Vintage Fabric - Retro Fabric - Vintage Fashion - at Revival Fabrics blog

Let's Go Shopping! Handbags from Vintage Fabric

2009-06-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

One thing that I especially enjoy about vintage fabric is it's uniqueness.

Vintage fabrics make fashion and accessories like handbags exciting, new and fashion forward: you won't see, over and overs, the same popular fabric pattern designs used for pillows, purses, clothing in stores and online shops. A design can lose it's appeal if you look at it and think, "wait a second, I just saw this fabric pattern on a purse at the store I was just at."

Handbag designers that use vintage fabric for their designs have it going on. Check out the handbag designs by Liz Shaw of Liz Shaw Design. She uses vintage fabrics, vintage buttons, and other materials from the past to create artistic arm eye-candy. For you musicians, you'll love the guitar theme "Rock" messenger bag line.

Color Trends of 2009 - series - vintage fabric and fabric

2009-05-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

As a continuation of the blog series "Color Trends of 2009" let's talk about color trends of fabrics on the market right now. As goes popular trends for fabric colors and designs, often times will the tastes of collectors and designers that use vintage fabrics.

I've personally noticed here at Revival Fabrics there has been an upswing in interest of purple themed vintage fabrics.

Kim Kight at True Up tells me that fashion and fabric color trends for this year: "I'm seeing lots of purple and fuchsia. I think navy, black, and silvery gray are back in and brown is on the decline as the go-to neutral. I'm also seeing lots of mustard, avocado green, and orange ... the classic 70s kitchen colors. I'm slightly horrified to see the neon paint-splatter phase of the 80s come back in style, though I do get good nostalgic feeling from some retro 80s motifs and color combinations, if they're done right."

What goes around, come back around again, and at Like Totally 80s website, they agree that the 1980s have made a revival. As noted, Michael Kors used neon green for his Fall collection.

Fashion Trendsetters sees 2009 fabric color trends in the metal gray family along with cement, slate, and interestingly recycled paper color, and lastly white accents.

Catch the next part of the Color Trends of 2009 series as I discuss fabric color trends in the crafting world.

Vintage Fabric - Friday Favorite - sunflower power

2009-05-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

This vintage 1960s voile fabric makes me want to sing "The sun will come out tomorrow..." it's such a cheery print. No need to break out in song though, here in Oregon there's not a drop of rain in sight and the skies are blue.

Happy weekend!

Color Trends of 2009 - series

2009-05-11T11:29:00.001-07:00

Now that we have a few months of 2009 under our belts, let's take a look at some color trend predictions to see if the experts were right.

Let's first start with home decorating color trends for 2009. The next blog series will be color trends of vintage fabric, fashion, and craft.

Interior paint: According to Active Rain the best selling paint for 2009 would be Split Pea by Benjamin Moore. Interestingly, mauve may be back by popular demand but with a contemporary spin. I can't help but remember the many restaurants and fast-food joints that had mauve interiors years ago. Surely, hopefully, paint manufacturers won't recreate "restaurant mauve," or I'll begrudgingly think of fries and pie-by-the-slice as I view the freshly painted walls in the homes of America.

Building Online predicted that we are in a comfort seeking pattern, with thoughts turned toward the environment. Think sustainable "green" colors: browns, rich grays, natural blues.

Furniture: If you are a fan of wood constructed furniture, Furniture Today surveyed suppliers and found American cherry most popular, followed by maple and white oak bringing up the rear.
Furniture Files blog finds that white furniture remains popular for 2009. Myself, I had an all-white kitchen and adored the sparkling, bright white look, but it was tricky to keep clean. Oh, how my white kitchen glowed almost etherally when cleaned spotless. I now have darker cabinets and slate-green tile flooring...so much easier to keep up. Also noted is purple furniture coming on strong.

Rugs and Carpets: Over at the Carpetology blog floor texture colors range from earthy browns to greens. Unusual and lively color combination of blue and orange were also noted.

