It has become apparent to me, through my Polyvore mood boards, how much I enjoy mixing patterns.

Okay, this isn’t a big surprise. I’m always attracted to patterned fabrics when shopping. I have to remind myself to buy solid colours so that I have some background pieces.

And oh boy, did I ever buy pattern fabrics at the Knitting and Stitching show!

I think I’m going to start including stripes and spots as “plains” in my wardrobe. The striped dress in the mood board makes this outfit more exciting for me, but still works well as a background to play other patterns off.

 Do you have a neutral colour that you base your wardrobe around? I can see how this is such a sensible idea; It would help when selecting shoes, tights, undershirts, everything really.

But I can’t do it. I love greys but I also love the warmth of browns. Especially in the Autumn.

I don’t really do black as a solid in my wardrobe (scarred by the 80’s again) but I can’t resist the punch of a bright pattern on a black background; folk art style.

Ususally I can find some black in my wardrobe to mix-in. Red almost always works too.

I can’t do white or even cream as neutral colours. I’m just too messy and it would make me feel self conscious. So when I need a light neutral, I turn to greige or natural/oatmeal. This is getting more appealing as I get older.

So maybe my personal neutral colours are seasonal: Greys in the winter and spring, overlapping with greige in the spring and summer, moving into brown in the autumn. I can live with that.

I’d love to know what other sewers think about this. Do you have a neutral colour or play around?