Mira Blue

Mira Blue belongs to Sanctuary, the soft, muted autumn/winter Tilda collection built around the idea of a quiet retreat. The print is a small flowering sprig repeated in tidy rows, pale blue on a deep dusty blue ground. The manufacturer lists it among the blenders: at a distance the tiny motif reads almost like a solid, so it gives the larger prints room to breathe.

It works well for the small pieces of a quilt, for sashing and borders, for the back of a cushion, doll clothes, pouches and bags. The motif has no strong direction, so it cuts happily either way. Pre-wash the fabric before cutting, so the slight shrinkage happens before you sew; for long strips, choose one of the larger cuts.