Has anyone ever made a quilt using the African fabrics? They are the original African fabrics the kind that are heavier than our cotton fabrics and a bit stiffer. I have several small pillow sized panels I received as a gift and don't know how they would work up into a throw or small quilt. Any suggestions will be gladly received.

If they are too stiff for a quilt, they would be pretty in a wall hanging :D:D:D

My 16 year old daughter went to Africa in July, and brought me back 4 yards of fabric to make her a quilt. (I went to Joanne's and bought coordinating solids). I have pre washed them because I don't know how they will shrink or if they will run, but I haven't found a pattern I want to make with them, yet. The colors are so bold!

I will be waiting to hear if anyone has experience with this fabric, also.

Thanks!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-134078-1.htm

I went to Africa last year and bought close to 50 yds of many different bright fabrics. This quilt that was posted is the best use of African fabrics I have seen and I need to get some coordinating solids so I can make one like this.

Here are some pics I took in Malawi last year of things made by the women there with their beautiful colorful fabrics- as inspiration for what I could do with all the fabric I got.
The first two photos are tote bags, the third is a wall hanging.

The fabric is so unique in itself. If you could bear to cut it, a French Braid could be interesting.

I may be way out in left field...but....I wonder how it would work up in a Bargello Colour Wheel by Cheryl Phillips. There's a pdf on her web site for a one fabric pattern.

http://phillipsfiberart.danemcoweb.c...o-color-wheel/

These are really beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

I always wash Afrian Fabric. They are manufactured in many countries and the method i different. Some have a lot of sizing in them and needs to be washed out before using.
many years ago I pent 2 years in West Africa. Fabricd printed in Europe ere prefered by the native people because they were color fast. those printed in the orient were not. I kno method of printing have changed in later years.
The people would taste the fabric and if salty they would know it as color fast. I have made small quilts using the Afrian prints and enjoy the process because the fabri makes the quilt no matter the deign and the simpler the better.
I always make some that are crib size because all babies that get our quilts are not blue eyed and blond haired.

I have but besure to use retayne.

My second son also took yardage home from Malawi. He worked with the orphanages and feeding centers there. One of the pieces he brought home is a batik panel with elephants.

What lovely Aftican quilts, V! Thanks for sharing.

They are beautiful. The fabrics I have are the ones that one might make pillows out of, because they are actually panels that would be cut apart. I thank all of you for your input. I will definitely wash them first, and then maybe they will be softer and nice for a throw for the back of the couch or as one of you suggested, a wall hanging. I could put sashing around them too. The fabric is just so different than ours, and I wasn't sure how to work with it.

Love at first sight! Do I have to go to Africa or is there a source in the states?

The fabrics I got are not soft like those. They are more coarsly finished fabrics. I will have to wash one up and see what happens to it. I would love to make a nice throw for the couch.
Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures.

I brought fabric from Ghana 2001 still have some pieces that I have not cut & will not cut until I find that special pattern.The pieces that I did cut I made me a Tote bag. I did wash mine with white vinegar so the color would not bleed,also some of the stiffness was removed.

My dil brought back fabric from South Africa -it's definitely heavier than what I'm used to - still deciding on a pattern to use. On piece will be a whole cloth quilt and will probably be a wall hanging for them.

I haven't made one I but viewed one at a quilt show. It was awesome. Good luck with yours. Looking forward to seeing it posted when finished.

Thanks for sharing these pictures. One of my sons went to Malawi and worked at the feeding centers and orphanages there. He also brought home fabrics. I really like the dresden plate. I had never seen any made with African prints. For the panel he brought home, I planned a braid pattern set in Kona black around the panel.