I’m not really sure what prompted this, but lately I’ve REALLY been loving these boxy loose shapes on me. Made in a super drapey fabric and cropped just so, I find them really flattering and even more comfortable. It’s funny – the older I get (ya know, this RIPE OLD AGE of 30 lol amirite), the more I find myself comfortable with my body – and the more I’m ok with nto wearing things that are incredibly skintight. Both of those statements seem to contradict each other, but, it is what it is!
The Scout Tee is certainly not a new pattern – not even in my personal arsenal (I made a really fun one last year with some beautiful handwoven fabric, in case you missed it!). But hell, I have loved wearing it! My first version was made with a fabric that made it really boxy, which I liked a lot – but I wanted to see how it would feel in a drapey fabric. Spoiler alert: This is love. This is true love. I already have the next one planned.
This tee is pretty similar to my last one, in terms of construction. I sewed the size 0, and the only modification I made was to deepen the hem to about 2″, which is a good slightly cropped length for me. All the seams are French seams, and the neckline is finished with self bias facing. Overall, this was really fast and easy to put together. Since there are so few pieces – just front, back, sleeve, and that bias piece – it was even quick to cut. Yay!
I love the subtle high-low hem and I think it really benefits from some extra fabric down there to give it more weight. Especially with a fabric this lightweight and floaty!
Anyway, this post is less about the pattern and really about the fabric! What do you think of my AWESOME TROPICAL BIRD PRINTED SILK, huh?! 😀
The fabric is from Contrado, which is a company in the UK that specializes in custom printing – including on fabric! They reached out to me several months ago about trying out some fabric design, and I’ve finally had a chance to make that happen! It was the designing part that tripped me up and slowed me down so much – I’m not much of a designer, and most of my “art” involves direct copies. Tell me that I can design literally any print that I want, and watch the fear fill my eyes haha.
It seriously took me a couple of months to even think of what kind of design to do, but I had seen a few tropical bird prints floating around on RTW stuff and I immediately knew that’s the direction I wanted to take it. I googled around for some images that I liked and played around with them in my image editing software (it’s not anything fancy like Photoshop, just so we’re clear here haha. You could probably use pickmonkey.com to do your edits) until the design looked right. Then it was a matter of uploading the file to the website, making a few more minor tweaks – and that’s it! It was actually really really easy. The hard part is definitely choosing the design.
Narrowing down a fabric choice was also difficult! Contrado offers a massive array of fabric choices – over 75, in fact. From basics (such as cottons, polys, and knits) to fancier stuff (like cashmere !!!). They sent me a swatch pack so I could see all the printed samples, which made things both easier and harder 🙂
The fabric I chose to print on is a beautiful silk satin. It practically drapes like a liquid and it feels really incredible against the skin. I was initially a little worried about it being SO shiny – I generally use the “wrong” side of my silks, as I don’t like really shiny stuff. But since this fabric was printed, the wrong side looked.. well, wrong. I think the nature of this design works with a shiny fabric, although now I am wondering how practical it is to make a summery sleeved top out of white silk… I sweat a lot! Ha! Well I guess I can always yank the sleeves off if it comes down to it 😉
I will admit that this was not the easiest fabric to work with – the silk is quite slippery on the satin side, and there’s not much of a “grab” to the wrong side either (by “grab,” I mean like what you’d feel with a silk crepe). I chose a very simple pattern for this reason, which definitely worked in my favor. I didn’t do any sort of prepping before cutting – no stabilizers or using a rotary cutter or anything like that – and while cutting took a bit longer than it normally does, it wasn’t too terrible. I think when it comes to dealing with silks and other slippery fabrics, cutting is the worst part. Once you get past that point (assuming you cut everything correctly and on-grain), actually sewing the pieces together is relatively painless.
I actually took these photos after wearing and washing the shirt, and you can see how well the colors have held up (as well as the back wrinkles – sorry about that!). Speaking of washing, I get this question ALL the time, so it bears repeating – I wash all my silk on cold in the washing machine, and hang it to dry (it’s safe in the drier as I pre-wash and use the drier, but I hate ironing so hanging to dry is the way to go!). As long as you pre-wash your silk before cutting into it, it’s safe to wash it in the machine!
One last thing – in case you were curious 🙂
GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
Time to talk giveaway! The folks at Contrado are offering a whopping £100 voucher to use on their site, to print whateverrrrr your desires on your dream yardage! Further, this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE, so you don’t need to be a UK resident to enter! (My US folks – as of today’s currency exchange rates, that comes out to approximately $146.29, fyi!)
To enter the giveaway:
1. You need to LIKE the Contrado Facebook page. Show them your love and support!
2. Comment on this post and tell me what you’d design, and what you’d make out of said fabric.
As I said, this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE and the winner will be chosen by a random number generator. I will close the comments one week from today, on TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 8AM CST.
GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
Good luck, everyone! ♥
Note: This fabric was provided to me by Contrado, in exchange for this giveaway post! Who’s gonna be the lucky winner? 😉
LLADYBIRD 
love your top! i would design a flamingo fabric & make this oki top i have a pattern for, but not the right fabric, yet… thanks so much for doing the give-away! 🙂
I love your tee and what an awesomely generous giveaway. Despite being in the UK, I hadn’t heard of Contrado before but now, well, my imagination has fainted from over-excitement. I would print something in shades of blue/grey, perhaps a stormy sky/sea kind of a feel, to make the perfect shirtdress.
I love your top! That silk is so pretty and I love the bird print. What a great giveaway too. I’ve been wanting to design a dress with stylized eyes or faces, so that’s the route I’d go.
I’m UK based as well but haven’t heard of Contrado before. I would probably design something with circles in all sorts of colours and make a simple blouse for everyday wear out of it.
Wow, that fabric does behaves like liquid, so cool and the tee is super fluttering, great make!
I guess I would design some white and blue porcelain dish like fabric in the same silk stin and make Anna dress with it!
Hmm… I think I’d make some fabric with feathers on it & make a skirt!
Ooh, lovely fabric and top! I have the Fabric Swatch pack from Contrado already and you’re right, choosing which type of fabric is incredibly difficult! I’m really impressed with how well the printed design looks on all the swatches. Now, I would probably design a bright Hawaiian type floral print with the odd parrot in amongst the flowers and leaves, and I’d make a 1950’s style sarong dress out of it.
I would love to make a cool geometric design to make a wrap dress.
Your tee looks beautiful! I also love the fabric-
and for sure I would be happy to win the giveaway, haha.
Lately, I´m very interested in early 1920s fashion. That´s why I would like to design a gorgeous flapper dress with lots of flowers and cats on the fabric. 🙂
I would probably love to incorporate a design element from one of my granddaughter’s drawings and then make a simple t such as the one you illstrate here.
Ooo! So excited to hear of another custom printing company. While a certain other US based company is fabulous, they don’t always have the kind of base fabrics I want. I would hop right on board printing a few yards (or meters, I guess) of silk butterflies!
very cool service! I have no idea what I would print but I’d love to try it 🙂 thanks for the chance!
I have been wanting to print some of my daughters’ drawings for years. They are 20 somethings now, and I think I would make them bags and skirts.
This would be so fun! I don’t know what I would print, but I’m going to start planning now ☺️
Oh my gosh how fun would it be to win this prize!!! I think I would (try) to get a brightly colored colidascope effect
Love the parrot design. If I won the fabric, I’d get some of my old sketches from art college printed up and wear them,instead of them being hidden away in a folder!
I have made a few of the scout tees, but never in a silk. It’s fabulous! I love the idea of printing some fabric on Contrado – something in my favorite aqua and navy, I’m sure!
I LOVE the print of your top and have read elsewhere how great this pattern is…one of these days! You did a terrific job and the whimsy of the print is eye catching without being too overblown–besides, it’s fun to know you have something that no one in the world has!!! Good for you. I have never heard of Contrado until now and what an awesome service–I , like you, would be overwhelmed, but likely may do a floral–so big in fashion right now and a great way to incorporate color!
wow that top is beautiful – especially when you realise that you designed the fabric yourself. I’d love to have a go at that. I’d love to make a fabric that has a black background with big splashes of colour that aren’t flowers or abstract – something geometric – it’s so hard to explain which is probably why I’ve never found what I’m looking for. Once I had said fabric I’d make it into a top – and everyday sort of top that I cold wear and show off!
Ooh this does sound like a lot of fun, and also some serious decision making issues! I think I would draw a bunch of cute cats and turn that into a Grainline shirt ^^ or some colourful abstract shapes. Decisions!
You did a FAB JOB with the birdie colors and scale. I am mighty curious about all Contrado’s different fabric types. Yay, swatches! As for a fabric design, I’d like to make a Venus flytrap pattern inspired by William Morris (think Arts and Crafts/Victorian/Professor Henry Higgins’ house in “My Fair Lady”). I’d like something where you’d have to look at it twice to understand that it’s actually a carnivorous plant. Subtle and kinda funny.
I would be in the same predicament with picking and designing a print! Not sure if they have denim, but maybe a printed denim for a jacket or a rockin’ pair of Ginger or Morgan jeans!
What a great shirt you’ve made! I would make myself that perfect thick navy and white stripe that’s hard to find to make a dress, or go crazy with hamburgers and make a shirt.
I’ve been dying to make the Hawthorne, so I’d love some sweet printed fabric for that! 😀
PS: LOVE your shirt.
I’d order fabric to make a dress for this year’s wedding season!
I would design a fabric that has koi and frogs and lily pads. OR an galaxy print
I love your shirt so I think I would make something very similar! Maybe a cotton/silk or linen/cotton blend would be easier to work with?
I love birds, three parrots live with me, and plants. The print I would choose would have lots of colorful birds and beautiful plants in some kind of knit. I would make a top. Love, love tops! Yours is darling.
Linda
I love this! You are so right about loving these boxy little crop shirts, this one looks so comfy too! And your parrots are darling, I was actually wondering where your fabric was from before you started describing it and Contrado!
I would live to win, obviously, and think I would make up a shirt dress for summer!
