Guest Blog: Fat Quarters

Today I went to Pacific Fabrics Outlet in the Sodo area of Seattle (this is just the other side of the West Seattle bridge). I thought that I might have access to a wider variety of fabrics and patterns than one might find in the LC Valley. I talked to Mom yesterday and she mentioned that she is in search of reproduction vintage prints from the '30s and '40s. To prepare for my trip to the store, I viewed a reproduction fabrics website so that I would have a good idea of what I was seeking (http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/). Aren't those old designs neat? I also enjoy vintage prints, so this trip was extra fun!

I've taken a photo of my selection of 13 fat quarters. It was easy to find floral prints that looked vintage. Mom wanted some prints with critters (dragon flies, frogs, turtles), but I was unsuccessful at finding prints that met that objective and and also fit with the vintage theme. I found some frogs but they were on flannel and I just wasn't wild about them so I passed.

I'm not sure which fat quarters are my favorites. I like the pick-up-sticks (bottom left) because they are so different from the floral patterns and I wanted variety. I was happy to find birds (bottom right) and at the top left, a sketch pattern that is probably more in the 50's - 60's era because it depicts a lady wearing pants, heels, and a scarf around her neck. Still, I thought it was a neat design even if you were to cut out the sketch flowers and exclude the lady. When it comes right down to it, I am fond of each selection for a different reason. They might not all work for Mom's projects, but I wanted to contribute to her inventory of fabrics. I think just having a variety of fabrics in your inventory helps stimulate ideas.