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Look at these great fat quarters that I got from Grandma's Attic Quilting online. I'm in a monthly program that will send me six fat quarters of these wonderful da Gama tradtitional African Indigos from South Africa. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, yet, but I'm nuts about fabrics dyed with indigo and the traditional designs are quite attractive to me. I love blue and particularly the indigo denim color, I even dress in denim as much as possible.
I've been a member of another of their monthly fabric fat quarter clubs for a couple of years and have been very pleased with the fabrics I've received. I'ts always a big surprise and I've gotten a wide variety of fabrics. As a quilter of only 5 years, I needed to build up my stash and this way I got more variety than I'd probably get if I chose for myself. I'd probably have all red and blue batiks & florals.
I so love fabrics. Now I need to start adding some elegant fabrics for crazy quilts. I've always admired CQs and am just going to have to make at least one. I also love the glam fabrics that I have no use for otherwise. Maybe I could make a CQ vest or jacket to wear with my denims. That's what I like about denim, I can wear it with chambrey and sweat suits or with yummy fabrics.
9 comments:
Beautiful fabrics! I have some Japanese indigos and other fabrics that have a similar look, and I also have no idea how to best use them. Make sure to post a picture if you come up with something!
I would love to send you some of the other types of fabrics. I have boxes of them from sewing clothes and they would be great for crazyquilting. Do you want some?
Fran, if you find a good online site for crazy quilt fabrics, please let me know! I've been thinking of thrift shops for wool, velvet, taffeta, etc.
I've been wanting to sign up for one of the monthly fabric things at Keepsake. I just may do it now!
I will be checking out Grandma's Attic Quilting. Have you tried Sashiko? That was my first thought when I saw your beautiful fabric.
I like the idea of pairing these lovely fabrics with a pair of jeans. And yes, definitely a Crazy Quilt!
Love the indigos...I have several packs of those...3 Cats, and 3 Leopards from S.Africa...I mostly fondle them...but they are great for repro work as they have that vintage look and feel and that's what blue fabrics were dyed with in the "olden" days...Yeah, I have a bout 10 pair of jeans to 1 dressy pair that aren't...=-)
I am looking into buying some of these lovely fabrics to make a quilt. I stumbled across some useful info you may like to read.
Q13. Do I need to wash the Indigo fabrics?
You will need to wash and "set" the color of our authentic DaGama indigo fabrics. To maintain the maximum blue coloration, you will need to wash them with Color Shield or Retayne. For a more faded look you can wash them with regular detergent until you get the desired color, then use Color Shield or Retayne to set the dye color. If you do not use something to set the dye they will continue to bleed. Once you have set the dye, the color will last for years.
http://handquilting.blogspot.com/2008/12/questions-concerning-south-african.html
shows another article about the dyes and setting - good advice anyways ! I am glad I found it as I wouldnt have thought to worry over it.
Not only are the fabrics manufactured by Da Gama beautiful, they also have wonderful social impact. Da Gama is 45% owned by their employees giving them an opportunity to really improve their lives. They are taught skills that enable them to have a sustainable future! Thus by buying the beautiful Shwe Shwe (indigo) fabrics, you're supporting the social upliftment of people who really need it! You can also purchase Shwe Shwe fabrics from Marula Imports. Check us out at www.marulaimports.com!
interesting article. I would love to follow you on twitter.
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