Oh wow, that is just so brilliant! I love your design, and I love the concept – genius! I would probably have just as hard a time as you deciding on what to do, but I do believe hummingbirds and/or penguins would have to be included somehow. And I’d love to make a silk blouse or a cashmere summer jacket of some sort.
I love that shirt on you and would make one of my own in a peacock pattern if I won!
Love your top. I would make the kimono tee with letters and numbers that are meaningful to me, printed through out the fabric.
Ohh, I would probably end up changing my mind 100 times, but at the moment, I think I would do a pattern that would look like shibori tie dye. Deciding what to make and what to print it on would probably cause me to lose sleep- I’m not a good decision maker when there are tons of choices! 😀
Great giveaway.
I would get some fabric printed for a patchwork blanket I am working on for a friends wedding – I would want the fabric to spell out their wedding date, bible verse and their names.
Love the top! I am a geologist, and I think I would print some pictures of what rocks look like under the microscope. There’s all these crazy patterns to rocks, and beautiful colors. I think it would make a neat shirt or shift dress. I have seen some stuff like it on Etsy, and would be awesome to use a rock that was special to me.
Love your top. I would make a fairy design to use to make matching dresses for my granddaughters.
Loved it!!! I would like to get a fabric with diamond shapes on it. I don’t know if you have seen them at some point there was no online shop left that i didnt search. I design my own patterns now and i would like to make a dress with it.
I’d definitely make a geometric print on a cotton lawn to make a susie blouse from sewoverit. I have only made one so far but I think it is my new favourite!
H.
Simple and beautiful! I would make stylized cloud print to make a wrap dress with… probably the Cashmerette pattern, unless I can get my hands on a vintage DVF, but I don’t have much hope there! I saw a dress like that years ago and I can’t get it out of my head… and I can never find just the right cloud print, so I’ll have to make it myself.
I am digging the boxy, loose fitting tops too, especially as it gets warmer in Nashville. I love frogs but there aren’t many frog patterned fabrics for garments. Maybe something with poison dart frogs all over it. They’re so colorful. I could make Seamwork’s Mojave with it.
Beautiful top! I would love to design a Birch tree forest print. I used to have a poster like this and I loved staring at it. I would make it into a a simple shift dress.
Wow, finally a company that is accessable from (and not too expensive to ) Germany! Great! I would actually print a white fabric with tiny logos of a Germany soccer cluc (FC Schalke 04) to make the round blue logos look like polka dots and use the fabric for a friend’s 50s inspired wedding dress. O.O That would be sooo awesome!
I’d probably make some funky Scout too.
Wow, love the top! I’d like to design a not-too-girly floral print to make a dress for my friend’s wedding later this year.
Very nice top! Nothing like silk! I am dying to make a top with a peplum in some acqua and coral colors with arrows. Thanks for the opportunity of the giveaway.
Wow what a nice giveaway!
I would probably print something geometric to make a dress. Or maybe a eyes or lips fabric. Not sure yet.
I would probably go with some variation of a simple fractal I had to design in college for a non euclidean geometry class. I’d either get it it printed on one of the knits and make a dress or the breathable waterproof fabric and make a raincoat
Jeez, they have printed suede. PRINTED SUEDE. I’d have to piss off the universe with a deconstructed jacket or vest.This company is too much for me to handle; they have ALL the fabric. Let me process this for a while…my head is exploding.
OK — wow! I hadn’t heard of this company before, but now I’m dreaming of the possibilities. As you found, deciding on the design would be a challenge. I too would have to start with the swatch pack, but once I had a design that I loved, I might go crazy with it and try making T-shirts, tea towels, tote bags, and scarves with all the different fabrics. How incredibly cool! Contest or no contest, this is now on my “favorites” bar.
I didn’t say what kind of imagery I would go for — and I’m not sure, but perhaps it would be handwriting and rocks/flowers.
I would make a giant silk scarf for my friends mum from one of her paintings. She paints fab pictures of Italian buildings. It’s her 84th birthday next month. She’d be bowled over as she was like a mum to me.
I love your tee, it’s so summery and tropical. I’ve never heard of Contrado either and I’m in the UK. I’m kind of regretting hearing about them now because I cannot get custom printed towelling out of my mind! (I didn’t expect that when I woke up!) That’s what I’d pick if I won the giveaway. I’d make bath towels covered in the fabulous Doctor Who doodles that my little boys draw.
First off…. before my last day of the job I have had for 28….. Count ’em TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS…… And lose the regular paycheck…… I’m gonna buy the Scout Tee pattern. Second…..If I ran the zoo…… I mean, if I won the fabric….. I would probably do a beautiful tropical pattern for silk……Gold on deep blue…… And then make some vavavavoom silk pjs……… or, I may try my hand at a Matisse inspired pattern on something heavier, and recover my favorite chair. Have a beautiful day! ❤
Gorgeous top! And I’m looking at the Contrado website and am super impressed by the range of fabrics they offer. I’m imagining designing a Beyonce-themed fabric on the looped back sweat fabric and making a sweatshirt (or sweatsuit, no one can stop me) out of it. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
love your top!! For some reason i would love a bobby pin print. and i would make a simple dress with an elastic waist out of it.
