Friday, June 19, 2020

The Fabric Made Me Do It

I keep my folded stash fabric in an open fronted bookcase sorted by color.  Every once in a while, there seems to be a fabric that physically throws itself at me wanting attention.  Once I retrieve the fabric half a dozen times from the floor, I finally give up and make something with it.




This (unloved) lupine fabric was the print screaming for attention.  I don't ever remember buying it but I know I did use it as a backing for a quilt ages ago.  I had some big chunks of fabrics all folded together that looked like they were the trimmings from a back.



I decided to keep it easy and just cut those long narrow strips into 2.5" strips.  Then I decided to use my "Life is a Highway" pattern to make a baby sized quilt.  



I already had a bunch of navy 2.5" squares so all I had to do was pull some stash/scrap pieces that coordinated.  I wanted to keep the color placement a mirror image across the top.



I also used the lupine print as the binding and across the center of the backing.



Here is a full photo...the dark blue fabric was also some leftover backing bits that I used on both the front and the back.


This quilt took no time at all to make and cleaned out a few pieces in my stash that I am tired of looking at......and picking up off the floor!

Do others of you have possessed fabric?

Happy Friday!




19 comments:

Tracy said...

My fabric tries to attack in groups. Usually the scraps from a completed project, carefully stored together in a box, falls on the floor in front of me. It says "look how nicely we go together and there just might be enough to make a quilt with". Then I am forced to find a little more coordinating fabric, or buy some, and a quilt gets made. It's a never ending cycle that I am strangely thankful for.

Tami Von Zalez said...

Maybe not so much possessed but patient. I had a vintage print that none of my stash played well with it. Finally, I got bag of remnants from thrift and it all went together - now I have my quilt top done, on to the sandwich.

Libby in TN said...

Same thing here! I'll glance at the shelves looking for something in particular and another fabric captures my attention. Then I'm on a search for complementary fabrics and, well, you obviously know how that goes. Great use of strips, BTW.

Linda Swanekamp said...

You did a fine job with some fabric that was overlooked. It looks like it was planned all along. Great job!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

My version of your Life is a Highway pattern is still one of my favorite quilts! It was a great choice for those pretty colors you wanted to use up. I do have pieces of fabric that get stuck in my head and I can't get them out until I pull the fabric off the shelf and at least play with it a little bit!

Cheryll said...

That's a great use of fabric...especially one that was being a nuisance...
Perhaps it wanted an adventure & is now off to a new home... xox

Chantal said...

Yes, I can relate. The conversation usually goes something like: no, not you, not for this quilt, sorry! But it keeps its hand raised. lol.
I don't understand why this lupine fabric was unloved though. It's so pretty! You did an excellent job at find a job for it. Love this new baby quilt. ;^)

piecefulwendy said...

I can relate too, but I'm sitting here grinning as I imagine your fabric, as you walk by, shouting - Oh, Oh, Pick Me! Pick Me! - haha! Anyway, I like the quilt; what a fun project!

Lynn said...

What a lovely baby quilt and a great way to make it. Just as well fabrics don't all sing at the same time, or we'd hear choirs or orchestras every time we went near the sewing room.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Super cute quilt and a great use of that "bothersome" fabric!!

sewyouquilt2 said...

My fabric doesnt jump at me but....and I hate to admit.....I hear voices lol

Ellie said...

I think we all have fabric that jumps at us or call our name ! But that how the stash turns over! Lovely finish and a good way to quickly move on to another project.

Jayne said...

It's true that our fabric has supernatural powers! Buy me, use me, cut me...just a few 'voices' I've heard over the years!

Louise said...

What a fun little quilt! I really like how the navy squares break up the long strips. It does look like the highway lines zooming by :)

And yes, fabric often pokes at me until I use it. It's often the unloved stuff, so I'm happy to get it used up. And it is always amazing how much better certain fabrics look in a quilt than folded up in the stash!

MissPat said...


The realization that I have more fabric stash than I'm ever going to use overwhelms me at times. When I paw through the stash looking for the perfect match, I hear voices saying "Why did you buy me if you're not going to use me?" And it seems like many of us are hearing voices from fabric, which may just be a sign that we've bee stuck at home way too long.
Pat

Pamela Arbour said...

You did a great job with that fabric. I am sure you are glad that you finally listened to it!

Barb N said...

Use me! Use me! I have actually made two quilts based solely on backing fabric that I had in my stash. It's a good way to use up that possessed fabric! Your baby quilt turned out lovely!

Mystic Quilter said...

Definitely have fabrics which leap out at me, they're usually large prints and I hesitate to cut into them so back they go on the shelf!
I think Kaffe prints would make a version of your quilt here, his fabrics always look good in strips - yes, I think there may be one creeping into a project drawer! So pleased you shared this one with us.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

What a fun way to use that fabric!

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