Where to find a certain category of fabric

[Carlie Wolf]

I have a friend in his 90's who was lamenting the other day that it is no fun being the last in their "group" of friends to pass away. He misses them dearly and the great times they had together in their youth in the 1940's.

I'd love to make him a lap quilt that depicts things from the 40's but I don't know where I'd find fabric that might depict some of those things. I don't even know what to put in a search engine that might bring up those categories for fabric. I was thinking maybe things related to the Big Bands, or 40's make of car, or items that were popular in the 40's that they would have used like perhaps with pics of old phones, yes an old sewing machine, old phonographs or such . Any type of odds and ends that he could point to as he's thinking of the good old days. I was thinking I could purchase a variety in fat quarters or something so it can be made up of a variety of pictures that he can fondly remember.

At first, since I know he was a GI in WWII I thought maybe a patriotic quilt but then thought perhaps not.. since at 90 we don't really know what might have happened to him and perhaps those memories might bring up some things that were not pleasant for him and I would not want to do that. But to do a quilt that portrays the 40's I think he would absolutely adore.

Anyone have any ideas of how I could go about finding this subject matter in fabric??? I want to make it a simple quilt with the center of interest in the picture blocks rather an intricate patterns.

[Sandy Navas]

I'd start by looking here: Reproduction fabrics of 1775-1950 for quilting and costuming

Novelty Fabrics - Fabric - Nancy's Notions


Or go to Fabric.com and type in novelty prints, and then refine to something like antique cars, horse and buggy, whatever.

[Carlie Wolf]

Thanks Sandy. I'll try that :-)

[Hulamoon]

What type of activities did the group do? Maybe they were into fishing etc..

[Carlie Wolf]

The were pretty close to New York, just across the river. There was Coney Island rides, sock hops, definitely Big Band stuff, very into cars of the time. Lots of the guys in the group had enlisted in the war. The were a really close group and were into the music scene, driving around with whoever was fortunate enough to have a car. The girls were into fashion. The guys use to get together and play cards and of course go to the local bars or pizza places. They sometimes took trips to the Jersey shore in the summers.

So far what is coming off the top of my head are words like: Swing, sock hop, Sinatra, big bands, vinyl records, old phones, rosy the rivator (sp?), wing tip shoes, 40's fashion, old cameras, old sewing machines, old cars, probably some of the old home ec pictures because the Mom's use to bake them lots of things. I know he loved my grandparents and they treated him like family so he was over for dinner and holiday types of things a lot.

My mother had lots of pictures of them, they were huge into taking pictures of each other just hanging out. I'm thinking of maybe having one of the old jpg's of the group done up as the focal point? Not sure how much that would cost though. Doesn't Spoonflower do that?

[tnmtgrl]

Also try onlinefabrics.net or bugfabric.com or fabric.com......these might help

[tesspug]

Alexander Henry has some cute pin up fabrics, some have cars. Ignore the cowboys Alexander Henry - Collections

[Carlie Wolf]

Thanks Jen, I'll check that out.

Tesspug, those pinups were cute LOL

I found some things that might also work under MSQ novelty too. I'm getting psyched about this!