What would you do...?
 

Just need some ideas and input from ya'll.
I spent all day yesterday, working my butt off digging through a shed full of boxes at a friends. My payment for this deed was being able to keep any fabric I came across that I wanted. Fair pay for a hard days work, imho. So, a 1-ton truckload of boxes and boxes of fabric is what is now in my shed and dining room. My problem is this...
95% of this fabric is from the early 60s to late 70s. It ranges from extremely vivid to ... muddy(?) prints. Everything has tags and receipts with dates but only a handful of these receipts are still legible and have dates from 1962 to 1974. I am really wanting to take my time and use the fabric in a way that showcases the vintage-ness(is that even a word or just my own?) of some of the prints. So if it was you, would you use patterns from that period or use them in modern "things". Maybe create your own? I am talking Scooby-doo Mystery Machine colors on a lot of these, talk about overpowering the pattern in a quilt! I totally love them all though, even the muddy green/brown/hot pink/in-your-face orange mix prints. LOL!! Tons of B-I-G flowers and colors, man, lots of colors. ^_^
Oh, and enough yardage is not a problem as most of the cuts are atleast 4yds each. One piece is 11 yds and only cost 77 CENTS!!! That is just... well, sickening! What I would give to be able to buy even 1 yd for 77 cents.

So, what do you think? Any and all ideas welcome, and thanks!

Well, my first thought for the large-scale prints is a Florentine Fantasy/Stack-n-Whack type of quilt.

What fun you will have! I don't know what kind of quilting you normally do, but I think I would showcase some of the bold patterns in simple designs. Maybe tone down a bit with some solids. But big and bold is the way I would go. Kids love that kind of thing, so even if you don't want to do a lot of projects for yourself out of this haul, you have a gold mine in supplies for children and teenage quilts. If you find it overwhelming and some of the prints not attractive to you, donate them to your local Project Linus chapter.

Also, there may be some trademarked fabrics in the stash that may be worthwhile to sell on Ebay if they are out of print and hard to find.

Enjoy!!

Dayle

So I am not crazy for wanting to use these then? LOL! Some people have told me not to touch them or it will ruin the "value" (It's FABRIC.. how can I NOT touch it?) and the fabric. That's why I ask here, ya'll are addicts too so I am not alone. ^_^

I do all kinds of quilting so I can stay out of the box and not get bored. I do have a book on big print quilts, maybe I will look into that again.

That was my first thought on quite a few of these! The repeats are very distinct so I think even I could do maybe a OBW out of those.

Use it if you want to - not many people - including yourself - are going to get any pleasure from it being in a box somewhere.

And if it has 'value' - then whatever you make of it will have more value also, if only to yourself!

Oh, I WISH you had received this treasure and posted here 4 months ago!!! I had to recreate a blue and white 1970s log cabin for an elderly couple whose niece had made the first one for them and they had literally worn it out. The navy blue had faded to mauve!! I had to take apart a seam to prove that to them, LOL! I had a devil of a time trying to find "calicoes" from the period, or look-a-likes when quilting buddies didn't have enough oldies.

Oh well, it's done now and delivered and I was well paid for it. But how fun it would have been to "buy" from you. :):)

What a great treat for you!! Make some log cabins and think of me, LOL!

Jan in VA

"I am really wanting to take my time and use the fabric in a way that showcases the vintage-ness(is that even a word or just my own?) of some of the prints. So if it was you, would you use patterns from that period or use them in modern "things". Maybe create your own? " I say..all of the above, starting with take your time. If that fabric has waited this long it can wait a few more months. But wow, what a deal you got. Was neat you could get it and nicer still if you have room to store it all until you get to it. Just jump right in and make something and the rest will come easy and ideas will start flowing. Sorry I can't be more help.

If you want to sell some of the fabric, put them on Ebay for sale in lots. Japanese loves American vintage fabric and show their love with $.

Go play with your fabric, make quilts that make you and others happy. That's the value of the fabric. Use some for OBW, and do a few wild & out of the box ones --- have fun with it! Make a few for charity, too -- so that others will enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Make sure you wash it first. Sepending on how it was stored , there could be bugs in it , or it could be deteriorating.

Well, last time I checked, there were no museums for uncut fabric. Lol. I'd be tempted to ask whomever said that to me how much they're willing to pay me for such valuable fabric.

What about some blankets for kids out of the cartoony stuff? Just a piece of print on one side, other print on back and battting. Tack a bit and make a kid's day for him or her.

The only "value" I can think of would be to put it on eBay and see if someone is willing to pay $10 or $20 a yard for funky vintage fabric, but you know darn well they'd cut it up too. So you might as well have all the fun!

Lucky you, have fun with it. One pattern that would showcase the prints is the snowball, using solids to make the corners of each snowball. It makes a great scrappy quilt. Other suggestions, apple core or hatchet, or tumbler--all are that era patterns.

Take a look at some of the patterns by Kaffe Fasset, they play well to large scale bold/wild prints.

