joe\'smom, ghosterider and Jeanne S gave excellent descriptions of blenders.

Oh, our members are smart, there are great descriptions here! :)
Here is a link with more good blenders......also known as basics, coordinates, tonals, "reads as...", or tone-on-tones. http://www.pbtex.com/bearessentials2/

P & B fabrics are not found everywhere and it's too bad, because they are good quality fabrics. I sold tons of them in my shop in Texas because we had a distribution center there. Mr Bear was a dear man who was beloved and active in the quilt industry until his death a few years ago, he is missed.

Jan in VA

LOL! Jan, I have several yards of every single one of the more than 60 fabrics in the first Bear Essential line and am now working on gathering together the entire second line as well. I love the infinite versatility of Bear Essentials and have made several quilts using them, sometimes exclusively, including a show quilt in the works that combines five gradating Essential yellows with a single Kona solid!

Blenders are, to me, what tones down some other fabrics that may a bit louder. I have completely stopped using solids, and now use just blenders when I want to give my eyes someplace to rest.

Okay, I just heard the word 'blender' here on the Board the other days. I didn't ask what it was, since everyone else seemed to understand what was meant. Thank you, quiltingbuddy, for being brave and asking what I was too chicken to!!

You're promising to show us, right?!!!!

Jan in VA

I just wish you hadn't add the fabric word to the thread title. It would have been fun to see all the answers.
peace

All of the "Blenders" I have purchased have a color that is darker and lighter on the same piece of fabric. http://www.walmart.com/ip/VIP-Fabric...Toast/17190011
The orange on this link is what I was told is a blender fabric color.

good information ... Thanks everyone

And a great answer!