Homespun Goodness

This post is a part of the Stash Stories, a series about fabric, creativity, and the stories behind what we save. Each post explores a piece of my fabric stash- where it came from, why it matters, and what it’s teaching me about making, memory, and possibility.

I’m collecting homespun for projects not yet named. I have many ideas—many, many ideas. I’ve loved homespun for a long time and, at one point in my life, made quilts, pillows, children’s toys, and more from it. I adore patterns. Plaids, stripes, checks—I love them all.

A few months ago, I decided to actively search for homespun fabrics. They aren’t easy to find, and it took some effort, but I’ve achieved my goal. I now have a healthy – and growing- collection of homespun. And here’s the thing: because of the strong patterns, using it feels a little intimidating.

Homespun demands respect. The sewist must honor the pattern. Any crooked cut or off-grain seam immediately draws the eye, making even small mistakes more noticeable.

We all make mistakes. None of us want to spotlight them. But inaccuracy—especially when working with homespun or any fabric with a distinct pattern—can do just that.

So for now, I keep looking at these marvelous fabrics and considering my options. Pattern be damned? Cut small squares, carefully aligned on the grain? Use homespun sparingly, as accents rather than the star of the quilt?

What would you do? Advice is welcome.

Stash Stories is an ongoing series about fabric, creativity, and the stories behind what we save. Each post explores a piece of my fabric stash—where it came from, why it matters, and what it’s teaching me about making and memory.→ Read all Stash Stories