Visit to Back Porch Fabrics

For our 48th wedding anniversary, my husband and I spent two nights in Pacific Grove at the Seven Gables Inn with a scenic view out onto Monterey Bay. Within a few blocks, walking distance, is Back Porch Fabrics. Frank knows what keeps me happy.

We went there first thing the first morning after breakfast and drove the short distance. Frank rationalized driving rather than walking by, "What if you have a lot of fabrics to carry back?" Here are my purchases; I was well behaved. Upon entering, I immediately saw a fabric panel displayed on the counter, and I fell in love with it instantly.

Out of habit I visited the sales table first and picked up two fat quarter bundles, basically at half price. They were made up of a majority of solids and so I feel confident that I can put them to good use. I try to steer away from novelties to rein in my stash size.

The two fat quarters on the left of the first bundle and the one chili peppers fat quarter on the right of the second bundle may be tricky to use up but the rest are solids or low volumes that easily read as solids.

I also spotted a novelty fat quarter with a knitting theme. My sister is an avid knitter. Then one of the clerks pointed out to me they the shop had that print in yardage. I bought 1¼ yards, reasoning I could make a large square pillow. The sayings are so cute..."If I'm sitting 💓 I'm knitting", "Knitting is the New Yoga", "100 rows a day keeps the shrink away", etc. Look closely for more witticisms. Also note in the selvage that there are 18 different colors in this fabric. My coordinating possibilities are nearly endless!

Once I got home I used ½ yard of the knitting fabric combined with a pink stripe from my stash to make a tote bag for knitting. It worked up really fast. The inside lining is the pink stripe so it will be nice and light for looking inside. I still have ¾ yard of the knitting theme fabric so maybe I will make a pillowcase for sleeping - perhaps to use when not knitting?

The pattern I used I also bought at Back Porch Fabrics. Called Turn It Into a Tote, the one-page set of instructions was designed by the shop owner and takes only ½ yard of the theme fabric and 1 yard of another coordinate.

I also bought a pattern called Magic Block, also designed by the shop owner. It is quite easy to piece but the assortment of assembly options were quite clever. I always like to reward a designer's creativity by supporting them with a purchase. The quilt on the wall made from the pattern was one of the options I was very drawn to. It looks like the quilt top takes only one fabric combined with a contrasting background assortment. This pattern could work well for using up many of my novelties.

The shopping expedition was fun, but fabric is not the only mighty fine thing to look at!

Fabric Follies

Today I went with my quilty friend Kathie to the Fabric Follies about 20 miles away sponsored by Diablo Valley Quilters. All fabrics were $3/yd and fat quarters were $1. What a bargain! If only someone would sell me storage space as well, since my stash continues to grow faster than I use it up. Here is what I bought... and sort of why.

I love the color and texture of these striated solids. They will most certainly get used. They totaled 2¼ yards.

This stack of 9 fat quarters with a red/white blue nautical theme caught my eye. I actually put it back twice since I have no further need of fat quarters. But I finally could not pass up that sharp, coordinated, graphic look for $9, $1 per fat quarter. These can make a small quilt or a set of placemats I told myself.

This horse print is intended for my horse crazy granddaughter. Will I make pillowcases or back a quilt? I do not know but I have 3 yards of it. I told my husband this fabric does not count because it is not for me. He laughed. "Right..." he chuckled. "But who's counting?" he added.

This lighthouse fabric is a seaside theme my husband really likes. I told him this fabric does not count either since it is for him. This will most likely become king size pillowcases. He just nodded and smiled. I have 3¼ yards.

I know it sounds a little backwards but I have 6¼ yards of this lovely cardinal fabric in my stash, so I bought 1 yard of this cardinal fabric to go with it.

I have been collecting oranges for a pumpkin pattern I want to sew up. This ½ yard will work nicely with the others fabric and it is strikingly different.

OK. Enough of the fabrics I could explain away. The rest of these I bought honestly for no good reason other than that I liked them. But I maintain that a reason of just liking them is a good enough reason. I counted eight different vegetables before this yardage repeats itself. Each color is strikingly bold in and of itself. I am also a sucker for black and white checks. With 2 yards of this I can make eight placemats or a border on a quilt.

These next two small pieces called to me but for different reasons. I had the clear green fabric on the left with the milk bottles and used it up on placemats for the Twelve Cats of Christmas (12/6/2018 post). It reads like a solid but has enough whimsy to brighten up that green even a bit more. I was an eensy-weensy bit sorry to see it go, so this is a partial replacement. As for the gray/beige tones on the right, I liked the intricate details of the stone buildings. It is only a fat quarter but I think it would make a classy, classic pillow for a gray/beige/neutral room or to contrast well on a bright colored couch.

These next two fabrics are so bright and fun I could not pass them up. The first is many different animals and the second is many different vehicles. I have 1⅓ yard of the animals and only a ½ yard of the vehicles, but with each, the segregated individual squares will make them easy to expand to a quilt for a child.

Final fabric tally was:
1 + ¾ + ½ + 3 + 3¼ + 1 + ½ + 2 + 1⅓ + ½ = 13⅚ yards and 11 fat quarters.

I had a fun couple hours with my friend and we went out to lunch afterward. That is a win-win situation for sure. Now I get to stroke the fabric it, refold it, and put it away.