Feeling texty

Just a couple of years ago I struggled to find text prints on and would snap up any that I discovered quick as they were such hot property.  Since then, availability has improved so much and they are much more widely used.  Amy Friend is running a Texty challenge- Texting Whilst Sewing contest.  The aim is to use text fabric imaginatively in a 12" quilt block.  I am lucky enough to be judging the top ten entries with Ayumi!   There is a lot of potential with such an open brief for creative ideas and there is ample time - entries need to be in by the end of August.

Text fabrics are an essential part of my stash and I find they fulfill a range of functions.  They are great blenders, providing background interest and texture, as seen in this graffiti print by Keiko Goke for Yuwa.  White/cream fabrics with a mono print are so useful- they lighten a mix of fabrics and provide a bit of space whilst the dynamic scribbles create direction and a bit of life!

 This print by Yoshiko Jinzenji develops abstract lines adding pops of colour, illustration and text.  I bought this a while ago and as soon as it arrived I realised how great it would be for clothing.  It is a very fine cotton- you can see the print of the layer underneath- and the print is random so needs no matching up.

 Effective number prints can be a bit harder to find and designing a print with a twist is more of a challenge for the fabric designers.  This is a Sukuko Kosekit fabric, 'What's the Time'  The curves were exactly what I needed when i planned the grocery scales block for Ayumi's Vintage grocery store theme Ringo Pie.  The background is a lovely pinky shade of cream too, a nice variation on neutral colours.

Other text prints lend themselves to fussy cutting.   This is another Suzuko Koseki print.  You can find a coral colourway available here.  There are instant images and text so you can almost code your work with messages!  I sometimes feel like my mini quilts tell a story with fussy cut words and pictures.

This Kei fabric is also ideal for fussy cutting, love those cute retro telephones- the cord making the word is genius!

You can find a good variety of text prints at Eternal Maker- look under Numbers and Letters Fabrics and also under Japanese Imports.  I hope some of you feel inspired by Amy's competition to have a go and submit a block- I look forward to seeing what you come up with- and check the prizes out, that might be enough to push you over the edge to enter!

Calligraphy

Regular readers will know all about my love of text fabric.  This is a beautiful example, Calligraphy fabric by Suzuko Koseki.  I bought mine from Etsy seller, Lucky Kaeru.

I have mentioned my creative primary school education before.  Calligraphy was a standard lesson and from age eight we all learnt to write italic handwriting as our normal script with Platinum ink pens.   Sounds idyllic?   It worked better for some than others; for those who struggled with the chiseled nib and ink flow, their work was always a blue smudgy affair  I also  remember going to the secretary's office to have cartridges refilled with a syringe. 

This is my original work booklet- my mum found it in a cupboard recently.  This was my bible and it gives me a big wave of nostalgia seeing it again.

You can see how this style of instructional imagery has influenced the SK fabric.  I found some of my  exercise attempts in ink and shock horror, biro- I think I did these at home.  I didn't stick with the hymn long before going off on on a tangent. 

This page would make a wonderful fabric print.

As I moved further up the school I did move on from my biro scribble.  In my final year, age 11,  I produced a book for a class project on Lindisfarne inspired by the illuminated gospels.  We made books each year, I have my book on sheep and another on Victorians, great mementos of a lively education

I was so lucky to have such a creative education in the state sector, it's stuck with me and every time I choose a text fabric for a sewing project I am reminded and thankful of Mr Cowper and many others.