Article: 5 Tips on How to Mix African Print
5 Tips on How to Mix African Print
African print fabrics are standalone statement fabrics so putting two or even three together can sometimes feel intimidating. But don’t worry! Use these few tips to nail your next garment with mixed prints.
Tip #1: Pick fabrics with the same undertones
You typically want to find fabrics with the same neutral color. A neutral color in an African print fabric is usually white, tan or black. If the base color is tan, you want to stay away from fabrics with a base color of white or black. Once you have picked your base color, you can move on to add additional colors. For my example, my neutral color is white.
Tip #2: Find two colors that are complementary to the neutral color
Once you pick your primary color, you can look for prints with the same color intensity. If you are looking for a fabric for a fall jacket, try warm colors like oranges and red with a base color of off white. The trick is you want to find fabrics that have the same neutral color. With my example below, white is my base color and my complementary color is gray and blue.
Tip #3: Match shapes or patterns
I’ve seen every shape, scale, color and design on African prints so I know it can be daunting. When I’m mixing prints, I like to match prints according to their shapes. So, if a fabric has a lot of sharp angles, I like to look for another print with different shapes but is also angular. With the three fabrics below, they all have zig zag or diamond shapes in it that bring the colors together.
Tip #4: Consider the fabric scale
I like to mix fabrics that have contrasting scales. For instance, if I’m making a dress, I’ll use a fabric with a large motif and accents of another print with a small motif. For instance, if you have a print with a large circles, you may want to complement it with a print that has small shapes like a kente cloth.
Tip #5: Trust your gut!
If you love two prints together but it breaks all the rules above, go for it! If you love two or three African prints that have similar colors but all have large motifs, I think they will work out together. As long as the fabrics don’t clash together, you can break a rule or two.
If you're ready to mix some prints for your next project, you can shop some pre-selected pairings here. Select your main fabric and choose your additional prints at the bottom of the product page. Enjoy!
6 comments
Thanks for the tips, great way to look at combining or mixing fabrics. I enjoy SCL and always looking for the new sew Alongs and new patterns. Have you ever thought of bringing some of your old patterns from the past for a throwback Wednesday or Thursday? Just a thought. Keep up the amazing work
Karon
Thank you for the refresher. I love mixing prints and it’s always good to have a starting point to achieve your fashion goal.
Gwynne Lassiter
This was very helpful. I always have trouble matching my prints. Thanks a bunch for revisiting this once again.
Ann-Marie Greenlee
Thanks for bringing back the tips. It really does help me with my sewing. I’m a full time health care worker by day but a sewer at night. I my community I do a lot of hemming, bonnets,wedding attire,little things like. SCL helps me see my full potential. Thanks alot. Hopefully I’ll make the conference on King weekend
Rose Gray
I am so glad I saw this blog on how to mix African Prints. It pays to take some time to know all the information Sew Creative Lounge has for us! Quite a surprise and so helpful for anyone who is trying to create their own style with mixing African prints. The suggestions are excellent! Thank you Sew Creative Lounge!
Monica Sanders
Thanks for the information. I purchased some African materials to make a quilt, unsure how to compliment the fabric, since I’m new to quilting. Your info was great and I’m ready to make my quilt.
Cynthia
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