Cute top! I would make a black and white patterned chiffon dress!
Uhm can we say dress with my dog’s face on it?! Yes, because that is what I would make lol
I will print a nautical map image of Port O’Connor, Texas, where our coastal home is. I want printed white silk for a windbreaker jacket and white canvas for an awesome big tote, complete with gold grommets and big white rope handles! I’ve already purchased an NOAA official map to make my own image. Hope I win!!!
Oh, a lightweight linen with hashmarks like the dotted neoprene Contrado currently carries…DREAMY summer maxi with high side slit!
Ooh, love the top.
For the giveaway, I’ll tell ya, there’s something I’ve always wanted to do. My grandfather was obsessed with bridge-building, and in the ’50s, he used to drag my mother and her brothers out to look at bridges all the time and take pictures. (She says it was very boring.) She passed them on to me, so now I have a zillion tiny b&w pictures of Grandpa’s bridges.
I want that shit on a skirt. Okay, a dress, but they’re probably not big enough. But if not that, a skirt.
I love the top! Its really pretty. I would like to have a ring on a top. Not just a ring, but my wedding ring.
Hey LT! I absolutely love your print – nice job!! If I were to design a fabric, I would start with a canvas and create a funky urban print – either a variation of a cityscape, or something else that plays on urban travel elements (buildings, planes, airports – who knows). I’m designing a new course to teach, and it is going to be an overnight bag. I’d like to create a sample bag that really inspires students, and I think a custom print would be super cool. 🙂 – Nokes
I love your top. I have no idea what I’d design, but it would be fun to have a go
Oh my gosh! I wouldn’t know where to begin!!! I think I’ll let my artsy husband do the design and I’ll do the rest, maybe a dress shirt just like yours! Thanks !!!
Wow I cant believe I’ve never heard of them before but I love the idea! I would go for something abstract – I’m loving fabrics that merge/blend colors. And I’d make myself a new dress!
I’d shamelessly try an reproduce a cool print from a shirt a friend brought back from the UK for my toddler and make a shirt for my husband (so few truly cool and original shirtings out there, non?)
I’d definitely make a pussy bow blouse, I’ve had a pattern for a while, but no fabric! I love your T, I’m just about to start something similar. It will be the first boxy top I’ve owned and so I understand your comments about changing styles as you get a little longer in the tooth!
Oh I love the idea but I can’t design to save my life. I would have to do lots of research and take advice but it would have to be something memorable as it would be so special.
Awesome giveaway! Love your topnand fabric choice!!!
Frankie
Love the silk! I still haven’t sewn with silk yet but it’s on my to-do list. I’m really impressed with Contrado’s variety of textiles. Cashmere? Awesome! I’ve been diggin’ blackwork designs lately so I’d like a design like that.
I would take all my favorite quotes from books and pack the text tight so from far away it looks like a black and white print but up close you can actually read it. And I would make an everyday dress. And I would totally wear it every time I went to the library. Because I am a huge nerd.
I’d design a sik fabric with pinky hearts and flowers to maker a shirt 🙂
Beautiful top! I would probably go for a good geometric design, as they can be hard to find in stores!
I would definitely design something floral… prolly roses. My mom passed away a couple of years ago leaving behind an ENORMOUS fabric stash. I took what I had room for and discovered 7 different rose prints in dress lengths; I decided that this would be the summer of rose printed shirt dresses (she loved shirt dresses as much as she loved roses). So far I’ve made two and am absolutely sure they’re exactly what she would have made and loved. Designing a rose print fabric and sewing it up would be my ultimate homage to her!
This is beautiful! I too become overwhelmed at the prospect of being able to print ANYTHING on fabric, however, at this moment, I’m really into all this bicycle print fabric I’m seeing. Only problem? I’m not much of a bicycle rider and I would feel like a fraud wearing around a Portland OR (serious about bicycling round here). Sooo… I’d have them print scooters, my primary transportation and I’d see it into my Miz Mozelle dress pattern which is my staple dress for summer.
I would make a beautiful By Hand London Sabrina or Flora dress as they look so good with sumptuous fine silk fabric in a fabulous abstract print.
I’d make a dreamy-looking print based on artist Dorothea Tanning’s Insomnia series. It would make a gorgeous blouse of some sort!
I’d probably print something with feathers or leaves for a floaty skirt.
I’ve been wanting to make the carolyn pajamas and i think it would be fun to design a whimsical print for that. The voucher is a massive amount so I’d probably order some yardage to make a pair of turia dungaree’s as well!
I would love to win to win some jersey with the clouds I designed for my daughters birth announcment. It would make a cool jumpsuit for her and maybe a cover for her maxi coai.
I’m like you, I would be totally overwhelmed by the possibilities. but knowing myself, I would end up with some cat themed fabric and I’d probably make a shirt out of it!
Like you, I’m useless at design. I like the idea of birds, but I’d probably end up with something quite geometric. I have just bought the Aphrodite dress by I Am Patterns, so I’d love to design something to use with that.