Definitely use it! Can you post pictures so we can rejoice with you? !!! I think it is so neat.

Have fun! We thought we had the market of FLOWERS and COLORS back in the day. Just remember that polyester and poly blends work differently than 100%cotton. Do what you feel like with pattern choices. I like to think that our colors and flowers were a direc t reaction to the avacado greens that our parents decorated our homes with. LOL

"Mid Century Modern" is a decorating trend of today. Those fabrics in the right designs would fit right in. I would do some research and perhaps even contact some museums to use their style books. Even our big library has some. Check what was used with the designs of the time to get ideas. I like a lot of the "modern" quilts being done today with the big prints toned down a little with light fabric.

I would choose patterns modern or "vintage" that work best with those particular fabrics. Those loud prints would be perfect in some of today's more modern patterns. The muddy would work well with the traditional settings....when you make those quilt labels, I would definitely include the story of how they were rescued and turned into treasures!

It's gonna take a few more days to get this all sorted for washing, then a few more days getting it all laundered and ironed(grrr!). But, I have 2 weeks without hubby so I know what's gonna fill my empty time while he is in Florida training. It's comforting to know that my thoughts on what to do with it are spot on, as ya'll have the same ones. LoL. Thanks or the ideas and feel free to add on. One can never have too many ideas ya know. ;-) I checked it all as I boxed it up for any "lost" critters... alas, one sneaky little mouse did manage to stow away. I reckon that makes getting fabric fun for the cat too then. LOL

Would love to see a picture of some of the most interesting fabrics in your collection.

Wow, I dream of getting my grabby little paws on something like that. I'd go nuts! You are one lucky lady. Enjoy it and happy quilting.

If a fabrics speaks to you and you don't want to use it in a "vintage" design - then don't !! Part of the fun of fabric is to do with it what you want!! I'm sure lots of us could help with vintage designs if you want them, but I don't think you should feel obligated to use your fabric one way or the other.

You have already gotten some good ideas from the other members here. I just want to say congratulations on your haul!! Well worth the dig, I expect. No matter what pattern you use for them, I'm sure they will be just gorgeous. Have fun!!!!

Not a lot to add..
Other than, YEAH! for you.
I'd have so much fun just sorting through all that fabric. In my opinion, the only value in fabric is how you use it. Agree with what others have said: Use & enjoy it. Then come back here and share pictures.

I think you should use the fabric in whatever pattern you like or works best for it. The fabric is what "dates" a quilt not a pattern. I have seen some fantastic uses of fabrics on traditional patterns and have been wow'd by them. I had never thought about doing a Dear Jane until I saw it done in BRIGHTS. So just go with what looks good to you

Fabrics from this era are highly sought after! that's not to say they bring big bucks, but home fashion/style/decor is very midcentury modern right now. The 20-30-somethings really love it! What a bonanza! think about trimming some tea-towels, valances, pot-holder, pillowcases, pillows. To me, they work best in modern style quilts but heck, anything you like totally works. Look at etsy where you will see lots of inspiration and if vintage fabrics are used, it always states this in the ad because that makes it lots more special and one-of-a-kind.

Well, my first thought is HOLY HANNAH are you a lucky kid!!

Next I would try to organize them by type or colors. I do not rack my brain trying to do certain blocks. I just do blocks that appeal to me. Since you have so much and yardage is not a problem, you might do at least one quilt that can showcase just a couple of the prints. I sure would. Pick out a couple of favorites and have at it.

Be sure to show us some pictures too.

Hey..I l ive just down the road. What say I come over and help you with your problem. LOLOLOL Seriously, I had that "problem" last year. A pickup load of bags, bins, and bundles. I sorted and kept what I wanted. Sold some, gave some away and donated bunches. The Stiching Post there in the City accepts donations for the Linus Project and they got some of the fabric.
But the most important...Do what you want to and have FUN!!! And we want to see what you do with it. Luck to you from El Reno.

The smaller you cut the pieces, the less obnoxious they are.

Fabulous payment for working your butt off.

Use it any way you want.

It will be gorgeous.

J J

Congratulations!! Oh! what fun you will have. I was washing fabric today that was given by a friend and I got some lovely surprises. Have fun.

Well, if you don't cut it and make quilts, what would you do with it ? If you sold it, someone would use it. Sooooooo, go ahead and make beautiful quilts with it all. Then it is a quilt, to be loved and used or looked at. Barny

You can use your new treasures any way you want! I know you will enjoy it and whatever you make will be beautiful. Don't necessarily stick to period patterns! There are some pretty new ones that showcase vintage fabrics. For the really big, bold prints try a kaleidoscope. It's amazing how cutting fabric up tones it down. Above all, Have FUN with it. Don't worry about ruining the "value". The value will be in your enjoyment and the wonderful projects you can use it for!

I made this quilt (Follow the Leader) and think it would be great with all your dark browns and muddy colors .
https://www.readershoppingstore.com/...-project/1966/

What fun! Stack and Whack for the big floral prints. Go with what you like as far as using the vintage prints. Any pattern you like is good.