I had some errands to run today and of course, as my car went by Joann Fabrics, it sort of pulled to the right and headed to their parking lot. There’s really nothing I can do when that happens except give in.… :o) I wasn’t looking for anything in particular…except maybe a bargain or two! I found a few things I thought I’d share with you.
The fat quarters (18×20 pieces of fabric) were on sale for .99 cents and these 3 just jumped out at me… What era do you see them as? I know what I see them being made into… Let’s see if you guess the same as me. I love all 3 of them… the 2 black ones are similar, but slightly different. The black one on the left is super dark black and very eye catching. The blue one is just beautiful too. I love the swirls in it. I know they seem dark for Spring just arriving, but I’ve learned whenever I see a fat quarter I like, I better get it or it will be gone the next time I come in looking for it.
I also have a thing for tiny checked fabric and that carries over into the trims and ribbons I use. I noticed Joann’s had signs up that they were getting new ribbons in and many of them were clearanced. I’m not sure if they are getting a whole new line of ribbons in or just revamping what they already have in stock, but I decided to pick up a few spools of the small checked ribbon I use on my tinier dolls.
In the summer time I do a fair amount of accenting doll dresses with gingham (checked) fabric and saw this homespun piece and bought 2 yards of it. It’s a nice weight and will work well for lots of different looks.
So not too much in my bag, but enough for some really pretty dresses. Did you hit Joann’s today? Oh…I used some coupons, so I did good!!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I wish I could go to Jo-Ann’s as often as you do, but mine is one of those “superstores” right at the most crazy intersection in St. Louis as far as I’m concerned, and not the easiest to get to, so I’m not there very often. I always wondered what you meant by fat quarters, so now I know!
O do think the two black background fabrics would look good with that gingham as a trim. That last leaf patterned fabric looks very 30’s-40’s to me, but I don’t think I ever had or even saw a little girl in a dress with a lot of black back then. I could be wrong! The other two, could be Civil War era?
I had a very busy day yesterday, babysitting for my grandson and then going to our church fish-fry! Oh, that snow yesterday! It melted quickly, but oh my goodness, what a shock!
HI Linda,
I need MY Joann’s to be at a busy intersection…then maybe I wouldn’t find myself there as often…but…
I hadn’t thought of the black and red leaf pattern as a 30’s/40’s pattern, but I do like that idea. Yes, I was thinking of Civil War….I’m ALWAYS thinking of Civil War prints… I LOVE them!
We only got flurries and nothing stuck to the ground, for which I was very thankful!!!
Thanks so much Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Interesting fabrics. Do you use the checked ribbon flat or make it into tubing or use it folded over into the seams on the waistlines and cuffs? I’ve certainly noticed that detail and wondered if you made it with bias tape and turned something that small ! Thanks again for all the wonderful tips.
HI Susette,
I use this checked ribbon flat, for little bows, hair ties, belts, etc. I don’t fold it in half because it would need to be on the bias to have any give to it. I’m going to do a post soon on the checked accents I’ve done in the past.
Blessings, Jeanne
I will be hitting Joanns on Monday. 🙂 Can’t wait to see what ours has for the ribbon selection. Very nice fabrics that you got. 🙂
Hi Christine,
I have another coupon so I might “hit” Joann’s again on Monday myself. 50% off something is well worth it.
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne, Your car is a bad influence. Shame on it for always taking you to Joann’s. Doesn’t it know people like us cannot be in a fabric store without buying more, more, more? LOL!
I think I am lucky that my Joann’s isn’t quite as convenient to get to as yours is. But, that doesn’t eliminate online fabric shopping, does it? I’m afraid my cart is filled again waiting for me to “Checkout”. In a way that is worse because I “need” to buy enough to get free shipping. Oh, what are we to do?
Love the tiny gingham ribbon. I think I have the orange and red… somewhere. I’m still working on winding it all on cards. I’ve finished some of it and it does make it much easier to use. Thanks for the idea.
Have a great weekend, Jeanne!
Hi Cindy,
I wish I could blame my car!!! I do believe it’s ALL my fault! I’m glad to know your shopping cart is full too!! I’ve done that too… added a little more, to get Free shipping… everybody does it…I think.
I can’t find the pale pink anywhere… gotta keep my eyes open for some. I use it all the time in the summer.
Thanks Cindy… I haven’t forgotten about the interview… I’ve been tweaking my questions for you… don’t want to ask dumb or “giveaway your secrets” questions…
Blessings, Jeanne
My Joann’s is a 20 mile trip one way, but I think I must go there today, Jeanne. See what you have done? You’re an enabler to all the fabriholics that read your blog. I love the little checked ribbon, I have red, blue and orange but my pink is almost gone and I need more for a project I’m working on. We have a Michael’s and a Hobby Lobby here, as well as a WalMart, and none of them has the tiny check in pink. Bigger checks but not the tiny. What I have is made by Offray. Is that what Joann’s has? Guess I could check on-line.