Oh my! HGTV scared me for a second when I read the bold colors of the 80's are back. I'm much relieved to learn that 80's colors are back but in subdued shades.

So what do you think? Have you noticed purple furniture nestled among interiors of bold 80s colors? Did the they get it right?

Vintage Fabric - Friday Favorite - poodles !

2009-05-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Poodles! I just love vintage fabrics and any vintage textiles that feature poodles. Growing up I had a poodle/chihuahua/terrier mixed breed. Since my sister and I had a cat, it was my brother's turn to pick out a pet. He wanted a dog; not just any dog, but a big dog. The bigger the better. With my mom at the wheel, we all climbed into our pea green station wagon for a trip to the Humane Society. If our station wagon had fake wood paneling on the outside, we would have really been stylin'. We weren't that high society.

As we walked past a few cages, my brother said he wanted to look at all of the dogs before choosing. We soon found him two cages down, one knee on the floor, in an eye-lock with a brown haired dog no bigger than a kitten. She was smooshed up against the cage door, body all a wiggling and happy, trying to get to my brother. Well, that was it, he found his dog, or she found him. Maybe they found each other.

So today's Vintage Fabric - Friday Favorite vintage poodle rayon fabric is brought to you by the fond memories of an itty bitty dog that found herself somehow in a bad situation, but through nothing else but optimism, freed herself from that gray cage.

Vintage Fabric - Friday Favorite - feedsacks

2009-02-20T10:00:00.001-08:00

These just have to be the prettiest vintage feedsacks that I've come across in a long while. Purple is one of my favorite colors. The combination of buttery rich yellow and purple makes me want to get out in the yard and plant Spring flowers. I'm ready for the rain to go away and come back another day --- and let the sun shine! We've had some dreary Winter days here in Oregon lately, but the sun is wrestling through some stubborn clouds today.

Vintage Feedsack History

2009-02-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Normally I'll find vintage feedsacks that measure between 36 to about 39 inches wide (the stitches taken out and opened). But recently I found a collection of 10 vintage feedsacks that measure 25 inches to about 27 inches wide (stitches taken out and opened). Well now that's pretty cool and unusual. These ones must have held less than 100 pounds of feed, flour, or something else.

I'll post the photos tomorrow on Vintage Fabric Friday's Favorite find...try saying that 10 times fast, I dare you.

In the meantime, here's an interesting read on the history of feedsacks

cheers!

Vintage Fabric - Friday Favorite

2009-02-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

I remember in the 1990s when Blitz brewing closed it's doors for good here in Portland, Oregon. The news was big, since Blitz beer, in it's heyday of the 1960s - 1970s was THE beer of choice (or rather, party beer of choice). I was just a wee girl at the time so wouldn't have partaken in the beverage but sure do know that it was an icon of it's time. It's pretty cool to have found this vintage Blitz cotton fabric from the beer company's glory days.

Are the people in this 1960s - 1970s Blitz beer commercial video only getting their groove on, or are they perhaps getting blitzed? A few more Blitz's and that jet skiier may just topple over into the river.....

If This 1972 Vintage Retro Fabric Could Talk

2009-02-12T11:14:00.001-08:00

Last week I posted about how I excited I was to find this retro fabric with an actual date printed on the selvage.

It had me wondering...what was happening in 1972 when this vintage fabric was manufactured? Here are a few things it could tell us about:

1) David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust: men and women alike, we are still in love with David

2) Republican Richard Nixon wins the Presidential election over Democrat George McGovern. Two short years later, bad boy Nixon gave his resignation speech due to the Watergate scandal.
3) The VW Beetle was the most produced car in history.
4) Sanford and Son starring Redd Foxx as Fred G. Sanford, a junk and antique dealer, debuted in 1972 and ran for six years. When I was young, I felt I couldn't have enough stuff. Garage sales were heady events for a girl with a pocket full of jingle-jangling quarters. In our little white Datsun, my Mom and I would hit every garage sale within a 10 mile radius on many a Saturday. I'd hone in on stuffed animals like a pigeon and then move on to ceramic animals, oftentimes sidetracked by anything cat or rainbow themed. Nirvana I tell you, nirvana! I was seriously impressed by the rooms of stuff on the show. Sanford's cranky attitude didn't fool me as a kid, that mischievous twinkle in his eye gave him away.
R.I.P. Red Foxx

