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Fabric Colour, Screens and Our Sample ServiceUpdated 2 days ago

Fabric Colour, Screens and Our Sample Service

Screen colours are never a perfect match for real fabric. Here is what to expect, why dye lots matter and how our sample service lets you check a fabric at home before you commit.

Why fabric can look different on screen

Every monitor, phone and tablet displays colour differently - and none of them show fabric exactly as it looks in real life. This is not a flaw in our photography, it is simply how screens work.

🖥️ Screens vary considerably

What looks like a soft sage green on one screen can read as a blue-grey or a yellow-green on another. Brightness, contrast settings and the type of display all affect what you see. Even two people looking at the same page on different devices will see slightly different colours.

We photograph our fabrics in consistent lighting and process images carefully to represent each fabric as accurately as we can. But some variation between screen and real life is unavoidable, and we would rather be upfront about that than have you disappointed when your order arrives.

💡 When colour accuracy really matters

For some projects it does not matter much - a tote bag in an approximate shade of blue is still a tote bag in blue. But if you are working with fabrics you already have at home, coordinating a quilt collection across multiple orders, or buying fabric for something where the exact shade is important, checking in person before ordering the full amount is always worth doing.

Our sample service is there for exactly this reason - see below for how it works.

Dye lots - why you should buy enough in one go

Colour variation does not only happen between your screen and your fabric. It can also happen between two orders of the same fabric.

🎨

What is a dye lot?

When fabric is printed or dyed, each production run is a separate dye lot. Even when the same design is reprinted to the same specification, tiny variations in ink, dye concentration or printing conditions can produce a slightly different result. Side by side the difference may be subtle, but it can be noticeable if fabric from two different runs ends up in the same project.

We cut fabric fresh each time an order is placed, and we cannot guarantee that fabric ordered at a later date will be from the same print run as your original order. If you are buying fabric for a specific project, buy enough in one go. A spare quarter metre is cheap insurance compared to the frustration of a mismatch later.

Our sample service - try it before you commit

If you want to check a fabric before ordering the full amount, our sample service makes it straightforward. Order a single fat quarter of standard width fabric (44 inches), check it at home and return it if it is not right.

  1. 1

    Order a fat quarter of standard width fabric (44 inches)

    Add one fat quarter of any fabric you are considering to your order. It is the same fabric, the same print, the same quality - just one piece so you can see and feel it in person before deciding.

  2. 2

    Compare it at home

    Check the colour against your other fabrics, hold it in the light you will be working in and feel the weight and drape. Take your time - there is no rush.

  3. 3

    Return it if it is not right

    If the fabric is not what you hoped for, send it back unwashed and we will refund it. No awkward questions - it is exactly what the service is there for.

  4. 4

    Order the rest with confidence

    Happy with it? Order the full amount knowing exactly what you are getting. You can keep the sample fat quarter and use it in your project if it works.

Common questions

A few things customers ask us most often about colour and samples.

My fabric looks different from the website photo - is that normal?
Yes - some variation between screen and real life is entirely normal and is not something we can fully eliminate. Screens vary considerably in how they display colour, and no photograph can perfectly represent a real piece of fabric. If the difference seems significant and you feel it is not what was described, please get in touch and we will look into it for you.
Can I order a sample before buying the full amount?
Yes - that is exactly what our sample service is for. Order a single fat quarter of any fabric, check it at home in your own light and against your other fabrics, and return it for a refund if it is not right. See the steps above for full details.
What happens if I need more of the same fabric later?
We will do our best to fulfil your order from the same stock, but we cannot guarantee a perfect dye lot match once a fabric has been restocked or reprinted. For this reason we always recommend buying a little more than you think you need in one order, rather than coming back for more later.
How do I know if a colour will work with fabric I already have?
The most reliable way is to use our sample service - order a fat quarter, bring it home and hold it next to your existing fabrics in the light you will be sewing in. Screen comparisons are never reliable enough for colour-critical projects.

Still not sure? We are happy to help.

If you are trying to match a colour or coordinate fabrics and want some advice, give us a call or drop us a message - we know our stock well and can often point you in the right direction.

📞 01209 216 942 ✉ Message Us
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