Yay yay giveaway! I LOVE your scout tee, such a great little pattern and in that print it’s delish! I would design all the fabric and make all the things 🙂 Or if that’s not specific enough, I would design funky geometric things for sweatshirts/sweatshirt dresses. Basically, whatever I went with would be something to wear All. The. Time!
I would love some fabric labels…or maybe some octopus/jellyfish fabric.
Love your shirt…..this fabric calls out to me, to make a vintage styled skirt…..Loved looking at their website for inspiration! 🙂
I would design a grey and yellow abstract cross hatch silk fabric, and make it into a simple New Look 6127 top to let the fabric be the focus. I need more silk in my life!
As a bunny lover I would definitely design a rabbit themed fabric ( a grown up classy bunny fabric! )
Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com
That T-shirt looks great, awesome print. So many possibilities
I would Try to make a Floral design, Cotton or Silk, for a beautiful Summer dress
This fabric is so perfect! And that print on it is definitely something I would pick for myself as well. If I were to design a fabric that wasn’t a copy cat of yours…. I would probably do little turquoise sea shells spaced similarly to your birds on this fabric. something simple but still fun (and from far away it’ll look like polka dots! which are a definite fav for me)
i think i would print some canaries or yellow feathers on some silk and make it a top…or a dress. thank you!
Your top looks great! I’ve been thinking about sewing something up with some birds on it too. But if I had the chance I would print some fabric for some activewear leggings. I’ve always wanted some galaxy print leggings!
Loving your new top and those jeans too. I would ponder a lot I think but I am most drawn to flamingos at the moment so I am guessing I would design a flamingo fabric and make shirt dress from it.
If I win, I am going to totally copy you and put birds on silk. But swallows, not tropical birds. And make something flowy with it.
Beautiful tee! How fun is that? I think silk is perfect for summer since it’s a natural fiber. I’d love to get some of the cashmere for a Linden sweatshirt.
As for the design, I’m thinking Cthulu.
I love both of the linens they have and with summer coming up I could use some nice light linen shirts and a dress or two so I don’t sweat it out in my office!
Great T-shirt! Might have to give the pattern a try!
I can’t believe I haven’t found this site before, thought I had samples from most UK printers. I want to print on their Lycra and make it into sportswear for my aerial/circus classes.
Flamingos. On silk. Yum! Or jungle leaves! Or both!!
I want to make some un-boring sleeveless blouses for work so this could be fun! 😀
I’d have red kisses printed on the fabric, which I’d use to make McCall’s 7351, a shirtdress.
That top is stunning! I think I’d print a space themed fabric (nicole kidmans met ball dress was incredible) for a floaty blouse
This is cool! I took a beach photo a little while ago that I’ve been wanting to turn into an abstract print, and it would be great to make a summer dress out of that.
I would make a summer dress but like you I will struggle to decide on a design. Most likely floral, Thanks for the opportunity to win,
Wow that is the most gorgeous t-shirt I’ve ever seen! I think I’d definitely what to print some silk, probably in a big, abstract water-coloury floral print – then I could make the BHL Anna maxi dress of my dreams!!! 😀
That is gorgeous fabric and a perfect tee! If I won the giveaway, I would print something with feathers….and I would make a summery dress out of it, something long and flowy….
Love this top so much 🙂 I love to make replicas of movie costumes, so I’d splash out on some custom-printed fabric for a perfect match.
Beautiful! Perfect material to suit the pattern..simple and drapey. Looks gorgeous and comfortable!
I have been searching for fabric with the right feather print! I would make a flowy shift dress, sleeveless for summer!
I am really intrigued by making your own fabric! I would probably do a sort of Orla Kiely geometric/flower/fruit theme, as I always find those kinds of prints but on quilting cotton. I always get so excited and then sad trombone when I realize they won’t work for what I want.
Also, May 10 is my birthday, so I feel like maybe I’ll get extra lucky for my 30th and win this? I can always hope.
Hoping to find the perfect boxy crop top pattern… Sleeveless, to go with a high waisted midi skirt. (Pattern ideas welcome!!!)
Love that you put a bird on it. I would design something with tropical flowers and fern fronds on it — I want to make my own bedspread and the ~theme~ my man and I are going for is tiki! Because why not.
I am thinking a shirt-dress but I am torn between something colourful and geometric or vintage looking with a subtle feather print!
Ooooo, this might have to be a riff on a fabric I spotted on Spoonflower with diatoms from Ernst Haekel’s “Art Forms in Nature” with a blue background. I’d use one of my vintage patterns and make a great day dress!
Probably some knit yoga pants. Or cotton for quilting.
dresses and pajamas!
Ooh, I love the look of the printed silk. I think I’d have to have an ice cream, kitties, and bicycles print for a swishy summer dress.
I think I would make fabric with my dogs faces and rock that in a dress or leggings!
I’ve been looking for a double gauze fabric that would make a good, simple dress. An abstract print, probably.
I am so excited about this. I would design something in an Arts & Craft style – clearly I am no William Morris but a nod to that sort of design. I think I would make a separates combo of pants and top so that it had a sort of jumpsuit vibe but I could wear with other things. Fingers are now in crossed position!
