Liberty Tana Lawn has a presence all of its own. 

Beautiful florals and fabulous designs with layered colour, all infused with Liberty's timeless heritage.

Really they don’t need much encouragement to shine — but they do need space.

You might feel differently, but for me, a little breathing space between patterns makes everything sing. I'm drawn to a calmer balance rather than lots of competing pattern - it's what feels right to me.

What do I mean by giving Liberty space?

It’s not at all about toning things down, dulling the palette or limiting the number of fabrics you use.. It’s about balance. 

About creating some breathing room so your eye can rest, wander, and then return to those gorgeous Liberty prints with fresh appreciation.

Why Space Matters in a Quilt

In a quilt led by Liberty fabrics - every fabric is eager to be seen. Without somewhere calm to pause, the overall effect can feel overwhelming - even when every individual print is beautiful - even the most distinctive hero print can get lost.

That’s where what I call supporting or companion fabrics come into their own.

They act like punctuation in a sentence: a moment to stop and pause, letting the focus be on the feature you choose.

They allow your Liberties fabrics to sing not compete.

Capel Wheels and Clifton Ties Quilts

Linen Has Often Been My Go-To…

If you’ve stitched with me for a while, you’ll know linen has long been my favourite companion for Tana Lawn.

Bringing Linen into your quilt not only gives you additional texture, but also a fabulous contrast and lets face it - a beautiful drape.

Quite simply Linen gives Liberty room to breathe and adds that relaxed, timeless feel I love so much.

Linen Sisters Quilt

Linen can feel a little different to work with, especially if you’re just starting out.

I wrote a blog post about it - where I shared my top tips on sewing with Linen and Liberty. 

Linen and Liberty - What's not to like..

With that in mind, let me share with you some other beautiful alternatives that are perfect for giving you some space in your Quilts.

Sevenberry Cotton Fabrics from Japan

Subtle, yet beautiful - Sevenberry spots, woven stripes and checks offer the same visual resting spot as linen.

• Spots add a softness to the contrast

• Woven stripes and checks introduce structure and direction - with a similar texture as linen but a little more contrast and interest.

It's just about finding the right scale for your project - subtle or not, they will let your Liberties shine. 

Wovens

Whether it be stripes, checks or a simple weave, wovens bring a tactile element to your quilts and are a beautiful companion fabric for Tana Lawn.

We have a range of Tilda woven  stripes and plaids in store that are fabulous, in addition to a selection of woven micro checks from Japan. They bring both pattern and texture contrast.

Low Volume Fabrics

No blog post about companion fabrics would be complete without mentioning low volume fabrics.

They are the quiet achievers - sitting gently in the background and to be honest the most simplest way of adding negative space or that little bit of calm you're looking for.

They add depth without noise, allowing you to combine a variety of low volumes together with Liberties without overwhelming your quilt.

I will say though - the most difficult part is getting the tone right.

Start off with deciding whether you prefer a cool or a warmer palette. You can mix and match, but it's a personal choice - you decide what works for you.

Stitching with Intention

If you’re still exploring what works for you, take a moment and experiment.

Mix your Tana Lawn with companion fabrics.   

Think of these quieter fabrics as negative space in a painting — they don’t disappear, but they make everything around them stronger. 

Take a moment to decide where you want the focus to be and where you'd like that moment of calm. 

Remember, Liberty doesn’t need to be everywhere to be powerful. Sometimes, the most beautiful thing you can do is give it space.