Healthy Fabrics

Hybrid Quilts

Hybrid Quilts, that’s what I call the patchwork blankets I make from new and old fabrics that are both eco-friendly and home healthy: vintage cotton prints for the top and new wide-width organic cotton or hemp/organic cotton blends for the backing. Sandwiched in between is sustainably produced natural fiber batting such as an alpaca blend, wool or cotton. The fun part about making a hybrid quilt is hunting for the vintage fabrics and creating a color scheme that’s uniquely you. I use a simple square or rectangle layout. I can piece it quickly and then hand everything off to a long arm quilting pro to do the rest. A hard core quilter once called that “lazy”. I call it energy efficient!

Laurel Leaf Farm’s Vintage Fabrics

 
If you’re on the hunt for a one-of-kind cotton print from a specific era be sure to peruse Laurel Leaf Farm’s extensive offering of reclaimed fabrics. This is one of my favorite online retailers for feedsacks, quilting calicos, 1940-50’s mid to heavy weight decorator cloth, like these large scale cottage florals, as well as, some really groovy prints from the 1960’s.  

 
 

Cheapo-Eco Binding

 
No budget for binding? Try this quick patchwork method for repurposing your fabric scraps into binding, flat bias tape and piping. It’s very easy (thanks to the Bias Tape Maker tool) and produces yards and yards of professionally crafted trim for free! This scrappy-style embellishment will add a unique finish to your quilts, blankets, curtains, tablecloths and other home sewing projects without adding cost. Instructions next page.

How-To Repurpose a Vintage Kitchen Towel

Kitchen towels from the 40’s and 50’s are coveted today for their nostalgic prints. Cheery, hand-illustrated fruit and florals are among the most popular themes printed on top of subtly textured toweling woven from thick linen and/or cotton yarns. Each retro design has a unique charm, which easily lends itself to a variety of repurposing projects. Here are my five favorites:

Wrap a kitchen theme gift such as veggies and herbs from your garden with a recipe.  

Sew two together or combine with other fabric to make a tote bag.

Hang framed or unframed on the wall.

Use as napkins, a different one for each person.

Adorn a throw pillow: see my post, Quick Hemp Pillow.

Decorative Vintage Crochet

Vintage crochet and tatting pieces are two of my favorite handicrafts to collect. I especially like the simple, undyed cotton and linen designs inspired by nature: snowflakes, pinecones, grapes clusters, flowers and buds. These timeless treasures are easy to repurpose as pillow case edgings, curtain trims, table linen appliques and wall art. Pair them with sustainable hemp and organic cotton fabrics in similiar natural colors for beautiful tonal effects.

No-Sew Green Holiday Decor

I'm keeping it simple and stress-free this holiday season. I'm decorating with repurposed vintage fabrics, without sewing a stitch.

Here's a cheery vignette I put together in minutes using a few of my favorites. A stack of folded wooly plaids and charming cotton prints mounted in clip frames. These are from 1930 feedsacks. I threw in a bit of greenery and, voila! Fast, easy and free.

Happy Green Holidays! 

Repurposing Vintage Ticking

Old ticking is by far my favorite yarn-dyed cotton. I love the tight twill weave, soft hand and shaded colors. I started collecting vintage ticks (mattress and pillow sacks) 15 years ago and soon realized the stripe designs are vast ranging from the common all-American indigo & white single-stripe to the unique multi-color French awning patterns from the early 1900’s. It’s easy to want them all! 

This traditional fabric is one of the most adaptable for eco-home décor and offers endless design opportunities for re-purposing.

New Uses for Old Decorative Linens

I went to a neighborhood estate sale last weekend and came home with a bag of happiness. It’s hard to resist charming embroidered linens from the 1950’s, and earlier. The cheery floral designs and colorful stitching are definitely mood enhancers!

Originally designed as table runners, dresser scarves and arm rest covers these decorative pieces inspire many new uses like a bolster wrap. Read on for pics and how-to.

Old Tablecloth, New Coverlet

Creating a new use for an old textile item, in most cases, is one of the most sustainable methods of furnishing our homes. That’s because the used textile has already had a chance to out gas and the repurposing or upcycling process requires significantly fewer resources compared to manufacturing a new item.

 

Tablecloths, sheets and curtains for example, are some of the easiest and most versatile home textiles to repurpose. They’re instant yardage! Zero to little deconstruction required. I turned this pretty vintage tablecloth into a machine-quilted coverlet, which can also be used as throw. I backed it with a like-new flannel sheet and I used a thin layer of organic cotton batting.

 

Hunt down a new-used or vintage tablecloth of your own and get started. Here’s how.