5) Platform shoes, all the rage for a night on the town.
6) At the movies, The Godfather was number one.
7) America was reading I'm OK, You're OK. It made the New York Times best seller list in 1972.

Unique Rugs ~ felt rug beauties

2009-02-01T21:49:00.000-08:00

I'm a firm believer in mixing vintage with contemporary. After all, I sure don't want to be a walking museum if I wear only vintage from head to toe. Nor do I want to live in a museum; I mix and match eras with an eye to what "flows".

On Unique Rugs I spied a fabulous vintage felt rug that is on my wish list. The website has vintage rugs along with contemporary rugs. It's kind of neat thinking of owning a rug that was handmade in the mountain region of Turkey. I'd showcase this beauty by a handcrafted walnut sideboard that I have. There's also oriental rugs, kilim rugs, Turkish rugs, and many other rugs on the website.

Vintage Fabric ~ Friday Favorite

2009-01-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

Today we can take off our detective caps.

Most vintage fabrics require a bit of detective work to figure out the era. Tightly woven vintage cotton often "says" 1940s. Metallic gold print keys you into the 1950s. And if you have a mind boggling pink and orange color combination with smiling mushrooms, you know that the fabric probably hails from the groovy 1960s.

Today my favorite find is a vintage 1970s fabric with the actual manufacturer's date printed on the selvage: "1972 Russell Mills, Inc." Mystery solved. In two seconds flat. It's from 1972. wuhuu!

to heck out this vintage retro fabric

Chinese New Year 2009 ~ cool fabric project

2009-01-26T08:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! The traditional Chinese New Year celebrates Spring, which to me means renewal and growth both mentally and spiritually.

I spied the coolest fabric fortune cookie project on the Olabelhe blog
The blue background that she chose on the fabric is perfect to symbolize the coming sky blue days of Spring.

Here are the original instructions to make the fabric fortune cookies from the Brassy Apple blog

Vintage Fabric Friday Favorite

2009-01-23T08:01:00.000-08:00

One of my personal favorites for vintage fabrics are print designs and colors that just "pop". I recently found a retro fabric with eye-catching red against a cool looking background that is a printed faux blue denim. It's such nice supple cotton, and would would work well for a swingy dress or even a man's shirt. You gotta love unisex fabrics.

Check out the The Jelly Bean Bedazzler

Did Obama Wear Vintage Fabric at Inaugural Balls?

2009-01-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I was glued to the television watching the inauguration of now President Obama.

I wish I would have read a news story on Obama before the inauguration instead of after. Dressmaker Deb Mascia from Hawaii made a cumber bund and tie from the fabric of a dress that was Obama's grandmother's.

The cumber bund and tie were sent to Washington, but I'm sad to report, I don't know if he wore the items made out of the vintage fabric. Hopefully I'll find out! Do you happen to know?

Read the full story on Obama and vintage fabric

Vintage Fabric Friday Favorite

2009-01-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

Sweet and petite red cherries....yummers.

Normally I find vintage dimity fabric with dainty floral designs. Then I found this 1930s-1940s cherry dimity fabric and fell in love. I still adore little flowers, but dang, isn't it unusual?

Take a peek at Revival Fabrics

The Sewing Machine (song)

2009-01-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

This song rocks! On YouTube I found a song clip, The Sewing Machine, from the 1940's movie "The Perils of Pauline" starring Betty Hutton. Are you having a love or a hate relationship with your sewing machine today? Either way, I spied some bolts of fabric in the background of the clip and would love to see those vintage fabrics today....

