I knew this was going to be hard – when I started looking at Country Threads patterns for plaid fabrics, I would have to show 90% of them at least. We started with Roberta Horton plaids, then madras plaid, and then brushed cotton plaids which were woven.
I’m going to assume some readers do not understand the difference between flannel and brushed cotton so here goes.
Flannel is printed on blank fabric called griege (pronounced gray) which is raw, unfinished, unprocessed fabric immediately after it has been woven. Many times it’s printed crooked – probably more often than not. When you turn flannel over to the back side it’s probably whitish, gray or beige.
Brushed cotton is woven – the front is the same as the back – each thread is woven, not printed. Woven fabric can always be cut straight if you follow the thread. I don’t even own any flannel so I can’t show you. Look at this brushed fabric – the triangle part folded back is brushed, the other is not. But the lines are the same. Brushed is a “finish” which was popular in the ‘80’s-2000’s – when we were in business.
So I pulled a couple patterns (yes, they can be available and purchased) and each one has plaids.
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Lots of plaids!
Pattern available -$10 + free shipping.
Little Quilts
328 Cherokee Station Circle
Woodstock GA 30188
Check or PayPal – mev2@bellsouth.net
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Several of you told me you couldn’t stand to see a crooked plaid and that’s just fine – it doesn’t bother me so I still like to use plaids.
On that same subject – remember the men’s shirts quilts? Here was my inspiration and remaining shirts in the shop.
We had 51 mph winds today, the highest in the state. It’s hard to see in this picture, but just imagine all that precious black topsoil blowing to who knows where!
And lest you think I work hard every day, here’s Hazel and me in the porch this afternoon catching a nap!
Love the pictures of Kira & Loretta! What lucky dogs!! I have to say that’s one big lap puppy!! How sweet! My son was over on Mother’s Day & brought a hanging basket that he had planted for me. I had recently changed Internet providers & my computer & printer didn’t work. Both were brand new. He was able to reinstall everything & I can print from my computer, tablet, & phone. I so appreciate having an IT man in the family! As I told him I have no idea where to start when it comes to these things. I did know the difference between brushed cotton & flannel. I sold a whole lot of homespun when I managed the fabric & craft dept at Walmart. That was the mid 90’s. I loved homespun & it made wonderful napkins that didn’t need to be ironed. It does need to be preshrunk as it shrinks just like flannel. Last week I joined a gym & have a personal trainer. Trying to stay healthy as I get older.
Mary,
Great photos and news today! Love the plaids and the lesson on flannel and brushed cottons. Think of all the love in Kira’s heart! She is beautiful. As is Loretta.
My chickens would devour that watermelon! They leave the thinnest slice of green rind as the only evidence that they had watermelon!
Our weather is so disappointing! Seems as if we haven’t had a spring. Predictions for temps in the 80s on the weekend. Hard to believe when today’s feel was 34*.
Went to Tractor Supply with my trailer today to pick up fencing for my son and daughter-in-law. They want to fence in an area of the garden. Their backyard along the lake is a thouroughfare for deer. They have eaten every plant my son has planted and I have said for several years he needed a fence. Finally! They believe me.
Had a visit from my 3 year old neighbor girl today, although she informs me she is now 3 and a half! She brought two books with her that she wanted me and my husband to read to her. Both had chickens in them, as she is enamored of the chickens. Fun time and she made me a little wooden box she decorated with about 100 sparkles and stickers. Inside the box she gave me two rocks from her secret garden. She has such an imagination!
Have a good night everyone. We are watching the Detroit pistons in the playoffs. 🌻
Mailed my card today to Jack from Elko. At least it won’t take 3 weeks to get there like it does from Canada. Better late than never I guess.
Wow, best quilt show yet! Depending on the quilt, I might think the plaids need to be straight, and other times wonky is just fine.
Mary, thanks for the flannel lesson. You are such a good teacher! They have beautiful flannel at Always Your Design.
It is beautiful here today! 78* and NO wind!
