What is a blender (in fabric)?
 

It's a stupid question I know LoL. But I'm learning here. And how do you use them in your quilting?

Thanks!

I'm anxious to find out too. Never heard of a blender unless it means to camouflage a flaw with a similar piece of fabric.

I believe that a blender is the same as a tonal which if you go look at a line called Moda Marble, those are not a sold but a blend of tones in a particular color. These are tonal fabrics I selected to make a moving neighbor a table runner for her new home. Hope that makes sense.

A blender is a tonal fabric, so quieter than the more distinctive, eye catching multi-colored prints you use in your quilts. They give the eye a place to rest, and serve as a connecting element for the busier prints in a design.

What pretty fabric!

Dina

Great question!!

Since maniac quilter showed you a great assortment of fabrics that are blenders now you see the design isn't prominent but blends in with the background to give a all over blended color. It give some depth to the fabric solid colors can't provide.
The way to use them is to use them instead of a solid of that color. You see?

All of the blenders I have bought have also been 108 inches wide for quilt backing. I know they come in all sizes but they make great quilt backs.

Blender is also the term used to describe those fabrics that smoothly bridge from a fabric of one color/print/value/etc to one with a different color/print/value/etc. In those cases, the blender does not have to be an 'into the background' fabric, it just has to transition you from point A to point B without a jolt. It facilitates the blending of other fabrics.

I think of a blender fabric as one that has a subtle print design and the colors that link together the main fabrics that you have chosen for a quilt. They are not solids, but have at least two or more different hues or shades of colors that help 'blend' with and make the transition from one bolder fabric to another. They usually don't 'stand out', but function as a background and lend to the overall look, making a cohesive design. Batiks are often used as blenders because they have several colors which 'blend' smoothly together, and you look for ones that complement the colors in your main focus fabrics. Other blenders are 'tone on tone' or small print fabrics like ManiacQuilter shows that serve the same purpose of transitioning from one focus/bold fabric to another.

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!

They are also referred to as "semi-solids". Just one color, but different shades or tints of it.

That is not a stupid question. I use blenders to transition from one bold fabric to another. It is a fabric that really doesn't call attention to itself, but rather lets the eye go from pattern to pattern. I keep a bin of blenders handy for any project that seems to not be "playing nicely with each other." Jeanne S also mentions using batiks as blenders, super idea as they have the colors you need but don't scream out.

A blender fabric is one that appears solid from a distance, and to me at least, blenders give more dimension than say plain solids. ManiacQuilter2 shows a good variety of blender fabrics. Personally, I like to use blenders instead of solids, as I like how it looks in the finished quilt.

Absolutely wonderful colors and designs, but a stack & wack popped into my head...can you imagine finding the repeat :p

Thanks for the lesson & great examples. I always learn from you guys! And now I see that I have quite a few blenders in my own stash & didn't even know it. Too funny!

I use fat quarter blenders for my hand applique. Good for flowers, leaves, etc. without having a bold print.

Great definitions. In the past few years I have concentrated on blenders in my stash building. They go a long way towards making those "to die for" bold beautiful prints play well together.

Can you use blenders for an entire quilt?

I do it all the time. Its your quilt, so you can do it any way you want to.

Great comments. I cannot seem to get comfortable with solids but I use a wide variety of blenders. There are a few lines of fabrics that come in such a variety of combinations that they fill every gap. "Fusions" and"Fossil Fern" come to mind. I also use a lot of marbles for this blending or bridging purposes.

fossil ferns are my favorite

I'm glad this question was asked. I've never heard of tonal fabric called blenders. I love it when I learn something new from this board. Thanks!

according to my lqs owner the bottom fabric, purple, is a 'blender'. i had never heard of blender fabrics until i was in her shop about ten years ago looking for a tone on tone or something like it that i could use on diaper bag with changing pads for a friend expecting her first (and only :( ) baby. her whole inventory of 'blender' fabrics were like the purple ..marbled looking, mottled ..no micro prints, no tonal print like tone on tone. no images of anything like flowers, stars etc. just look like swirling colors. i don't have one handy or i'd post a pic. i seldom if ever use them. don't know why ..i just don't. they sort of 'read' as solids and i prefer calico style or large florals, or striped prints in my quilts.

I'm the odd one out, I guess. I love building a quilt with solids.

There is never a stupid question and everyone on this QB is willing to help out with your question. A blender fabric is usually a tone on tone (same color in the fabric but just a small difference in coloring) or a very subtle non-design fabric. It usually compliments your colors you are using in your quilt. There is no distinct design in a blender fabric.

Lol here you go

http://kingofwallpapers.com/blender/blender-007.jpg

love it!!!!

What ghostrider said