I would design something geeky for my daughter who is working on her first lady skater. If there was enough left over maybe something for a dress or skirt for myself. I’d have to think about what design for that.
I’m like you, crippled with indecision when it comes to designing stuff. Lucky for me, my husband does graphic design stuff. I would have him create something – maybe with kitties. 🙂 for a nice summer dress.
Hm I think I would design an imperfect stripe. You know, a bit wavy and just irregular enough to not have to worry about pattern matching 😀 and make a summer dress from it!
I think I would go for tiny fruit – maybe little lemon or orange slices on a navy background … I have plans for a shirt dress and some silk tanks for my summer work wardrobe.
I just finished a class in adobe illustrator and would love to print something from that experience … After it gets an upgrade, of course! I need tops (oh how I need them) since getting my new boobs. My body shape is all weird now and I need to figure this bigger boobage out. (And before anyone judges, I had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction surgery where they used tummy fat to make my new boobs.)
OMG such a good choice of fabric I too wouldn’t usually chose the shiny side but u rock it.
I would create vintage sewing machines black and white on crepe or georgette and make a floaty shift dress with the current trend of long ties at the neck. Ps love the way you write – really funny Amirite lol
I’d design a ocean-y watercolor fabric and make a robe for my sister!
Wow beautiful choice of print x think I would go for peonies just because they’re beautiful too 😊
Love your work ! the sewing is always perfect and the birds are really sweet. I would probably have a really hard time deciding on the design because i love color but am always scared to wear what I love.
Love your fabric! I would design something involving seahorses in blues and greys and would probably make a dress to wear to the beach. Thanks for a great giveaway 😊
Thank you for the chance to win the giveaway – love the teeshirt casual but classy. Although I live in the UK I hadn’t heard of Contrado so even if I don’t win will be investigating their fabrics . Would love to design a hot red / orange crepe fabric to make a special dress for a special wedding coming up in August.
Gosh – so beautiful. I’ll probably choose one of the waterproof, quilted or silk fabrics, but really difficult to pick one!
It’s a tough call, but I might try something like the scout tee… I’ve noticed lately I have a lot more bottoms than tops in the separates department! I would design something nice and bright though as we are heading into winter…..
Lovely top! I think I’d design something birdy for a drapey top. But like you, I think I’d struggle with all the possibilities!!!
I’m in the UK and was recently searching for a company to custom print my silk and didn’t come up with this company – so thank you for that! I did find a company in the end so that project is in the past. I would love to win as DH and I enjoyed the experience and would like to repeat it. I might copy the shades of a stormy sunset sky onto silk for a shirtdress – I like more abstract or more geometrical designs. Do you wash charmeuse silk and habotai silk too?
Yes! I prewash all silks, unless I want to retain the stiffness and/or shine. For example, I didn’t prewash my Faille because I wanted to keep that stiff and it’s an evening dress (so it’s ok to dry clean – I’ll only wear it occasionally anyway!). Dupionis and shantungs will also soften up when you wash them – I like the effect, but I wouldn’t wash them if I wanted them to stay stiff. Silk charmeuse will matte up a bit when you wash it, so if you want it to stay shiny, I’d stick with dry cleaning. Haven’t sewn with habotai so I can’t comment on that one!
I too am in the UK and have resorted to importing from Spoonflower before so I’m super excited to learn about this company! I would love to design the perfect upholstery fabric to recover the sofa in our living room, I have been looking for just the right thing for over a year and I’m just not finding it, maybe I have to design it myself 🙂
I am loving box top patterns using a more flows fabric. I would probably have something printed on silk too. I never find silk patterns I love and if I don’t love it, I can’t be dropping cash on it.. I would probably do a small scale print but not sure what.
Silk tee-shirts! Not sure why this never occurred to me before, but this looks so lovely.
Something Navy!! Maybe with tiny ancors? Dunno, but def Navy!!
I love Your fabric design. I would design something with little cats on it
I love the shirt you made! I would design something colorful but washed out… like a painter’s palette in the rain… and use it to make a tanktop or a scout tee.
I’ve been looking for a pattern to make this summer as a mother daughter project. This would be perfect!
Beautiful shirt! I have been lusting after the scout tee pattern for a while and may just get it. I’m on the hunt for dress fabric for a wedding I’m going to in August. I think an abstract print would be perfect for the dress I have in mind but have not found the right stuff yet. So that is what I would use the voucher for.
I love the art deco inspired prints, but they are always to big or small for my frame. That type of print on a nice summer dress would make me happy.
Looks great and comfy too! Can’t say I’ve considered using silk for the Scout, now I may have to try it. Took a peak at Contrado and I think I’m in love! My hubby is not going to thank you for this but I do 🙂
Lovely flowy shirt! I think I would design something totally Heehaw western and make a portrait blouse out of it with perhaps some matching shorts so it’s like a playsuit. I’m really like vintage western prints…something with horseshoes?
Oh, I’d totally copy this vintage rayon I saw on a dress once – yellow stars on blue with swirls. I’d print it on the crepe lycra and make a wrap dress….
