Downton Abbey Fabric line
 

Anybody hooked on the new Downton Abbey Fabrics? I find that I like but don't *love* them. Maybe I need to see how the different pieces work up into some quilts before I jump on board.

http://www.lovebugstudios.com/wp-con...moodboards.jpg

Im with you, I like them, but I don't get that feeling like I better rush right out and buy some before it's gone, you know what I mean? And yes some fabrics have made me feel that way, like Oh my gosh I have to have some of that!! LOL Are'nt we silly!!

I had heard they were dark colors but these don't look too bad. I just haven't felt the need to buy fabric for a while -- unless it is at least 50% off!

I wasn't drawn to the colors in the fabrics. I 'like' them and was looking forward to them, but won't be purchasing them. I believe they are very 'period' specific with the colors and patterns though.
JMHO

Looked them all over yesterday and it just 'didn't do it' for me.

Initially these fabrics didn't do anything for me ~ from a quilting perspective.

Then, I realized that while many quilters are DA fans, the show was not made for quilters. Instead, these fabrics (which they advertise are by Ralph Lauren) are designed for the home dec and fashion. If I keep that in mind, then I can really see the beauty. Mostly what I plan with these is larger items, such as pillows and a few seat cushions. I would like to try some kind of 'tapestry' looking quilt that uses bigger chunks of the fabric, but haven't found the 'it' design just yet. I'm hoping to eventually have at least a yard of each of these to work with ...

Love Downtown Abby, not too excited about the fabric. Good idea, but not for quilting. Just my opinion.

MeLuvQuilts -- they are in quilters' cotton though, and marketed with fat quarter collections, so apparently the quilt market is at least part of their target demographic. If I had unlimited time and resources, I think it would be fun to play around with designing patterns that really suit the prints and say something about the show's characters. However, I realistically don't have the time or the energy, and I'd probably rather spend my $ on other fabrics (because, yes, I too sometimes just *have* to buy a new line the very minute I see it, ahem, KateSpainandTulaPink.)

If I had the dollars right now I would snap them up and I haven't even watched downton Abby. I want to though. It's in my wish list. I would pass this up though for tula pinks line called birds and bees I believe. It has squirrels in it and it's a gotta have it go broke for it line for me. These fabrics would be second in my go broke for line up.

Downton Abbey
 

If you go to the Andover web site, there are a variety of patterns that you can get for free. The patterns go along with the fabric line. The blocks can be done with various "lines" of the Downton Abbey fabric.

Fabric emphasis colors that I've seen in the fabrics are black, grey, cream, burgundy, floral.
I've seen some of the blocks and they are quite nice. But it's individual taste.

I love the program but the fabrics are not my taste. I look forward to seeing some quilts made up with them. Perhaps that will change my mind.

I think with the right quilt design these would make gorgeous heirloom looking quilts. I can see them used as D4P or as beautiful Dresden plate quilts....yummy!!

I like them a lot. I've never heard of Downtown Abbey....hangs head in shame for her oblivion...

but the fabric you referenced is beautiful to me.

My DD #1's name is Abby, so when we went to Scotland back a few years ago, we had to get her standing under anything with the name "Abbey" in it. :)

I've watched the series several times, and don't really see any real uses of those fabric in the series like I had hoped. Yes, perhaps they are indicative of the era, but just naming them after Downton Abbey characters just seems like a marketing move to me. Not that they aren't pretty, but unless you can put Mary or Edith in one of those fabrics, name them something else.

Hmm. Downton seems to have spawned a whole range of stuff, including jewellery. Last series finished a few weeks ago, but there's a special on Christmas Day.

I am so glad to read about this discussion because I feel the same way - that while they may represent the fabrics of the times, they are very difficult to work into a quilt. I know that they are being sold as quilting fabrics - and Andover has a 6-print contract with the BBC - which means that there will be 6 more complete collection (probably about 3 years worth), so I'm hoping that feedback from the shop owners and their quilting customers will help them see that we need fabrics that are also tailored to the industry. I think that what you all have posted is VERY representative of quilters everywhere.

