Bark Fabric
#2
do you mean fabric with a print that looks like bard or barkcloth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkcloth
Do you have a picture?
Do you have a picture?
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5
I took it to a friend of mine who owns a patchwork shop. She showed me some fabric which was commissioned by a lady here in Australia. She told me it is no longer made. They used it to cover chairs, curtains etc.... i remember my Grandma having chairs in this when I was a child.
I seem to have some trouble with getting a photo here so I can only get it to upload via a pdf..... sorry. If it does not work let me know and i will get my son to look at it for me and see if we can get the picture up.
Le-Ann
I seem to have some trouble with getting a photo here so I can only get it to upload via a pdf..... sorry. If it does not work let me know and i will get my son to look at it for me and see if we can get the picture up.
Le-Ann
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: The Deep South near Cajun Country, USA
Posts: 5,435
That fabric patterning looks like Toile fabric which has been used frequently for chair coverings and curtains in earlier times. Now, if it is 100% cotton and lightweight, people use it like any quilt fabric. Is your Bark fabric more sturdy than quilting cotton? Then it may have been upholstery fabric. Here are some images from a Bing search. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...cw=1117&ch=623
#7
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Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5
That fabric patterning looks like Toile fabric which has been used frequently for chair coverings and curtains in earlier times. Now, if it is 100% cotton and lightweight, people use it like any quilt fabric. Is your Bark fabric more sturdy than quilting cotton? Then it may have been upholstery fabric. Here are some images from a Bing search. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...cw=1117&ch=623
It is rough, but I would not say that it is a heavy weight fabric, I have worked with some cottons that would be heavier than it. Quite grainy in texture however. I would probably not have used it to cover chairs as my Gran did, I do not think that it is robust enough for that.... but it would have done for curtaining. I will look at the link. Thanks
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,012
I've worked with bark cloth. I don't know if it's the same thing that you are referring to though. I used to live in Hawaii, where it was very popular in the 40s and had a resurgence in the late 60s, early 70s. It is usually 100% cotton, medium, to slightly, heavy weight, and frequently has tropical floral prints s/a heliconia, pineapples, hydrangia, ferns, etc. It works great for pillows and light upholstery. It looks fabulous with bamboo outdoor furniture. I've never tried it for quilting. It might be too heavy for that purpose.
~ C
~ C
#9
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5
I've worked with bark cloth. I don't know if it's the same thing that you are referring to though. I used to live in Hawaii, where it was very popular in the 40s and had a resurgence in the late 60s, early 70s. It is usually 100% cotton, medium, to slightly, heavy weight, and frequently has tropical floral prints s/a heliconia, pineapples, hydrangia, ferns, etc. It works great for pillows and light upholstery. It looks fabulous with bamboo outdoor furniture. I've never tried it for quilting. It might be too heavy for that purpose.
~ C
~ C
Le-Ann
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,183
I agree with the others that barkcloth was usually used for decor.
I think that print would be a challenge to work with... but maybe fussy cutting snowballs and bordering with prints, something like an Around the Twist/Garden Twist would work.
There is a specific type of cloth often used in muumuus, never did learn the name of it, with a bit of texture. I've collected quite a bit of that and will make a large modern style log cabin variation. It's not barkcloth, it's lighter and super slippery and will be a challenge to work with even with an easy straight seam.
I think that print would be a challenge to work with... but maybe fussy cutting snowballs and bordering with prints, something like an Around the Twist/Garden Twist would work.
There is a specific type of cloth often used in muumuus, never did learn the name of it, with a bit of texture. I've collected quite a bit of that and will make a large modern style log cabin variation. It's not barkcloth, it's lighter and super slippery and will be a challenge to work with even with an easy straight seam.