Something in a dark blue or maybe vintage-y (I saw a blue & purple vintage dress awhile back; maybe try to copy it?), probably for a blouse.
I’d design something including subtle, tasteful bats! My husband studies them and the fabrics available are usually too halloweeny… I’d make him a shirt, and maybe a vest top for me…
Ooh, I think I’d fulfill my dream of a galaxy/milkyway/aurora printed dress, probably a BHL Kim 🙂
I would get my daughter to draw a panda, then surprise her by making a pair of pajamas with her drawing printed on it. She would go crazy.
If I were to win I would go for a water-color, impressionist style print in either a pretty, light drapey fabric or in a swim suit material for my first me-made bathing suit!
I would design some sort of small-scale geometric print and make a summery dress out of it – maybe a Southport dress or Colfax dress!
I would print fabric with lots and lots and lot of scissors on it!
Beautiful top! Oh there are so many options. I think I would get some sport stretch fabric to make some funky oh la la leggings and top. I do find it hard to go past silk though, I’m pretty sure I need another gorgeous dress…
Beautiful top. I think I would get some sport stretch fabric to make some funky oh la la leggings and top. I do find it hard to pass on the silk though. Pretty sure I need another fancy dress…
I really like the fabric design – the birds aren’t overwhelming. I like bicycless, maybe something with that theme in a dress.
Oh man I love me some self designed fabric. You can make the coolest border prints and skirt panels that way.
I love the birds! I think i will make something with pineapples. Probably a shirt!
What fabulous fabric and great shape t shirt. I would love to make the Sew over it Doris dress in maybe a dark floral crepe fabric. Thank you for hosting this giveaway Lauren.
Nice top – great finishing without any starch/stabilisers!
I’ve just learnt to draw on the computer so would love to print some designs I’ve been exploring: probably a Turkish tile motif or a Penrose Tile design. Oh, and get a few custom labels as well.
Love this top! I have always been drawn to the loose fit (on everyone else) and it wasn’t until I started sewing I could wear them myself (VERY pear shaped so I can look a hot mess without some amount of shaping even in a ‘boxy’ cut). I am very grateful for this chance. I would love to make a blouse with exaggerated sleeves and loosely draped body using a print of my own!
I like the birds!
I’ve been dreaming of making a dinosaur waterproof coat for years now. For some reason they only seem to make them for 0-5 year olds, not 26 year olds… So if I could design a print with robots, dinosaurs and ducks, the dream would come true.
I’d love to make a print with teacups on it. I’d love to have a teacup dress!
So cute! I would do a floral design and make a Staple Dress 🙂
I would love to make a print with old fashioned bicycles on it, or mine craft stuff on it. And I would either make dresses with the first or shirts for my boys with the second.
Oh my goodness! I’m not sure how I’d ever narrow it down, but I think I’d pick something to make an Emery Dress with. I’m sort of obsessed with bicycle prints – which is odd since it’s probably been at least 15 years since the last time I rode a bike – so I think it would be fun to come up with a fun bicycle design.
I’d definitely make galaxy fabric, there is no question about it. I’d like to make a dress or even just a top out of a real nebula fabric – they’re so beautiful!
May the 10th is my birthday!!! That would be asplendid!!! I have a home made pattern ready to be the perfect summer dress with a design such as tropical plants.
What a lovely shirt! I would love a similar fabric printed with ranunculus, avocados, mushrooms and eggs – all crops that San Diego County produces. I would make myself a lovely Montpelier dress from Hot Patterns…
Oooh custom printed circus theme Lycra for sportswear!
Oh geez, what would I make? How could I even know at this point, I’m just as overwhelmed as you are! Probably a great springy dress!
I’m currently searching for flowery fabrics for underwear so I’d go with that one. Big and small flowers. Maybe some other details as well. WHO KNOWS??? No seriously, someone tell me what to do 🙂
Thanks for a great giveaway!
I’d probably make a bright and colourful geometric print fabric, maybe watercolour triangles? I see that Contrado print scuba fabric (my absolute favourite!) so I’d probably make a bodycon dress or pencil skirt with it.
What a great new resource! I, too, am totally overwhelmed by the possibilities of what I would use for the print…probably a watercolor floral design on a dark background if had to choose. I’m getting Gertie’s new book today, so I’d love to sew up a summery sun dress from the book in pima cotton lawn.
What a generous giveaway! I would design a one or two tone graphic print kind of like a paisley or moroccon style…I’m getting anxiety just thinking about it so I can imagine how you felt putting in your order!
Ooo, I don’t know what I’d design- possibly something bright and floral but like you, I can’t fill a blank canvas!
I’d do a kitty cat print in a cotton blend fabric and make a summer dress!
I’d probably do a cloudy print with grey and blue and purple. Definetly a camisole (maybe also with silk?!?), probably a dress as well 😀
My design would have squirrels and gophers and mice and I would make a cocoon shape tunic. I’ve really gotten into that shape lately….think it’s up to 5-6 by now! I may decide on a kimono or bog jacket too….depends how the fabric turns out!
