Just wondering about barkcloth
 

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has made a quilt using vintage barcloth? I love this old fabric & would like to use it for quilting. Is this a good idea? Love to have others opinions.:o

many quilts are made with various fibers/fabrics- barkcloth can be used- as can denim, corduroy, velvets--ect, ect
you can even mix fibers- some people prefer all chosen fabrics be of the same weight- some people enjoy the textural differences in combining light, medium & heavy fabrics. i'm one of those who just make sure what ever i am going to use can be cared for together- if i want it to be wash/dryable i make sure all fibers can be laundered together--
i've made kids game quilts that even had chalkboard cloth on them-
you can do what you want/like...that is one of the greatest things about quilting!

If by barkcloth, you mean tropical tapa, my husband is from Hawaii and he says it cannot get wet. If you are using it for a wallhanging, you should be fine but I'm not too sure about a quilt.

Barkcloth is not tapa it is a home dec fabric. it probably could be used in a quilt . I use to live in Wahiawa Hawaii in the late 50's

Vintage nubby cotton barkcloth such as used in decor, drapes, upholstery of the 40s-50s is too loosely woven to be used in many quilts, in my opinion. It often had tropical foliage or 'space age' geometrics or designs. It washes fabulously.
About a decade ago Moda, I believe, came out with a line of barkcloth reproductions for home, clothing, and quilts, that was a bit thinner and woven more tightly.

Looking on Ebay for these pictures I realize it has gone up tremendously -- better get my collection out and sell it!!

Jan in VA

Oh yeah Jan love the pic's. I have some that looks just like the lower left. I just Love these old fabrics! Yes they are worth a lot these days. I just think they would make a fabulous quilt.....just for looks. :)

I check eBay every now and then for barkcloth from my childhood. In 1957 my parents bought a house with large bay windows in the front, and the previous owners had hung barkcloth drapes on those and on side windows in that room and the dining room. These were floor to ceiling (9 foot), many yards of the stuff, all fully lined. They were charcoal gray with big boomerang Calder mobile-like designs in pink, turquoise and yellow. Knocked your eyes out when you walked in. Mom couldn't wait to change them, but it was a few years before they could afford to do so. I'm sure Jan is right about the weave not being good for a quilt, other than maybe a wall hanging, but I still regret that we didn't salvage some of that fabric. It seems to epitomize a breaking away from a staid and conventional time into the future. It's neat to learn that some of the designs have been recreated in quilting cotton. Thanks for starting this thread.

Not quite sure what barkcloth is. But, those pictures of some of it are pretty! I guess it would depend on the texture and color fastness of it. If it works for you.... then I say do it!

Oh my gosh, we had draperies in the house I grew up in made from the fabric and pattern on the bottom left. Never knew what it was called. We moved into that house in 1 955. Thanks for the info.

Bark Cloth
 

Bark cloth is loosely woven but you could use some light weight iron on woven interfacing on the back of the fabric.
If you are going to use a lot of the interfacing Joann's has it in 25 yard rolls when you use the 50% off coupon.