You may well of heard of SPOONFLOWER - an online digital fabric printing company. If not, I would highly recommend a browse, but beware your imagination and wallet may run away with you!
I have a massive love of quirky prints and unusual fabrics and the one thing that is almost imposible to get hold of, with any sort of quality, is space print fabric. (My inner geek needs it). So I resorted to Spoonflower!
This website has an absolutely endless catalogue of fabric prints, designed by Spoonflower, but best of all designed by Spoonflower users themselves. If you are handy with photography or computer design you can draw yourself the print of your dreams and upload it to be printed on fabric. Other users have offered their designs up to the catelogue for the world to choose from.If you design and upload prints users can 'sell' their designs to others, essentially receiving 10% of any sale Spoonflower makes! Designers also receive a discount on any purchases made on the site. The site offers fantastic guidance on upload requirements, colour and repeat patternening and is incredibly user friendly.
How great are these summery prints:
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| Pineapples by TheCumulusFactory |
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| Summer picnic by Andrea_Lauren |
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| Ice cream by Bora |
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| Beside the seaside by Applekaurdesigns |
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| Baby elephants by Scrummy |
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| Japanese cherry blossom by Ninniku |
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| Scotties by Malien00 |
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| Clutter fruits by Berrysprite |
Spoonflower offer a range of different fabrics including:
- Combed cotton
- Kona cotton (premium quilting weight)
- Performance pique - moisture wicking stretch fabric for sportswear
- Cotton poplin
- Silky faille - a light polyester for draping
- Performance knit
- Cotton voile - semi-transparent
- Modern jersey - a super soft stretch jersey for clothing
- Linen-cotton canvas
- Organic cotton-interlock knit
- Organic cotton sateen
- Heavy cotton twill
- Faux suede
- Silk crepe de chine - 100% drapey silk
I have previously used this site for various different printed fabrics, mostly for upholstery which requires spot cleaning only. I have this time chosen a Modern Jersey which I know has the downside of being subject to considerable fading when washed. The fabric was just too beautiful to pass up....created by user 'azizakadryi'.
Here it is in photo format:
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| Rosette Nebula |
I absolutely adore it and has the potential to become my new favourite dress - but I'm scared that it won't last very long because of the fade. I pre-washed it on a silk cycle and will probably hand-wash any garment I make from it to save its lovely colours! I think a lot of users find fading to be an issue however it really is just because of the fabric chosen. The print ink will of course wear on a very stretchy fabric getting lots of abuse as opposed to a tight knit woven fabric such as cotton or sateen.
Not only that but Spoonflower now do wall decals, gift wrap and even wallpaper!
Check out this fantastic idea - Tea towels with handwritten recipes - what a wonderful gift they would make.
The possibilties are endles....
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