I found some more big pieces of fabric at the thrift store yesterday, and 2 of the pieces are only 36 inches wide. Is it really as old as I think it is, or can you still buy 36 inch wide fabric? I also got LOTS of denim squares, which I have to square up, and plan on making throws to use at the lake this summer. They wash up so well. I will back them with the florals that are also in the picture. Lots of work ahead of me

Beautiful fabrics :D:D:D
Are you sure the 36" wide is 100% cotton?

I remember fabric being 36" wide when I was a kid... that was at least 40 years ago...

You did good!!

yep. I remember too.

It was 36" wide when my Mom used to make our clothes. Gosh.... I guess that has been almost 40 years ago. I'm feeling old now. :cry:

The thing about the floral that is 36 wide, is that the pattern runs all the way to the selvedge with no white line saying anything about fabric, but it felt, washed and ironed like cotton. The red has a small white selvedge, also with no fiber content, and it feels like denim.

Great find, the denim will be so nice for the lake!

I remember buying 36" wide fabric for a jumper I made in Home Economics class in the late 60's.

our local store still caries some 36 " wide... so it is still available

Great find!

Great find and will make beautiful quilt/s. I haven't seen narrow widths for many years....but who knows, maybe someone is manufacturing them somewhere.

Those will be adorable together, Great Find !!

A terrific find :-D :thumbup:

I don't think domestic cottons have been made in 36" width since the late 1960's. If you have any 33-34", they go back at least to the '50's. LQS charges a premium for 36" as "vintage".

I was going to say I bought 36" in the 70's. Didn't know there was 33 and that's 50s

Someone on the board told me once that if the fabric wasn't 35-36" side, it wasn't vintage. So you may have a treasure there!

I last remember 36" wide fabric back in the mid 70's. Nothing wrong with it as long as it's 100% cotton, you're good to go. :thumbup:

great find.

I'd bet 36" fabric was cotton----------sight unseen. That was a common width years ago before synthetics became popular.

The last time I bought 36" wide fabric was in the early 70's

there are still 36" wide fabrics out there- and even some that are only 30" wide...and i heard a rumor that some manufactureres are starting to print 30-36" wide fabrics again- always check the width on the end of the bolt- i have seen cotton prints in widths from 30"- to 56"...the norm may be 40-44" but it is not the rule.

Looks like someone started cutting squares for a quilt.Denim is very heavy, you might want to invest in a denim needle.I love utility quilts you know will be used & it's one of my fav things about sofa throws.At least in our home & DDs...they get a ton of use.

My understanding is that 36" wide is dressmaking fabric. I can still get it in the shops here. Make sure you wash it as it may shrink more than quilting fabric. This used to be a standard width for cottons. Looms were smaller in the past.
BTW very pretty fabrics
Pippa

Seems like there are a lot of us that remember the 36" wide fabrics....nothing wrong with them it's just the way it was back then. I have heard as some other members that you can still purchase that length in some fabrics. You got a great find.!

Could they be broadcloth? Here in Canada it's usually 36" wide and come in a vast array of colours - generally solids.

It is almost always 100% cotton but has a slightly different weave to it and is usually not as thick (lower thread count per inch) as quilting fabric, but none-the-less can be used in quilts.

The great thing is it washes and irons up like a breeze, and is pretty much colour-fast and compared to other fabrics usually costs much less per yard/meter.

There's nothing wrong with using broadcloth for quilts (although SOME PEOPLE), lol get quite bent out of shape when you mention using it. It all depends on the finished look you wish to achieve.

Any way whether it's broadcloth or not, looks like you got a really good deal - happy quilting. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Fabric content test: Cut a very small piece, maybe 1 inch by 1/4 inch. Hold with tweezers, light it on fire. (best do this over the sink).

Black smoke and a hard ash mean its synthetic or a blend. Smells like plastic burning.

Gray smoke and a fine, soft ash mean its plant fiber. And the smell of burning cotton is very distinctive.

For many years, fabrics were only 36" wide, but were later made to be 44"-45" wide (I think they often fall a little shy of 44"-45" now). If your fabric is only 36" wide, it is probably quite old, at least if it was made in this country. I don't know exactly when the wider fabrics came in, but they have been around for a long time.

Not unusual if you are as old as I am! Yup, at least 40 years ago. And you got more threads per square inch back then!

Great find. I clearly remember 36" wide fabric from "days of yore"

lady as long as its not faded or thread bare then use it and it will look great after all a lot or the members here were bought up in the 60's and we are going strong and we often get a second chance of haveing fun now e are older. annie in the uk

The floral fabric looks like a polished cotton. It is somewhat stiff compared to just cotton fabric, but once it is washed it is softer. Some people used to make curtains and such from it. Great find.

Good Luck
Suzy

spartan, if you want some new denim squares, PM me your address and I'll send you an unwanted batch I received in an "assorted fabric" purchase I made on ebay.

Great finds! Do show us what you make from these!

I used to work at Jo Anns. It looks like 1980's colors and fabric could be a poly cotton mix. That would account for smaller size. wash in a lingere bag and do a fabric content test: burn a small piece over a safe surface (glass) - if it melts to a hard ball...or any hard pieces on it - it has synthetic fibers. If it burns to an ash, no hard pieces and smells like burned hair-it is cotton. I dye fabric and use this test to pick dyes for "mystery fabrics".
Good luck.

Me too

Holy cow! That sure brings back memories. I had totally forgotten about std. 36" wide fabric.

Good find. Be sure to let us see when you get finished. :-)

Oh dear, I just had a mental image of fabric manufacturers changing to 36" so they can give us less and still charge the same. Or more. That has happened with so many products.

make your camp quilts rag-time. very durable, fast, & the
quilting is done. just get a short-snout scissors for the
cutting (which is the worst part of these quilts). and heavier needle & maybe polyester thread for strength.