I love all the patterns you posted and I also love all the quilts! Beautiful!
That big dog thinks he is still a baby! Too funny!
Headed to feed the birds.
That big dog is 11 months old…and still growing!!!
Thank you, Mary, for the lesson on flannel and brushed cotton. My sewing group at church used flannel for charity quilts for years but I’m getting away from it since I sew all the squares together for them to tie. I use a lot of fabric from my stash now. I do love plaid quilts. The heart quilt today is a favorite.
Kira is beautiful and I love that she thinks she is a lap dog! Many days I feel like that old goat!!
As soon as my gardener cuts my grass, I’m off to Lowes. Have a great day!!!
Charlotte, you sew all the squares for the church . I do also, then we meet at church one day a month to tie them.
FYI: For those who like to send cards to people Mary post, I often find boxes of cards, some vintage, when I’m out treasure hunting at Thrift stores, yard sales, Goodwill etc. That way I always have a good supply on hand for all occasions. Getting ready for heading up North for the summer. Plan on porch sitting and working on quilting projects piling up. I like to serve “Sweet Tea” when people come to visit and they ask “what’s that?”. They call it Ice Tea up North. They also are in the dark about grits so I like to serve cheese grits for breakfast when we have company. Again, North vs South.
Love all the plaid quilts! I do have a question; are “brushed cottons” and “homespun” the same type of fabric? And what tips to people have for working with the “homespun” fabrics? I have a large tote of homespun plaids that I’ve never done anything with because I’m worried about shrinkage. All suggestions appreciated.
When our son was small, I asked him what his favorite color was. His response was “plaid”. When his grandmother asked what type of quilt he wanted for high school graduation, he replied “plaid”. He requested throw pillows for his sofa for Christsmas one year. I asked what color/type and he replied “plaid”. So I made throw pillows from a old wool plaid throw I had used in college. And yes, LL Bean flannel plaid shirts are a favorite. LL Beans actually does woven, plaid flannel shirts not printed.
DebMac – I think brushed is a homespun that has that “brushed”, somewhat fuzzy surface. My only tip is to cut on the thread if wobbly seams bug you.
The information on flannel versus brushed cotton was informative and interesting. Turns out the “flannel” shirts and lounging bottoms I buy are brushed cotton not flannel. It doesn’t matter but I just like to know. Apparently some well known brand names also don’t know the difference.
WOW, I’ll carry these images with me all day! And good info on the flannel/brushed cotton. I was one of the confused and thought it backwards. Love the plaids – I used up some a few years back. I’d like to share pictures but I’m way behind in learning the technology. Thanks, Mary for knowing how to share with us!
What a lovely post. I say, “Yay,” to plaids, pets and also naps on the porch!! I’m deep into a fabric folding/organizing/inventory project and last night folded yards of plaid fat quarters. Probably purchased them in the late 90s. Your post was very timely for me in that regard. I’d adore a nap on our screen porch, but it is still too chilly here to bother to open the porch up yet. Maybe that can happen next week after we return home from a short trip for a grandchild’s graduation.
Suzanne – my porch faces east so I get the nice morning sun and with no screens on the west, I avoid the very hot late afternoon sun but it’s still pretty chilly on the porch. I’m just so anxious to be there that I compensate with an afghan or quilt.
Thank you for the lesson today. It’s great to learn something new. I made one plaid quilt with flannels and yes they were wonky. I didn’t mind either. I don’t have it anymore, it was the second quilt I made many years ago. I completed it during the time I was working on my hand appliqué and hand quilted quilt. I just wanted to complete something really fast. We used it so much, first I replaced the binding and then finally when it was full of holes I had to throw it out. I had forgotten about that quilt till you asked for pictures of plaid quilts. Thanks for the reminder.
We are still in Elko with our son and his family. Our granddaughter got sick and with my DIL out of town for work and my son not able to stay home from work, we have stayed to help out. Thank goodness we were here. We will leave tonight and drive for about 4 hrs so that we only have a 10-11 hr day of driving tomorrow. Mary our baby horse has grown a lot while we were away. Our son FaceTimed us yesterday and wow she is so much taller. Will send pictures to you when I can.