9 Great Things about Alfred Shaheen ~ In Memory

2009-01-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

I was saddened to read the recent news of the passing of great Hawaiian textile and garment maverick Alfred Shaheen. You can't get a closer glimpse into the history of Shaheen's lasting greatness than on his daughter Camille Shaheen-Tunberg's website

9 Great Things about Alfred Shaheen ~ In Memory
1) In July of 2001 won the Hawaii’s Lifetime Achievement Award
2) Not only manufactured but also printed fabric
3) The 1961 Elvis Presley album cover Blue Hawaii featured Presley in a Shaheen aloha shirt
4) Shaheen's high grade fabric and artistic designs propelled Hawaiian shirts into high fashion
5) The 1950s cotton Shaheen sundresses are fantastically glam and figure flattering
6) You'll be inspired to sew a dress when you find a vintage Alfred Shaheen sewing pattern
7) Fabrics were hand screen printed and resulted in deep, rich beautiful colors
8) People told Shaheen he was crazy to get into the textile business. We're glad he didn't listen
9) Shaheen hired many local Hawaiian designers for authentic Hawaii artistic design

How to Care For Vintage Fabric – 36 Tips

2008-05-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

Vintage fabric care is important. As fabric collectors know, the better the condition, the more valuable a vintage fabric. How fabric is stored, cared for, cleaned, and ironed will determine the value and usability over time.

Yet many collectors end up sad and disappointed after lovingly unfolding a cherished vintage quilting cotton to discover irreversible mold spots, expensive silk that shatters with merely the touch of the hand, and feel emotionally crushed like the permanently flattened nap of ironed wool.

Properly stored and cared for, the value of vintage fabrics will go up over time and can be used for garments and quilting years from now.

Store Vintage Fabrics Correctly to Protect Your Investment

When vintage fabrics are stored correctly, it’s similar to investing in a prime piece of real estate. It’s all about…location, location, location. Pick a poor location and money is lost in the long run. Vintage fabric stored in a suitable location and in the correct ways protects your investment.

• Make sure fabrics are dust-free and clean before storing. Place nylons over a vacuum nozzle and gently vacuum dust from fabric.

• Store fabrics at room temperature in a dark area such as a closet.

• Do not store vintage fabrics in damp basements or hot attics.

• 65 – 70 degrees is an ideal room temperature. Humidity should be about 82 percent.

• Roll fabric instead of folding, to prevent stressed fibers at creases.

• If fabrics are stored folded, periodically refold to prevent dust settling in creases.

• Drape unbleached 100% cotton over fabric and hang on a padded hanger.

• Do not store fabrics against wood. Place unbleached muslin or acid tissue as a barrier between the fabric and wood to prevent spots from oil in the wood.

• Don’t store fabric in tightly enclosed plastic boxes and bags. Fabric needs air circulation to prevent condensation and mold growth.

• Store vintage fabrics in acid-free boxes with acid-free tissue placed between fabrics.

• Use dried lavender instead of mothballs to repel insects naturally, without chemicals.

Clean Vintage Fabrics Like Grandma

It’s best to buy vintage fabrics in mint, unused condition. You’ll avoid the hassle of washing, and the fabric is more valuable. However, sometimes a vintage fabric found with only a minor spot can be salvaged with proper cleaning.

Take great care when cleaning vintage fabric. Chemicals in the cleaners on the grocery shelves today may not be compatible with the dyes that were used to print vintage fabrics. Use the wrong cleaner and the dye may run in some vintage fabrics.

To avoid faded and fabrics stripped of their color, clean fabrics from Grandma’s time as Grandma did. She washed garments and fabrics by hand, and didn't use a dryer but instead laid textiles flat to dry or hung on a line. We don’t have all of the same cleaners as Grandma; use proper substitutes.

• Make sure your chosen professional cleaner or dry cleaner is experienced with old textiles. Ask a textile conservator, quilt shop, or art museum to recommend professional cleaners.