I’d looove a soft, drapey tank with elephants on it. Less tribal, like most of the elephant fabris I find, and more subtle.
I have a few ideas if what I’d design, but not sure how to describe it. Black painterly strokes on white background, arranged like pick-up sticks.
Thanks for the chance to win. I’m thinking a pretty Balkan folk design for a dress.
I think the Scout pattern was perfect for the fabric you selected. White is not a good color for me, so I would create a bold, colorful pattern using some of my photos blurred and mixed. Since it’s spring, my mind is filled with tulips and daffodils. Time to sneak over to my friend’s garden before its too late!
I absolutely love your birds! I have a lobster print dress that no longer fits me (much nicer than it sounds!) so I’d design something new in lobster print! Or maybe constellations… X
I absolutely love your birds! I have a lobster print dress that no longer fits me (much nicer than it sounds!) so I’d design something new in lobster print! Or maybe constellations… X
I’d most likely design either some kind of book themed print or maybe a troll doll print. I would pick either the water proof fabric and make a light weight jacket (because I live in Oregon where it’s very rainy) or a longer tunic top out of a linen or cotton fabric 🙂
This is lovely, the silk drapes beautifully! I am wanting to do a Scout tee too, something about the weather at the mo and my post-baby body is calling for this top! I would design a print of all my favourite buildings, slightly abstracted. It would be perfect for work over the summer!
I would design silk crepe with magpies all over then make a classic tee with the fabric. What a fantastic company, designing your own fabric really does make it custom made! Lovely Scout Tee, very classic xxx
Wow, I never thought of printing my own fabric, but that would be an amazing experience! I’d probably go with a geometric vibe print in a silk crepe for a summery kimono style dress!
Pugs 🙂 I have a blouse with a pug print, but sadly the fabric is not the best quality. I would love to sew myself a new one.
I’d have a border print printed. I love a good border.
Love your top and a great giveaway! I’m drawn to vintage style blue roses so maybe something like this but hey, I’ll see if I win first!
Wowsers I’ve never heard of Contrado I’ve been using Spoonflower and paying a fortune in import charges! I’d also get something in silk and I keeping with the wildlife theme maybe something with butterflies…
I’d love to have some lace print for an upcoming wedding dress!
Printed silk sounds yummy! I would probably make a top to mix and match. Love your tee!
I’ve just ordered a swatch set – so many fabrics to choose from! I’m thinking of making my dad a short sleeve button up shirt for Father’s Day (a long way away I know but I need to plan these things in advance!) and wanted to get some custom printed fabric for that. I’m going to get prints of my kids’ (his grandchildren) hand and/or feet prints and use them as the design, making them quite subtle so you’d only see they were handprints if you looked closely. Wish me luck with that!
I love this giveaway! I’d do a medium size blue floral print on lawn and make a wrap dress in a maxi length. Hope I win!
I am 100% lacking a cactus print dress, so that is what I’d design. ☺️
Thanks for the giveaway! I’m always looking for subtly science-geeky prints that aren’t on quilting cotton, so I’d probably go with something along those lines and make a top!
Multicoloured pineapples on a navy background to make a Carme blouse. Thanks for sharing – I live in the UK and didnt know this company existed!
Think I would have to go for the Lima Cashmere. It sounds GORGEOUS! I think it would have to be the cartoonish sketch I did of my Big Old Wolfdog who we lost to Cancer xmas 2014. My Hubby is planning on writing a series children’s book on him and I’m illustrating them. He was my support dog so I’d love to have an Autumn/Winter Dress with the small sketches of him playing with Kittens, Being climbed all over by baby chicks and nose to nose with his best friend pony ‘Spooky’.
strawberries on a black background!
Hi, very nice tee and beautiful fabric and print! I would choose a black moustaches print on a white raw silk for a long sleeve classic shirt.
Thank you for this nice giveaway.
Birds all the way! I’d make a swallow design, dark blue swallows on a mint colored background probably, to make a nice summery dress out off.
A very cute fabric for a gorgeous top!
I would design something with flying swallows on a drapey cotton to sew a flowy set of crop top and maxi skirt
Your top is adorable. I would make the fabric have lips and hearts, and the words- Kiss me because I love you .
then I would make a simple dress to wear all summer long.
Awesome print design! That and the silk really add a little oomph to a simple tee. The giveaway sounds great – if I won I’d design something with feathers on it in jersey stretch to make a second Lady Skater dress.
I would create a hamburger print. I collect hamburger shaped things because I think it’s a funny shape so hamburger’s for sure. All the hamburger prints out there are quilting fabrics and/o have a diner style look so I’d try to make it a bit more chic, if that’s possible!
Your shirt has helped me decide exactly what I would design! I had a Philosophy brand shirt that I adored and I got a stain on it and then ruined it with bleach. It was a white background with multi colored hummingbirds on it and it was a jersey knit. Scooped neck, ruched elbow length sleeves, fitted waist. It was a great shirt. I’ve been hoping to come across a similar fabric, but haven’t found anything so I’d love to get to design some! Maybe go for a dress instead of the shirt – who knows! Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
Hard to say what I would print up, maybe poodles without any trace of pink!