Date: 10/18/09 11:17 AM

I'm currently designing the fabrics for my wedding-dress, and would like advice on whether the scale of the patterns on the fabric needs to match. I have one pattern, a Chinese double-happiness character, that is about an inch and a half square. I have a second pattern, an "eternity knot", that I can weave up in two sizes: one about an inch square, and one about 1/2 inch square.

The trouble is, I like the 1/2 inch square motif better, but I feel it clashes more with the Chinese double-happiness character (which I already know I'm using), because the patterns are not the same scale. I'm preparing to weave up some more samples, but because sampling is time-consuming, I'm looking for suggestions from expert seamstresses/designers on whether the scale of the patterns should match for a more harmonious design.

I have photos of the smaller motif on my blog at http://www.tienchiu.com/2009/10/preliminary-samples/ , and a couple photos of what the coat will look like on my website - see the bottom half, starting from "Photos of the coat".

Opinions? (and yes, I *am* weaving up the fabric myself!)

Reply to tienchiu
Date: 10/18/09 12:55 PM

First of all, you MUST review this dress when you're done - it's going to be WONDERFUL!!!

Personally, I don't think the scales have to match. In fact, you can make a good argument that having them different makes each pattern stand out more - at least that's true in quilting.

Looking at your sample, I think it's the spacing of the motifs that's throwing it off. If you do the small eternity knot in the same spacing as the double happiness character, or maybe twice as dense, I think they'll go together better.