A large print turns a plain curtain, a headboard or a simple dress into the first thing people notice. The trick is seeing how big the print really is before you order.
Here is how to check print size on any design page, which projects suit a big print, and how much extra fabric to buy.
What counts as large scale
Measure the motif itself, the flower, bird or shape, against the ruler on the design page. The tile is something different: it is the block the pattern repeats from. Every designer draws differently, so one tile can hold a single big flower or a scatter of small ones.
See the real size on the design page
Every design page shows the print on fabric, with a centimetre ruler along the top and side. Three things help you judge the size:
Try it here. This is Painterly Hydrangea Floral by Wildfig designs, drawn to the same measurements as its design page. Switch to Swatch, then change the scale.
Fabric width: 140cm Tile: 20.32 × 20.32cm Repeats: 7 × 5Swatch: 25 × 25cm Tile: 20.32 × 20.32cm Repeats: 2 × 2Fabric width: 140cm Tile: 33.87 × 33.87cm Repeats: 5 × 3Swatch: 25 × 25cm Tile: 33.87 × 33.87cm Repeats: 1 × 1Fabric width: 140cm Tile: 50.8 × 50.8cm Repeats: 3 × 2Swatch: 25 × 25cm Tile: 50.8 × 50.8cm Repeats: 1 × 1Fabric width: 140cm Tile: 67.74 × 67.74cm Repeats: 3 × 2Swatch: 25 × 25cm Tile: 67.74 × 67.74cm Repeats: 1 × 1
At 100% the hydrangea tile is 33.87cm, so the pattern repeats about four times across the width. At 200% the tile is 67.74cm and every bloom is twice the size.
Where a big print works best
Large prints shine on simple shapes
The bigger the print, the fewer seams you want through it. Curtains, cushions, headboards and simple dresses let the whole design show.
For children's clothes, set the scale to 60% to 80% so the print suits the smaller pieces.
How much extra to buy
You only need the extra when the print has to line up or sit in the same place on every piece. Small, scattered prints rarely need it. Not sure? Order a 25 × 25cm swatch first and hold it up where the fabric will go.
Large scale prints from our studios
RhododendronsJackie Tahara of UnBlink Studio
Tropical ReverieMaria Montiel Studio
Peony FloralSarah Thorpe Designs
Terns at SeaCatherine Marion Art
Painted Tropical FloralRachel Parker
Chinoiserie Trailing FloralWildfig designs
Botanical Block Print StripesNordic Duck
Hand Painted Abstract FansSandra Hutter
Have a big painting or illustration of your own? Upload it on the Custom Upload page and use the same ruler and scale before you order.
Prints that suit a big repeat
Large scale print questions
What is a large scale fabric print?
A print with big motifs, flowers or shapes of roughly 15cm or more, so it still reads clearly from across a room. Smaller motifs start to read as texture at a distance.
How do I know how big a print will be?
On the design page, measure the motifs against the centimetre ruler on the picture. Choose Swatch under Fabric size to see a 25 × 25cm close-up at true size, with its own ruler.
Can I make a print bigger or smaller?
Yes. Set the scale of any design from 60% to 200% on its page. The tile size updates as you move the slider, and the label below it shows how sharp the artwork will print at that size.
How much extra fabric do I need for a large print?
For clothes, bags and quilts, none. For curtains, add 0.5m for each panel. For cushions, chair seats and headboards, add 0.5m if you want the print centred on every piece. Small, scattered prints rarely need extra.
Do large prints work for dresses?
Yes, on simple shapes with few seams, such as a wrap dress, a shift or a gathered skirt. Cotton Lawn and Signature Viscose drape well enough to carry a big print without looking stiff.
Will a swatch show me the whole print?
A 25 × 25cm swatch shows the colour, the base and the feel, but only part of a large print. Swatch view on the design page shows you exactly which part, at true size.