Pitty Pat

I guess you can date the fabric based on what everyone said. Great fine and a history lesson. love this board.

rgvolle

Those were the days... when you could purchase fabric from so many different places. My first job was working in the fabric department at Montgomery Ward when I was just 16. I loved it because I sewed all of my own clothes and even did a little sewing for others. Now it is hard to find a great fabric store-- outside of quilting stores there are very few left... even Walmart is closing down most of their fabric departments.

DebbyT

When I was 17, I worked at Montgomery Wards in the small appliance dept. When they were short handed sometimes I got to work in the fabric dept. where I really wanted to work. I didn't know Pennys had fabric. I use to check out all the options. Dime store, Sears, Kmart, Wards and Hudsons. Didn't have a Walmart. The Hudson's in downtown Detroit had the entire 12th floor for fabric. Would spend hours there. --- Then Joann's happened.

Leota

I have a bedspread from 1978?? that you could order matching fabric for making the curtains and pillow shams... bought the fabric and made the curtains... hmmm... may have to re-purpose those curtains :D

phatquilts2

Many of the department stores had a fabric section because home sewing was very popular back in that day. Do not remember when those fabric departments were banished.

Does anybody remember the measuring apparatus that was around six inches off of the table? The fabric was pulled through a slit and a round dial gauge with hands like a clock {?]or scale showed the yardage. Then the fabric clerk would push a lever which made a rip in the cloth. The fabric was then torn right in front of you and not cut with a scissors. In the rare instance that the print was all off grain you knew it right away. Anyway that was then and this is now, guess I am dating myself and a popsicle was a nickel. :lol: :roll:

pocoellie

Penney's and Sears used to sell fabric. I would be willing to say that your gingham is a true cotton piece, they didn't have a lot of poly at that time. Great find.

Numa

I do. Couldn't wait til I was old enough to run one, but they were gone by then!

1screech

You can tell if it is cotton by how it burns. Snip a small piece off and hold by your tongs over the kitchen sink...with the water running. As soon as it flames, stick it under the water. If it is soft and ashy, it is cotton. If it has a hard ridge like burnt spot, it has some other type of additive. Polyester melts and makes the hard ridge. Want to know how I know to do it over the sink with the water running?

dunster

Back in the 60's I made my own clothes for high school and college. Most of the fabric came from the basement of JCPenneys. If I remember right, 79 cents a yard was a typical price.

Sears and Montgomery Wards also sold fabric. I remember buying 24 yards of flannels to make baby clothes in 1969. The flannel was on sale at Wards for 33 cents a yard. For $8 I made enough baby things to last through that baby and the next two.

nance-ell

Wow! That brought back a memory. I had forgotten all about it, but this thread brought it back. I designed a cross stitch pillow and then went shopping for fabric. Found the perfect fabric at JC Penney! Seems like a lifetime ago. Thanks for reminding me.