Mixing fabrics
05-30-2013, 06:15 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: S. W. Indiana
Posts: 7,484
I mix lots of fabrics all the time- batiks, hand dyes, home spun, flannel, calico, corduroy, denim, silk & wool might all be in one of my quilts- I use what works/fits in at the moment- that I like, that will create the *image* I am creating. I also use a variety of batts, (not different in the same quilt- but might use a different type/fiber content batt in 6 different quilts) I have never been one to limit myself because someone doesn't think it's *normal*
I started sewing way back in the mid 60's---in 4-H; made most of my own clothes and clothes for my siblings through out school- including winter coats- that contained a variety of fibers---wool, nylon, polyester, corduroy, fleece, flannel, my all time favorite was a pin whale corduroy outside- with a wool batting and a fabulously warm soft fleece lining- I've never had one fall apart, or turn out poorly due to a variety of fabrics.
I started sewing way back in the mid 60's---in 4-H; made most of my own clothes and clothes for my siblings through out school- including winter coats- that contained a variety of fibers---wool, nylon, polyester, corduroy, fleece, flannel, my all time favorite was a pin whale corduroy outside- with a wool batting and a fabulously warm soft fleece lining- I've never had one fall apart, or turn out poorly due to a variety of fabrics.
05-30-2013, 09:44 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: East Kootenays, BC
Posts: 947
My experience when putting batiks and yarn dyed cottons together in a pieced quilt created an unstable stretchy nightmare. The batiks don't stretch much, if at all, but the woven yarn dyed cottons did. If I were to attempt it again, I would have used an iron on stabilizer on the non batik fabric to 1) limit the stretch and 2) reduce the fraying. I did not foresee this problem, but I sure was challenged to get the queen sized, strip pieced top together resembling anything close to square once I was already elbow deep into the project. I have posted a picture of the finished quilt...if you want to check it out...my Sunflower Patch. Just a heads up, and my two cents worth. Just an aside though, I loved the different textures I accomplished within the quilt and the colors. ;-).
06-01-2013, 02:57 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Salem, NY
Posts: 203
most of my quilts are scrappy, so with the string and crumb quilts I mix fabrics, I also use the salvages to give it more "interest" when I did a flannel quilt from my fathers flannel shirts, I used a pair of his yard work pants to give it a solid- really came out nice and didn't take away from the flannels. made a wonderful "memory" quilt.
06-01-2013, 04:30 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: South Texas
Posts: 584
In the "olden days", ladies used whatever they had handy at the time, and some of their quilts are in museums for others to enjoy - including those with mixed fabrics. I say, it's your quilt, do what YOU want to do, and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. Chances are, after it's all done, it will turn out better than you thought it would.
06-01-2013, 04:32 AM
#18
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mattapoisett, MA
Posts: 49
Kwiltr........where do i find your pic. I don't know how to get around this site too much but i love reading everybodies ideas on everything and i love love looking at all the pics. I could sit at the computer all morning
going through everything.
going through everything.
06-01-2013, 05:02 AM
#20
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
I'm in the process of mixing right now. I've got cotton, linen and batiks in the same block. I told the "Quilt Police" the other night to get out of my sewing room. Don't you love it, when they say it can't be done, when people have been doing it for decades? BTW, I took the "Quilt Police" badge and through it away.
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