Question:
Okay, y'all are really getting me excited, so I have started digging out my boxes of fabrics and linens. Soooooooo, I can't be an informed seller, unless I know what I have.............so here I am, begging for knowledge again!
And, here are some fabrics I need some help on. The first is a whimsical pattern I need help dating-it still has tag from store that went out of business in 1960. And how would you describe this? I think it is cotton. Have 2¾ yds. Still has white cord through it so can't be opened up. I should leave it like this, right??
2-is my-I think wonderful-Marc Chagall.
Belle Fluers "A Modern Masters" original by Decorama written on the selvege-now I know how to spell it. Anybody know anything about this, is it upholstery or drapery fabric? It is like duckcloth or canvas.........I think. It is about 50" by 40", enough to do anything with it??
I am so clueless about textiles, but I can't stop buying linens and fabrics.it's like an obsession. Back in the 20's-40's my grandfather, mother, aunts and other assorted relatives worked in the mills in the south. I remember soft summer nights with the exhilirating O'dour from the Celanese plant........do y'all think it is in the genes.
Answer:
Oh how cute the first pattern. Are they pixies..?
Yes Cariad it's probably in your genes.
Answer:
Pixies? Thank you Tina, Maybe.... they are definitely girls with hats that look like wire wastebaskets to me. Do you think that's what I should call them??
Here are some more fabrics.
The first one is theater scenes of shakespeares plays and the old Vic. It has its original tag that sez rosebank fabric.
the second is .........well, can you tell me????
ditto the 3rd, although selvege sez STRUCTURE screen print by Guardsman and the 4th is Puritan Windsor print........ebay these or what???????
Answer:
First Post:
Fabric #1: Not so much Pixie-like to me. Definitely "Mod" though which is quite popular now. I'm not sure what you mean about the "white cord" and not taking it off. I would be interested to know the width of the fabric. Title could be "Vintage 1960's Fabric Mod Little Girls Funny Hats" if it is indeed 60's fabric.
Fabric #2: Could be upholstery or drapery which is why I always refer to these fabrics as "decorator" fabrics!
Second Post:
Fabric #1: Very nice. definitely ebayable in my opinion. How wide is this one?
Fabric #2: Looks very Dali-like to me. Is it actual images or just random swirls. Kind of psychedelic.
Fabric #3: May be a hard sell. Not retro looking enough though I like the colors.
Fabric #4: Looks like it may be barkcloth and if it is it's a sure winner.

Tanya
Answer:
Hi Tanya,
first post
I think this is about 34W. The fabric is folded and then near each end a piece of thick white thread was needled through all the layers so it can't be opened up. Should I take it out? Then I could accurately measure the width. The cardboad tag(with ydage) is from Rosenbaum's departmet store-which closed in 1960, so it must be 1960 or before, right? Have you copyrighted those keywords or can I steal them if I list this
2nd post
The first piece is 50w-according to the tag-by 60". It is much nicer than it looks in the photos.
2. who knows pattern or random swirls-which will make it sell better. I did find a name now on it, it is Schwartz-Liebman.
3. also looks better than the pics and I agree the color is great......that's why I bought it oh, so long ago. Why on earth I do this, I don't know........I can't make anything out of them. They just fascinate me.
4. If I've learned from y'all, I don't think this is barkcloth. weave seems to even, but I've included a close up so you can teach me what it is.
I haven't gotten to the 2 boxes that I think are all barkcloth yet.