| My mother came of age during the Great Depression, | | | | online!From vintage to the newest designs, a variety of |
| and | | | | patterns, |
| learned to quilt of necessity, using scraps of fabric | | | | colors, and textures, can be easily discovered online. |
| from | | | | For |
| home sewn clothing. They weren't always crazy | | | | you vintage lovers, this can be the only avenue for |
| quilts; most | | | | finding |
| of them had some pattern and design, but the | | | | amazing, high-quality vintage fabric.In addition, patterns |
| fine-tuned | | | | and ready-made projects with the |
| color schemes that are possible with today's range of | | | | fabric already cut can be found in many online stores. |
| available fabrics weren't happening for her back | | | | Handmade clothing can be a great way to save |
| then.When she married a prosperous farmer, and had | | | | money and |
| her own | | | | create your own originals. Handmade clothes can |
| family, she continued to enjoy quilting, but now she | | | | serve as |
| also | | | | beautiful gifts year round; they make people feel |
| had better fabric options, and could make even more | | | | special |
| beautiful quilts.There was one fabric store in particular | | | | and beautiful due to the unique patterns and |
| that she found in | | | | styles.Arts and crafts type gifts are becoming more |
| a town more than an hour's drive away - and this | | | | and more |
| was back | | | | popular. Major stores can charge up to twenty dollars |
| in the days when people thought twice before driving | | | | for a |
| that | | | | tiny decoration that you know you could make for |
| far. But going to this quirky fabric store was well | | | | much less. |
| worth | | | | Online stores often have fabric cut for patterns to |
| the trip.I have vivid memories of going to visit The | | | | make |
| Featherman's | | | | these little holiday gifts that you can order for |
| store. I don't know why we called him by that name, | | | | reasonable prices, or if you would prefer to make |
| because | | | | your own |
| his was purely a fabric store, with every kind available | | | | just order the fabric and create your own specialty |
| in | | | | patterns.Several wonderful on-line quilt shops have |
| the world it seemed to me as a child. The really good | | | | also appeared |
| stuff | | | | on the scene to meet all our quilting needs.Whatever |
| was in the main room showcased on rolls, not bolts. In | | | | fabric you're seeking, whether for clothes, |
| another part of his labyrinthine shop were tables and | | | | gifts, or quilts, take advantage of our |
| tables of remnants - velvet, brocade, silk, chiffon, | | | | technology-driven |
| heavyweight cotton and corduroy - he had it all.This | | | | world to find amazing fabric at reasonable prices |
| shop was filled with unique fabrics, and it often | | | | online. |
| comes to mind as I wander the aisle of another of the | | | | It can save you a lot of leg-work, but there is one |
| fabric super-stores wondering where has all the | | | | downside. You can't touch the fabric and feel its |
| quality and | | | | weight |
| variety gone?Fabulous fabric treasures can be hard | | | | and texture, see how it drapes, and all of those little |
| to find. Whether | | | | rituals around fabric selection.However, the sites with |
| you're making clothes or gifts or quilts, the perfect | | | | well-written descriptions and good |
| fabric isn't always available in your local fabric store. | | | | pictures make the trade-off worth it in allowing you |
| As the years have passed, it seems that quality | | | | access |
| fabric in | | | | to an unlimited range of choices. Head to your favorite |
| unique and beautiful colors and patterns is becoming | | | | search engine, type in "fabric," and you'll find you |
| harder | | | | literally have millions of possibilities.Janet Montie, quilter |
| and harder to find. However, we now have options to | | | | and author, contributes to First Class Fabric, |
| find | | | | offering free information and resources for crafts, |
| the fabric we need at prices we can afford. Expand | | | | quilting, and sewing. Articles by Dana can also be |
| your | | | | viewed at Quilt Box and |
| horizons to the new world of selecting fabric | | | | FYI Craft. |