Thinking About Fabric

I've been thinking about fabric.  Surprised?

When I first began quilting, I would go to the fabric store with a quilt in mind and look for fabric to make that quilt.  I loved pulling the bolts down and putting them together and trying this green or that green, this floral or the other floral, to see which combination I liked best.

Lately I've seen a lot of quilts that were made from a single line of fabric.  Heck, I've made a few quilts recently that were from a single line of fabric.  The Fat Quarter Shop mystery quilts come to mind as an example.  Also my Bill's Baskets.  All were made from a line of fabric designed to go together.  These quilts are pretty in a perfect, almost sterile kind of a way.  The indigo and caramel baskets quilt that I finished last month ago was from all kinds of indigo and caramel fabrics, from many different designers and manufacturers.  And somehow, to me, it is more interesting because of that.

And that's what I've been thinking.  About fabric.


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Comments

antique quilter said…
I agree variety makes the best scrappy quilts!!
oh when don't you think about fabric????
LOL
kathie
Thursday, August 05, 2010 7:10:00 AM
Juliann said…
I love scrappy but I have had fun making a few quilts from charm packs or stacks of fat quarters. I think the process is different between the two and each provides me with a different experience. I have been thinking about fabric lately too - I think I need to get myself to a quilt shop this weekend:)
Thursday, August 05, 2010 9:48:00 AM
howdidIgethere said…
IMO it applies to people too. Doncha sometimes just get tired of hanging with people of the same age, general income level, sexual orientation, even race? I know YOU have a diverse group of friends but some of us are not so fortunate. Reminds me, I have to check if daughters' fairy godfathers are going to be able to make dinner on Saturday night.

WV: aftersh (origin: California). An exclamation heard just after the earthqu
Thursday, August 05, 2010 10:52:00 AM
Paula, the quilter said…
I have used a charm pack or two and also jelly rolls. I feel a bit stifled when I use all of one line like this, plus I sometimes think that the values are mainly mid-tones and there is no excitement generated by contrast.
Thursday, August 05, 2010 1:37:00 PM
Micki said…
I have made scrappy quilts with more variety, and they always turned out so much better.
Micki
Thursday, August 05, 2010 4:17:00 PM
Pat said…
I am currently doing a lot with charm packs, but there is a limitation -- can't always get the result I want with the fabrics in that pack, so I end up adding from my stash. I also used to enjoy the process of pulling bolts and creating my own personal mix, but to do that you need a good fabric store close by. Tough to find that any more. The less personal time I have, the more I seem to rely of the ease and convenience of using a "whole line". Yep, it's lazy. I'll admit it.

Oh Nancy, I think you were born with fabric synapes built into your brain!
Thursday, August 05, 2010 5:05:00 PM
quiltmom anna said…
I love looking at fabric, touching fabric and even making quilts with fabrics LOL...
I rarely use a kit or a line of fabric - one of my favorite parts of quilting is choosing the fabric combinations. These days I am trying to make my quilts from my stash- there is lots of choice there and I want to use it.
Hope you are enjoying playing with fabric today...
Regards,

Anna
Thursday, August 05, 2010 5:27:00 PM
Quiltdivajulie said…
That's why I don't "do" jelly rolls or kits or bundles or layer cakes . . . I love scrappy!!
Thursday, August 05, 2010 5:46:00 PM
Gari in AL said…
Oh, I agree. I love searching for fabric, whether at the store or in my stash. I spent a couple of hours today setting up the fabrics for two new quilts: what fun.
Saturday, August 07, 2010 9:21:00 PM
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