I must be in the minority - because I really love these fabrics…..I can see using these in a crazy quilt - or in one of the older quilt patterns where we have light backgrounds, and many different medium and dark fabrics as accent pieces. I have a quilt my Grandmother made - and I plan to draft a pattern for a new one just like it, using these Downton Abby prints and a pale muslin colored solid as the background……….

I do LOVE the black---the others not so much. But I bet we will eventually see some beautiful quilts made out of them.

I only purchased one yard of the cream fabric that shows the Castle. The rest I was not interested in. By the way, I was able to watch the next season #4 free online and it's a GREAT season!!

Homespunhearth -- so I take it you have a shop or business?

See, I find the marketing of fabric lines so interesting.

n some cases, it seems like there is a lot of advance hoopla and bloggers get fabrics to make up inspiration quilts, and there's a lot of "chatter: -- then when the line is finally available, it feels like a letdown -- case in point for me was Sherbert Pips -- a very cute line, but I'd seen so many bloggers make up quilts before it was even in shops, I didn't feel very inspired to buy it and make it my own.

Then other times, it seems like there is a line that gets a lot of buildup online due to a tie-in to some other cultural phenomenon, Downton Abbey seems like a case in point. People who quilt and people who watch PBS show must be overlapping circles on a venn diagram? And there's a lot of build up that way, but the actual fabrics -- I look at them, say, those a nice, but I don't really know just how I would want to put them together. I've seen the patterns on the Andover site. They're ok, but a bit lackluster. I think I would need some kind of external push to want to pick these fabrics to be the ones I spend my Christmas and birthday money on, cause just sitting there on the bolt, there's not compelling me.

No, love the series but have no desire for the fabric. But then I'm a bright batiks gal, doesn't fit the era.

Yes! I'm a fan of DOWNTON ABBEY and very much a fan of that era. To me, 1918 is just about the most interesting turning point in Western civ. history and I love anything that's authentically Edwardian. I'll definitely check out the free DA patterns! Thanks!
~ Cindy

I think the fabrics are really nice, and old fashion.. Here is a page of different ideas, and some quilt pics..https://www.google.com/search?

q=downton+abbey+fabric&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ& sa=X&ei=k1izUoHALcjCoAT2_IGACw&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ& biw=986&bih=649

Well that is the Downton Castle not the fabric..oops.. Very interesting though...will have to be copy and paste, but might be worth the trouble..


q=downton+abbey+fabric&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ& sa=X&ei=J3SzUqDXB5DroASIv4GQCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEMQsAQ

My granddaughter is a teacher, she and I watch the series. I made her a lovely tote with the fabric. I used the burgundy collection, Mary's solid and the Dowagers print in stripe for the body, and Sybil's dots for the base and lining. Put a very pretty "antiquish" button on it. I love it. Wish I could find the image icon so I could do pictures.

Yes, we do have, and I don't think this is the first time we've run into this scenario -( love the "venn diagram" visual btw .. ). Now, I know a lot of us watch home improvement shows, so everybody was really excited when cutie-pie Ty Pennington's first fabric line was introduced ... made us feel more part of the show if we could own some. But, the fabrics were (are) a harder sell than others, simply because they lend themselves to be more home dec type fabrics. And, like Downton Abbey, we found the quilts designed to sell the fabrics lacking in originality -- something that I believe these types of fabrics need to set them apart. Thus, keeping these DA fab wrapped up until we feel more inspired an do a bit more brainstorming around here. You gotta spend that Christmas an BDay money on something you love!

I just bought the last of what I need to finish Lady Sybil's quilt, along with all of the patterns so far. The fabrics are beautiful and can't wait for the backing fabric to come. I'm not sure when I'll get started, depends on weather I take my sewing machine, etc., with me when I leave for Florida for three months in early Jan. I'll try to post pics as I progress since I'm new here and will have to learn how. Wish me luck!

BTW, I forgot to say that I'm a DA junkie, can't get enough of it.

No, and have never watched the show....

The fabrics in the first grouping sure did speak my name! Will be watching for them when I can go shopping.

I'm really intrigued by these, and glad to hear that we can look forward to more to come. If I had a specific project in mind I would buy it, but won't buy it to add to my stash for "someday".