you tell the name of the fabric that is in the grouping of samples that is the third group from the bottom (not counting your fabrics. I love the pastoral toile type fabric but can’t find it on their sight. http://www.kenandcheri.blogspot.com
[email protected]
Thank you, Rhoda! I never feel like I know what I’m doing when I mix fabrics~this was perfect 🙂 I loved Edie’s kitchen as well…have a great day.
Rhoda, I really enjoyed reading your post. I have learned to put fabrics together and not look like a mess! I made slip covers for my sofa and overstuffed chair and I used over 9 fabrics for my whole living room! It looks beautiful and they all combine just right. I also have learned that if they’re in the same color scheme it will work. I’m redoing our guest room and I’m trying not to go too overboard with fabrics but so far I’m up to 5 fabrics. Thanks again for the information.
Rhoda…thanks for this post! I really like the fabric combinations in your bedroom and would love to see more! This was a good reminder that its OKAY to mix it up a bit 🙂
Thank you, Rhoda! I’ve been looking forward to this post and appreciate all of the tips. I love your bedroom fabrics!
Anna from Raleigh
Rhoda, I enjoyed your article on combining patterns. I have 2 large wicker sofas with solid black seats and black and white Buffalo Plaid back cushions. I need to cover a bunch of throw pillows since the couches are very deep, I’ve always wanted to use a Bosperous. What do you think?
HI, Sidney, you could probably use a Bosperous if it has some black in it as well as other colors. It’s hard to say, I’d have to see them together, but generally small prints and large prints can be mixed successfully.