Hi - I am starting a new pattern that calls for shirtings. It took me a while to figure it out, looking at the pic, reading the directions, etc. It looks like they are white/cream background with a small pattern of color. Some of the posts I have read make me think they are civil war type material. Any clues? I don't recall seeing them at my LGS either.

Bonnie Hunter is the Queen of shirting fabric.

Her book is called Scraps and Shirtails. She's has all the information you ever want to know about shirting at her website:

http://quiltville.com/

Yes, it goes with civil war. It is harder to find but some places sell FQ packs with shirtings. They are what shirts where made off. Once you know what they are you'll notice them in reproduction style quilts.


http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/lines.php?subcat=963
Here is just a link with some fabrics like that. Atleast that is what I understand to be shirtings. I thought Bonnie Hunts was a little different. Plaid shirts that are recycled to make quilts? Maybe some one else can clarify.

I have one LQS that doesn't sell any fabric pattern older than the 80's so there are some place out there that don't have Civil War, Shirtings and 30's fabrics. Google online and you will find lots. Here are a few that I have bookmarked just for Civil War Fabrics.

http://www.bonniebluequilts.com/default.aspx

http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/

http://www.trinityquilts.com/content.php?content_id=1

http://www.bearpawquilting.com/

http://www.shopvintageandvogue.com/

http://www.crafttownfabrics.com/

Bonnie Hunter talks about shirting fabrics all the time on her blog.

What pattern are you planning to do? Just curious.

In Bonnie's other book, she mentions a quilt top that she and another friend made together. It is a pioneer braid. They used a lot of shirting in that quilt....the person mentioned in her book is Denise whom owns Common Threads in Waxahacie, TX. You certainly can find a lot of Civil War and shirtings there in her shop! I know...cause I have purchased tons of them there!

Thanks everyone. The pattern I am doing is called Ocean of Fire by Lynn Rice. I found it in the Quilt Sampler magazine from Spring/Summer 2007. Instead of the shirtings, I am just using a shiny white fabric.

I thought shirting was just thinner??

My latest quilt top has mostly woven plaids and shirting prints for the background fabrics. They are Civil War era
prints. Here are some pictures of the top and some of the
blocks.