Color Blocking: Tips for Choosing Fabrics and Creating Unique Garments

Color blocking is when you break up a garment with contrasting colors of fabric in stripes or geometric designs. It adds so much visual interest and makes a garment truly one of a kind. I love it!

If you're looking for some great color block sewing patterns to try, here are a few of my favorites:

• Adult Undercover Hoodie from Ellie & Mac

• Calypso Colorblocked Top and Hoodie from Sinclair Patterns

• Kid's Domino Dolman Tee from Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop

Choosing colors and prints that go together can feel a little intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! Here are my best tips.

1. Choose Colors That Pop

Come back to grade school with me for a minute and think about the color wheel.

When it comes to color blocking, two types of color combinations work especially well: complementary colors and analogous colors.

Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. Think blue and orange, or red and green. These combinations create a bold, eye-catching pop of color that looks really striking on a garment.

Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel, like blue and green or blue and purple. These combinations are a little softer and more subtle, but they still add plenty of visual interest.

Of course, you can do whatever you want. That's part of the fun of sewing!

If you're having trouble finding the perfect combination, black or white fabric pairs beautifully with almost any color. You could even do a classic black and white combination and let a bright bag or bold shoes do the talking.

For more inspiration, check out Sewing Society's Pinterest page. I've been pinning lots of color-blocked sewing projects there!

2. Prewash Your Fabric (More Than Once)

This step is especially important when you're color blocking. Always prewash your fabric before sewing, unless it's dry clean only. Prewashing removes excess dye left over from manufacturing, which helps prevent colors from bleeding onto each other after your project is done.

If you're using white fabric or very high-contrast color combinations, I'd suggest prewashing your fabric at least two or three times before you cut into it. It's also a good idea to toss in a color-catcher sheet during the first few washes after your project is finished.

3. Thoughtfully Plan Your Design

Color blocking is one of those things where you really do get to make up your own rules. But if you don't think it through ahead of time, the finished garment can end up looking a little off. Here are a few design tips that can help:

• Use dark colors on side panels to create the illusion of a slimmer silhouette.

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One more thing I love about color blocking: it's a great solution when you want to sew something but don't quite have enough of one fabric. And you don't need a pattern that's specifically designed for color blocking, either. It's pretty easy to modify almost any pattern by slicing the pieces where you want the color break and adding seam allowances wherever you make a cut.

One of the best things about sewing your own clothes is the ability to make something totally unique. If you haven't tried color blocking yet, I really hope you give it a go. It's so much fun!

What color combinations are you thinking about trying? Tell me in the comments!