• Test a small piece for color-fastness before cleaning the whole fabric.

• Wear rubber gloves while handling fabric and chemicals.

• Do not wash vintage Fiberglass fabrics in the washing machine. Fine pieces of glass will be in your next load. Wear gloves when handling wet Fiberglass, hand wash, and lay flat to dry.

• Rust stains may come out with a paste of salt and white vinegar.

• Avoid the use of fabric softener and fabric softener sheets. Both can leave residue behind.

• Don’t use hairspray as a stain remover. Hairspray may stain, especially silk fabric.

• Gently squeeze, not wring, water out. Blot dry with a towel and lay flat to dry on a clean surface.

• It’s good practice to professionally clean silk, rayon, and home decorating weight fabrics.

• Handle wet vintage rayon fabric with care. Professional cleaning is advised.

• Vintage and antique chintz fabrics may lose original glaze if washed. Professional cleaning is recommended.

Iron In Haste And Your Vintage Fabrics Will Go To Waste

Iron incorrectly and a pristine vintage fabric may well turn into your next limp and useless rag. Often times, ironing mistakes cause damage to fabric that is irreversible.

Carefully ironed, Retro polyester won’t turn into a crunchy melted mess and unsightly shine marks won’t mar valuable vintage rayon fabric. To maintain the valuable original condition of all vintage fabrics, take the correct precautions when ironing.

• Set iron to the correct temperature.

• Clean your hands before handling fabric.

• Do not iron dirty or stained vintage fabrics. Stains may set permanently.

• To avoid clogs, use distilled water in your iron.

• To prevent iron scorch marks use a well-padded ironing board.

• Dry iron silk to prevent watermarks.

• Iron linen slightly damp. Wrinkles smooth out easily.

• Use caution when ironing with starch. Hot, scorched starch may transfer on to the fabric.

• Iron the backside of fabrics. Vintage fabrics with dark backgrounds are prone to show iron marks.

• To restore chintz and polished cotton glaze, place wax paper face down on the fabric and iron the non-wax side of the wax paper.

• If vintage flannel fabric has pils, pick the largest pils off by hand, and iron nap flat.

• Steam wool. Do not iron.

• Steam, do not iron velvet. Hang velvet fabric near a hot shower to steam out wrinkles. Or, use the steam setting of an iron, steam the backside, and brush the velvet nap. At an even pace, run steam up and down. Don’t let the steam rest in one spot for long.

• Don’t directly iron Retro fabrics such as polyester. Place a pillowcase on the fabric, and then iron.

Reprints of this article:
I’m happy to give you permission to reproduce this entire article or parts if it is credited to Nan Jaeger of Revival Fabrics. "Revival Fabrics. http://www.revivalfabrics.com Copyright 2008. Reproduced with permission." Readers will know you have my permission to use a copyright work.

To link to us online please use http://www.RevivalFabrics.com

Vintage 30s & 40s Vintage Ribbon ~ here kitty kitty!

2008-02-29T10:58:00.000-08:00

Just in and added to the website are vintage ribbon trims with woven designs from the 1930s and 1940s.

There are only a few added right now, but just wait and see the many that will be added in the coming weeks!

One of my favorites is this circa late 1930's vintage kitty cat ribbon trim, it reminds me of Felix the Cat.

Yardage! ~ vintage ikat design fabric

2008-02-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

It isn't very often that I find vintage fabrics that are more than say 7 uncut yards.

Recently I found an amazing vintage 1940s cotton fabric that is an exciting 10 uncut yards. Now that's some serious yardage!

Ikat designs are most commonly used for silks and taffetas. A shadowy, and almost but not quite out-of-focus effect is created by dying the "warp" thread before threading the "weft" into the warp. (warp and weft are what make up fabric, by weaving over and under)

This particular 1940s vintage fabric has a printed purple-mauve and white plaid, and an "ikat" garland of roses.