Teresa – it was providence that you were there when they needed you! I can’t wait to see Scarlett again – I started liking colts online and now I see many in my feed – I love them.
Yes it was. Our son has thanked me so many times, they were really needing help. Another day with our granddaughter isn’t too bad. She is three and told me she didn’t want us to go home because she misses us. Got tears in my eyes from that one. Thank goodness for FaceTime, though it’s not in person she can see us and we can see her.
Love all of the quilts today. The plaid quilts look so cozy. I have absolutely adored your pattern The Best Yet. I saw it for the first time on Pinterest and pinned it immediately. I didn’t know that it was one of yours, I just loved the colors and the picture of it on a fence with snow in the background…..breathtaking! Later I discovered your blog but still didn’t know it was your pattern until you posted about the image being used by someone else. I think you might have mentioned that the pattern was in your book Beyond the Battlefield. i immediately went on line and found the book which I purchased. That book has many beautiful quilts. I still haven’t made The Best Yet, but I will. Your blog is not only entertaining Mary, but I find it very informative.
Ginger – wow, that was a history lesson. I’m so glad you found me – I know there are others out there who would enjoy our great group of readers but I don’t quite know how to find them, do you? Best of All is truly that – the story behind that quilt is pretty funny – I made many blocks trying to find just the right combination and finally I just threw my hands in the air and put what I had made together – haha! That’s a great lesson in over thinking.
Loved Kira’s and Loretta’s pictures and all those quilts shown. What a wonderful way to begin a day by learning about plaids and wovens and seeing how good our lives are with naps, loved ones, greenery and fresh air.
Kathy – yes! I’m feel like I’m living the good life!
What a fun post today! Thanks for the fabric lesson. I just love the lap puppies! 😍 Great quilts ladies!!
Oh, this was so colorful, in every way. I loved going through it all. I will have a smile on my face all day just from looking at Kira. I wish I could meet her and Hazel – and of course, you! Thanks so much for a brighter day!
I have one of those patterns! I bought it from you at a country living fair in Ohio. Over the weekend I needed a couple of different yellows for a quilt block- so I tore up one of my ex-husbands old dress shirts. Great material and weirdly cathartic!
Elizabeth – atta girl! You’re thinking outside the box by using a shirt – think of the possibilities ahead!
Hi Mary, love that big puppy! Bella has never sat on my lap,she likes her own space! I love plaid, and still use some in quilts, most of my fabric is 20 to 30 years old as l worked in a fabric store. Some days l feel like the old goat,sore knee and round tummy! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – oh, how funny! Most of us feel like old goats at times, I think. You and I are using the same vintage fabric – from our places of business!!!
I love working with plaid shirts. My Mom loved taking them apart for me. I took a class using plaids and many fabric stores around me didn’t carry a lot. I remember reading somewhere that you bought men’s shirts and went to the thrift store and they had a BIG selection and cheap at that time and got enough for several projects.
Hazel looks comfy and exhausted searching for things to get into must be tiring poor baby
I don’t like working with plaids that are wonky so just don’t. I really love the ones that are woven straight and do use those. Colors are so pretty.
Love the pictures of the dogs. They sure have a beautiful area to run and play.
Have a beautiful day….
Thanks for the nice lesson on plaids. There’s nothing like working with plaids and homespuns! Wish companies would produce them again.Thanks for listing info on ordering ‘Welcome Home’….. one of our favorites! Did you know that what we’ve done for 30+ years is now called “granny crafts”?!….. that’s the word around here!😳😉😘
Mary Ellen – and so it should be since we’re all at granny age! Or dinosaur age! Haha!!
I talked to my sister last night. Her new ring camera thinks that one of her dogs is a Goat! The dog has floppy ears, so it must be a goat.
Dee – please explain – does she have goats herself or is one visiting?