I’ve picked up a few patterned cotton fabrics over the last few months at my local discount fabric store. (Everything in the store is $3 per yard. Crazy!) I enjoy all of them and want to document their new status here. Hopefully, I can link back to this post when I eventually make garments out of them… This is encouragement to not let them languish in the stash for too long!
First, there is this light blue-ish grey cotton print. The mixture of colors and style of the printing reminds me of fabrics from the 1830s and 1840s. In fact, I used this very fabric to make an 1830s dress for a friend (you saw it in my posts last fall about apple picking). After seeing how wonderfully that dress turned out I decided I needed one of my own. And so… my stash has gained 7 yards of this.
I justify it by the price and the fact that I have very specific plans already. In the spirit of trying out different 1830s sleeve shapes, I want to make a dress from 1836 that has sleeves that are fitted around the upper arms but full around the elbow and down to the wrists.
Second, there is this purple mosaic looking fabric that has an Art Deco vibe. This one doesn’t have a specific plan, but I couldn’t pass up the colors, so I got 1 yard.
The mosaic Art Deco fabric came in four colorways: the purple above, as well as pink, orange, and… lime green! The lime green reminds me of palm fronds and Egyptomania styles.
On its own it’s a bit bright, but I also came across a teal fabric with gold metallic squares on it that I liked but couldn’t think of a use for… until I put it next to the lime green fabric. It helps bring out the blues in the pattern which tones down the lime green a bit. I’m thinking of a short sleeved 1920s summer dress like this using the teal as trim on the lime green.
I’m hoping to get around to the 1830s dress sooner rather than later, but the 1920s dress is lower on the priority list. Unless (maybe) this year brings the ability to reconvene and have 1920s summer events… and then maybe this dress will shoot up the to do list ladder! Ahhh, dreaming!
Hi Quin, lovely post. I live near Salem. Can you please share the store?
Thank you
Frankie
Hi Frankie,
Thanks for reading, enjoying, and commenting. This particular store is the Auburn Fabric Outlet–it’s probably a little over an hour drive from Salem with no traffic. If you make the trip it might also be worth stopping at Sewfisticated Fabrics in Framingham–they also have nice low prices (usually in the $4-$5 range for basic fabrics and up to $10/yd for fancier things).
Best,
Quinn
You may want to check out the 1920s patterns that Sew Last Century just put up on her blog yesterday.
Thanks for the idea, Anna.
Great buys! I especially love the one destined to be an 1830’s dress!
Thank you, Susan! The 1830s one is so unusual and interesting! I’m excited about it, too! 🙂
The fabric is so pretty! Can’t wait to see progress on the 1830s dress. I might want to start one from the same time period, to celebrate the canal in Indiana, which I’m writing a book about.
Thanks! Oh, that would be a fun way to celebrate–both the canal and the book!
Those are lovely! It’s sometimes so difficult to find nice cotton prints, I’m looking forward to seeing your makes.
Yes, I agree! I find it’s especially hard if I’m looking for them, which is why I have to snap them up when I find them and am not looking for them. 😉 Thanks!