Blenders That Sell: Do This (Not That) With Plaids + Texture

If you sell patterns (or want to), you need to understand one thing:

Hero prints get attention. Blenders get used.

Blenders are the quiet workhorses - plaids, checks, dots, simple geometrics, subtle textures. They make collections usable, and they often become the “large order” print.

What is a blender, really?

A blender is a supporting print that:

• coordinates with your hero print

• gives the eye a place to rest

• helps customers mix + match without overwhelm

DO THIS: pair “busy” watercolor with structure

If your hero is watercolor, layered, organic, or detailed…

Add a blender that is:

• simple

• structured

• easy to coordinate

That’s why plaids and checks work so well.

NOT THAT: Using a flat check with a dimensional hero

A crisp graphic check can look amazing… until you place it next to watercolor and everything feels disconnected.

This is where woven-look texture shines.

The woven-look trick (the one I use constantly)

Instead of a plain check, use a check with:

• twill texture

• linen texture

• subtle weave overlay

It keeps the blender print simple but gives it dimension - so it can sit beside a watercolor hero without looking flat.

watercolor tossed little roses + gingham check twill

Quick rules for weave texture (save yourself the headache)

DO THIS

• Keep texture scale consistent across the collection.

• Aim for “reads as fabric” at real scale.

• Use weave concepts to blend two colors intentionally.

NOT THAT

• Scaling weaves so big they become a competing pattern.

• Making the weave texture so tiny it vanishes when printed.

• Combining colors that mud together, unless you want that effect.

Want my exact method?

I have a tutorial that walks through creating a plaid with woven texture (and it comes with a PDF of tips).

Find the tutorial here: Create a Plaid Tutorial

And if you want to see how these blenders work in real collections, you can browse my fabric + wallpaper here:
Spoonflower shop: InkandSun