The ikat of the roses against the standard printing of the plaid makes a stunning combination.

vintage Rose Plaid fabric at Revival Fabrics

Showroom Appointments Welcome!

2008-02-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

Did you know that you can personally see my vintage fabric in person? Yes, you sure can!

If you live near Portland, Oregon or will be in the area, please email or phone and I'll schedule a showroom appointment with you.

Stop by, let's have a cup of coffee, and we'll find those special vintage fabrics right for you.

My showroom has many more vintage fabrics and vintage trim than what you'll see on the website, since I'm always hunting and gathering. As I like to say "We hunt and gather vintage fabric. You have more time to design."

Nan

New Website Redesign ~ done!

2008-02-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

If you haven't stopped by the website lately, I have a brand new look.

I'm very happy with the new redesign. It's easier to navigate, find specific vintage fabrics, and has coupon code capabilities.

You said it and I listened! Gift certificate ordering will be added to the website within the next few weeks.

Redesigning a website is like remodeling a house.....a lot of work and it always takes longer than you think. But, when it's done, it's exciting! Very exciting!

Thank you to everyone that emailed their congrats on the new look of the website, you made my day.

Fabric Time Traveler destination: Today! A great read for Indie Desingers

2007-09-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

September 4, 2007

Indie designers, check out this book!

Bend-the-Rules Sewing : the essential guide to a while new way to sew
by Amy Karol

(fresh patterns, 30 cute designs, great for beginners, learn the basics, have fun, sew with abandon, it's easy!)

I found out about this book because Revival Fabrics was listed in the back as one of the resources for vintage fabrics.

As I flipped through the pages, I realized that it was my kind of book and was happy to be listed as a vintage fabric source.

My mother was a professional seamstress for 40 years and had a knack for following sewing patterns to the letter. She measured twice, cut once, and her garments turned just as they should. She also could take two different sewing patterns and sew up a beautiful combo. For my wedding dress I picked two different bridal gown sewing patterns; I liked the quarter length sleeves from one pattern, and just had to have the full Cinderella ballroom skirt on the other. Whiz-bang, just like that, my mom put the two together, and I had my dream wedding dress. Ok, so not so whiz-bang for my sweet mom, she also made the bridesmaids dresses as well as her own mother-of-the bride outfit.

On the other-hand, I'm not as three-dimensionally blessed as my mom was with directions. I'd rather look at a sewing pattern, turn it this way and that, and then create my own patterns from scratch. I can't recall a single project that I followed the directions of a sewing pattern down to the letter. Let's just say that I'm inspired by instructions and directions.

And that is why I adore this book! Colorful photos, humorous chat from the author, and non-fussy instructions. Now, if you are the straight-and-narrow-follow-the-directions type of sewer, this book may not be for you. But if your mind wanders to the fork in the road and you ponder which way to go and realize that each way could be an adventure, read the book. The author notes on the cover that it is a great book for beginners, but more advanced sewers will have enjoyment from it as well.

To check out this book & read reviews, you can find it on Amazon:

Bend-the-Rules Sewing

I'm in the News!

2007-08-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

August 29, 2007

Fabric Time Traveler destination: 1930s and 1940s

Revival Fabrics has been in other publications, and I've been interviewed for Oregon's largest newspaper in the past about my love of vintage printed tablecloths ---- and now I'm really feeling like a smarty pants! Tomorrow I may drop my drawers on accident, but for today, Smarty Pants!

For the Fall 2007 issue of Creative Home magazine I was interviewed for the article that starts on page 94, "Nostalgic Notions: Find out How to Buy, Decorate With, and Care for Vintage Fabrics." The author Ann Wilson did a fabulous job writing the article about what to look for in 1930s and 1940s fabric. The magazine is on the stands now and until the beginning of October.

The more I research the history of fabric and the proper care of old textiles, the more I realize that there are volumes of knowledge to learn. That is half the fun of vintage fabric, discovering the unusual, and learning something new all the time.