While going through our stash of fabrics, we were this week inspired to focus on prints; both abstract and geometric, in both cotton and knit. We worked with simple silhouettes that played up the prints and made them flattering on our model.

These days, “rules” of fashion seem to be out the door, because designers are doing really interesting things with patterns and clothes that were not necessarily acceptable many years ago, but which are in fact quite successful today. However, in order to avoid being a fashion train wreck, there are some basic rules you should follow when working with certain patterns…like geometric and abstract prints.

Geometric prints:

Geometric prints are based on geometric shapes worked into a design placed all over a fabric. These may be squares, triangles, etc., and adaptations to these. A couple of key points to successfully wearing this print, like others include:

o Not combining with other prints

o Not wearing two-piece garments in print, although a dress can be quite attractive.

However, a print with a vibrant colour gives you the chance to incorporate a bold colour in your outfit you may have been reluctant to wear.

Graphic prints can sometimes highlight your figure, as well as hide areas you wish to conceal, so be careful where to place shapes, when making your own, and look out for where a form stands out on your figure. Careful placement can attractively highlight or hide curves, for example.

When selecting a style to make an item of clothing, be careful with the lines in the garment, try to have them follow those of the print; going for straight seam lines and edges rather than curves if the forms in the fabric follow straight lines. For example, straight darts instead of a princess seam, or a straight or angled neckline rather than one that curves.

Tip: some prints with basic colours can be versatile enough to give several looks. The yellow and white print was styled in four different ways to demonstrate how you can get four looks from one simple garment.

Steps (floral):

1. Cut the front and back of the dress, (creating an all-in-one sleeve) that extends to the hemline.

2. Join at the sides, from hem of sleeve to the hemline.

3. Finish seams.

4. Finish neckline.

5. Hem.