I can definitely see the red/white check with either of the blacks on one of your American Girls. I’m no good a “periods” but I’ll guess Civil War?
Cindy, why do you wind your ribbons on cards? Doesn’t it make folds in them? I like opening my box and all the rolls of ribbon are in rows. I even save round objects, cover them with white felt, and keep my smaller laces wound on them. They take up a little more space than ribbon rolls, but I just hate the creases from folding.
Have a lovely weekend, ladies. The sun is finally shining in NW Indiana and the weatherman has promised 50 degrees next week so I’m happy. (And looking forward to a trip to Joann’s)
Hi Jevne,
It would probably be better if MY Joann’s were 20 miles away!! But I’m glad to help you out with a little shopping trip today. Have fun! Yes, the checked ribbon at Joann’s is by Offray.
Well, the Civil War was what I had in mind too. Linda suggested maybe the 30’s and 40’s for the last black and red one and I can see that too.
Cindy is winding her ribbons on cards because I did a post on that a few months ago. I’ll see if can’t find that for you. I might make them have slight folds but I always press the ribbons anyway, so I don’t mind. It’s much easier to see what you have with them filed one behind the other. For me it was a space saver…that’s mainly why I did it.
https://www.idreamofjeannemarie.com/from-messy-to-marvelous-part-2/
The sun is shining here in Southern Illinois, but it’s very cold…in the 30’s.
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne,
I’ve always wondered about the quality of Joann’s fat quarters…whether they are as nice as the fabric on the bolts?
Love your blog!
Hi Jane,
I’m pretty particular about the fabrics I buy… I don’t like cheap fabrics, printed fabrics that don’t have much detail, or too thick of fabrics. These are my criteria for a nice fabric, thin enough to hang well; nothing stiff as card stock, like some fabric’s can be, a well detailed design, bright colors, no faded spots, and I usually don’t buy striped or plaids in Fat Quarters, because if they are crooked you can end up losing an inch on either end of it. I spent a long time yesterday finding these 3 that I ended up getting.
Thanks for reading every day Jane,
Blessings, Jeanne
I see more pretty dresses in the making!! My guesses from left to right are Colonial, Prairie ( Kirsten) and Civil War. Better never sell your car, Jeanne, because a new one might not be “programmed” to take you into JoAnn’s. 🙂 I’ll have to check out the fat quarters next time, too. Our JoAnn’s is 16 miles away so I only get there about twice a month if that.
The sun is out here, but quite cold at 25 this morning. Where is spring!?
HI Laura,
Our car is fairly new to us… so I’m guessing it will be “programmed” for a long time!!!
Lots of good ideas on the fabrics… Kirsten would look pretty sweet in that blue print…hmmm!
The sun is out here, but cold too… Summer will probably just hit one of these days and there will be no Spring. I’m hoping not though. I like it to gradually get warmer…not all at once.
Thank you Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
I really like those fat quarters, especially the black one with the red leaves, and I have always been partial to the small checks. I’ve always liked the old-fashioned look of gingham, just don’t like those thin, poly blend ones. It’s getting hard to find the 100% cotton ones. I’ll be interested to see how you use the fabrics. Our Joanns closed about ten years ago so I don’t get to go very often anymore which probably saves me some money! I seriously don’t know what I would do if our Hancocks closed–all the employees there know me by name!
HI Carolyn,
Thanks so much for your comments. I think gingham is old fashioned looking too and I’m with you on the poly blend stuff…ick! Give me cotton!
It’s too bad your Joann’s closed…but I bet you have saved a ton of $! Ooooo, a Hancocks… I have to drive almost 50 minutes to get to a Hancocks, but when I get there I make the most of all their sales!
Thanks again,
Blessings, Jeanne
I saw the swirling gray leaves on the black fabric and the blue both as Civil War period dresses for American Girl dolls, I’ve started to see quite a few Regency dresses for the Little Darlings, so why not some Civil War era outfits for them too? I suppose the prints would have to be really tiny, but I’ve seen them in fat quarters and even bought some for dresses and aprons. The day may come. Remember Phoebe in Eight Cousins? She was my inspiration.
We have not only a JoAnne’s, but one of the best fabric stores in the US — Elfride’s in Boulder, Colorado. If you are anywhere close, look it up on Google and then come see it. It’s also a splendid place for quilting fabric. It’s a tiny place, but stuffed full of treasures.