A recent fabric acquisition!
Last week I was browsing our local auction site, where I’ve bought bolts of fabric from time to time at a discounted price, and I noticed some scraps for sale.
I really don’t need scraps at all. But I was fascinated. They were about half the price of what most people offer them for and these were pretty much typical Polish fabrics.
So, I decided to buy 6 kilos of them. They were sold by the kilogram - at 8 zl a kilo. I figured, if I understand it right, that quilting cotton is about 2-3 yards for a lb, then I was going to be getting quite a bit with this box as a kilo is 2.2 lbs. So for 8 zl, I figured I was getting between 4-6 yards of fabric. Not bad, since 8 zl is $2.07 at today’s exchange rate. I couldn’t help myself. I bought those 6 kilo and they arrived on Saturday.
This is what was in the box.
Obviously when you buy scraps like this, you buy a project. Yep. But I’m determined to go ahead and cut them up right now and see what I can do with them.
It’s kind of a rabbit trail away from what I am doing these days - but I’m following it anyway.
There are a lot of bold geometric designs here. I am curious how I’m going to use them.
I am first cutting the largest pieces into 4.5” strips which I will later go back and sub cut into squares.
What can’t be cut into 4.5” strips becomes 2.5”, 2” or 1.5” strips.
I decided to first cut all these pieces up into squares. After evaluating the scraps, I’ve opted for 4.5” squares, and then 2.5”, 2” and 1.5” strips. We’ll see what I can come up with. The lady gave me a TON of black and white pieces and not a lot of other colors.
I was actually hoping for some pink in there - and maybe something “interesting”. In fact, I was going to go buy another 6 kilo yesterday but the auction was no longer “up”. I’ll keep an eye and see if she puts it up again,
One good thing is that it allows me to handle a lot of different Polish fabrics - which is nice. Then I can see which ones I might like to get for backings for my charity quilts. I know where most of these fabrics are actually coming from.
The allegro dealer sells pillows and other home dec items that she apparently makes.
Here are the first of the strips. From the left - 1.5”, 2”, and then 2.5” strips. I am putting things smaller then 1.5” into a bag for a lady who does crafts with people at the psychiatric hospital and has to come up with things to make but has very little money for supplies.
I spent some time just cutting and will probably try to cut for 30 min. minimum a day until they are chopped up. My mind is just a whirling and whirling as to how to use these up to make an effective quilt/quilts.
When I finish cutting for the day, I’ll be sure to add them to my zipper bags to keep the pieces contained and sorted.
For all of this, I paid $14.47 which includes shipping. I’m really curious what I can do with it all. I am not going to restrict myself to just these fabrics, though. In fact, I am probably going to add red to the black to start with.
The black geometrics are going to be a challenge. But that’s mostly what I have. Working with small pieces with such bold prints - am not sure yet what I’m going to do!
I guess we’ll see! I’m not trying to keep it a secret - the truth is, I don’t know yet what I’m going to do with them!
But step one is “See what I have” - thus, I am cutting! When I get all done cutting, I’m going to weigh my cut up pieces and see how much usable by weight I have. However, I have to admit that I didn’t even weigh my box when I got it! I will just have to trust that the auction dealer sent me the full 6 kilos of fabric that I bought.
So there you - it’s just another one of the fun things I’ve got going on my life right now. It’s also something I can pack up and not feel bad about putting it away if I need to. It’s not a big deal. It’s just a small ‘self-challenge’.
Have a great day wherever you are reading this!
Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store!