The Selfish Seamstress has a lot of pet peeves when it comes to sewing projects. One of the main ones is the misguided use of quilting fabric for women’s apparel. Yes, quilting fabric often comes in very pretty prints, patterns, and colors, and yes, there are some rare exceptions when it works well. But more often than not, when people sew dresses or blouses in quilting fabric, they may as well just scrawl the word “HOMEMADE” on it with a Sharpie.
I’m not a quilter (I don’t have much interest in sewing when it doesn’t hold potential for vain adornment) and so I generally avoid the quilting section of my local fabric store. But somehow the Tillbrook collection of fabrics from Alexander Henry has slipped into my consciousness and I find it too adorable and charming to ignore. Here are some examples. First up, the Tillbrook Border print:
Then the Tillbrook Toadstools:
And lastly the Tillbrook Fairies print, similar to the Tillbrook Border but an all-over print:
Too lovely, don’t you think? And I can’t think of a way to use it (and therefore I can’t think of an excuse to buy it.) Yes, the obvious answer would be to make something for a baby, but that violates the first rule of Selfish Seamstressing. Anyway, babies are too young to express worshipful gratitude, and you have to wait a long time before you can collect on the debt they owe you for the handmade gift in any tangible way. (Yeah, yeah, they’re sweet and full of love and the greatest gift of all, but a Selfish Seamstress needs presents and favors. She can’t just give away her labor in exchange for stuff like love.)
Anyway, she’s not sure how her adorable nephew would look in pink fairy print:
[Sigh. For the sake of full disclosure, the Selfish Seamstress did knit his little sweater from Knitty’s wonderful Trellis pattern. As much as it goes against her philosophy of selfishness, she is a slave to this child. If you’re wondering, it’s Sublime DK weight organic cotton in shade #91 Peapod.]
Okay, back to talking about me. The question is, could I incorporate this print fabric into my sewing in any reasonably sophisticated way? Particularly the border print, which I just love. Or is cutesy (an aesthetic that does not interest me) the only option? Ideas?
The Selfish Seamstress 
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November 6, 2009 at 2:15 pm
all is on
maybe a reversible wrap skirt? I find quilting cottons to be okay for a slightly fuller skirt, as long as it’s lined, and this could be the side perhaps worn most often on the inside? that way you get a secretive indulgence, which is really sort of selfish in itself.
November 6, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Kelly
I’m sure I’m breaking some kind of rule here but I don’t have anything to say about the use of quilting cotton but I couldn’t resist commenting on how adorable your newphew is. Oh hey, the sweater is a great testament to your many talents and dedication and the time taken away from your own projects is humbling (how’s that for adoration?)
November 6, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Jessica
Can’t tell how large of a print the fabric is, but you might be able to use it for some type of bag lining. Definitely along the same lines of a secretive indulgence – and you’d get to do a happy dance every time you opened your bag…
November 6, 2009 at 3:59 pm
cindy may
i started out making baby clothes. that’s how i learned to sew. i would give them to everyone and anyone who had a kid, whether they knew me or not. When i learned to sew for myself, i went through an angry phase of “i’ll never sew for people again”. Now i’ve come full circle and i make toddler stuff for a “break” from “real” sewing when I just don’t feel like doing all the work. It’s win/win. I still get to sew and make something cute out of kid fabric (which I still totally love) and the person gets a baby outfit for their child. just what i do anyway…
November 6, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Kayy
Well, I think the sweater is adorable as is the little fellow sporting it. It just shows you are not as selfish as you make out! As for the prints, they are showing a different Selfish Seamstress from the so-elegant one that usually models on these e-pages. I’m having trouble assimilating the idea of you in the pink fairies, I have to say. LBD they are not! But if they get your creative juices flowing, I say indulge yourself (that would be selfish, no?).
November 6, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Shams
Step AWAY from the toadstools!!!
Yes, they are cute. Adorable, even.
OK, if you must, a lined tote bag. Or a retro 50s-style apron with coordinating oven mitts. Or, *perhaps* some fairy pajama bottoms with toadstool pockets. Or add some of this fabric to your stash for a future adorable niece who would love some fairy pillowcases.
But go fondle some silk charmeuse and snap out of it. ;)
November 9, 2009 at 8:43 pm
elily00
I could not agree more, but some of the prints are just so incredibly tempting aren’t they! I agree- pajama bottoms. That way you get to indulge without the “homemade” look leaving your home. And they’re just meant for that type of thing aren’t they? I prefer extra-soft flannel though :) An apron would be along those same lines, but if you’re not the cooking type, then it’s pointless. The only other thing I can possibly think of that might work would be an extremely full gathered skirt- you might be able to pull that off. Even that is iffy due to the cutesy factor. Too bad right?
November 11, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Meredith P
While I understand the lure of the toadstools, take it from someone much older and more experienced, you will regret them. I’ve been seduced by stuff like that over and over (I repeat, I am older-notice I didn’t say wiser). That said, I like the idea of a tote or handbag lining, or even PJ bottoms if those are in your world.
November 24, 2009 at 12:26 am
Pamela D
Yup, I love this type of thing too, but, as I am a garment sewer, it always languishes in my stash. I would agree that the best use would be at-home wear such as aprons or PJ bottoms.
However, with that border print, I could just imagine a little wrappy sundress to be worn on the perfect summer day with a pretty straw hat. You would need to be sure to go the right sort of places when wearing it, i.e. picnics, tea parties, children’s birthday parties – where you will recieve many compliments. Do it while you are young and can get away with it.