It’s here! I’m so excited today to formally introduce my first fabric collection, Gingham Girls!
The prints in this collection are inspired by my 1970’s childhood. Growing up, my mom made a lot of the clothes that my sisters and I wore – just as her mother had done for her. She especially loved to dress us in matching clothes. (That’s me on the right with the buck-tooth grin and perpetually bruised knees.)
And since funds were tight, the most common fabric she used was good old gingham. She found it on sale for .88 cents a yard (for real) at Fashion Fabrics and bought all the gingham. In every color. lol. Not only did we have gingham clothes, we had gingham curtains, doll clothes, bed quilts, and doll quilts.
You can read more about my story and the original patchwork quilt that inspired this line, as well as relive a little 1970’s nostalgia in this Official Introduction to the Gingham Girls post. And you can hear me talk a little more about it in this video. 🙂
This collection features summer-themed colors and vintage-inspired prints, perfect for a patriotic picnic quilt or a summer sundress. It’s hard to pick a favorite, because I’m always a sucker for gingham and bias plaids, but I think it’s the calicos and strawberries that make me the most happy. Also, I love how these prints work perfectly with the Riley Blake basics Swiss Dot.
It’s been SO fun to finally get a look at these prints on fabric. Especially after looking at them only on paper and a computer screen for so long (and fearing forever that I would hate them when they finally arrived). Now having the chance to cut them up and show what they can do has been even more fun than I’d hoped.
Gingham Girls is shipping now and arriving in shops as we speak. Check your favorite quilt shop! (If you are a shop carrying Gingham Girls, or your local shop is, let me know! I am creating a list of local shops with GG in stock.)
Gingham Girls is also available from Lou Lou’s Fabric Shop, and Fabric.com.
In addition to the fabric collection, I am releasing 4 new patterns featuring this line. Digital PDF and paper versions are available in my online shop now.. (Wholesale patterns are available from Christensen Wholesale and will be distributed through Checker and Brewer as well. Shops can also contact me directly for wholesale pricing.)
I’ll feature a couple of the quilts today and the other two in more detail next week.
The first quilt is called Gingham Stars and now available in a hard-copy version for the first time as well as PDF.
I love the vintage feel of this one – especially with that mustard-colored sashing and Baptist Fan quilting (thanks to Melissa) gives it the vibe of an old quilt. I think a few washings will give it an extra soft, and antique-y feel. I’m excited to use this as a picnic quilt.
The second quilt is called Summer Bunting. This is a fat-quarter-friendly quilt that comes together quickly and is really simple – perfect for beginning quilters or advanced quilters in need of a quick project.
You can see another color variation of this quilt here and a Halloween variation here. I think it has so many possibilities! I’m ready to try it in another colorway right now.
I hope you’ll enjoy the nostalgia of this collection as well as the fun summer-inspired possibilities it brings. I’d love to see what you do with it. If you’re on Instagram, tag any creations with #GinghamGirlsFabric.
And speaking of Instagram, is this picture not the greatest?! This is my friend Meridy and her 6 sisters dressed in their handmade, matching red gingham dresses. I LOVED it! It’s the essence of Gingham Girls. So it inspired an idea for a contest. Again, if you’re on Instagram find this picture in my feed for all the details. Share your own vintage picture of 1970’s-1980’s gingham girl life and tag it with #GinghamGirlFriends for a chance to win a Fat Quarter Bundle!
So there’s some fun for your weekend I’ll be sharing more about my other two new quilts in the coming weeks as well as projects by other makers using Gingham Girls!
Thanks so much for all the kind words and encouragement. Truly, I wouldn’t be on this adventure without all of your cheering me on. xo
For some other inspiration using Gingham Girls check out:
Boho blouse by Simple Simon and Co.
Sewing Kit by Heidi at Fabric Mutt
1974 Quilt by Amanda at Jedi Craft Girl – I love the way these fabrics work with denim!
Crossroads quilt tutorial by Melissa of Happy Quilting
Hello Summer hoop art pattern by Bev at Flamingo Toes
And Missouri Star (Jenny Doan!) did a tutorial for this fun quilt on their YouTube channel.
Terry
I love the fabrics, Congratulatios
Jane Shisler
Your patterns and fabrics are so refreshing. I love the bright colors.
Janis Ploughman Altomare
Congratulation on your fabric release. I love that bunting quilt. Think I’ve just added it to my to do list.
dolores
Congrats girlie! So excited for you! Love everyone of those prints. Especially how you combined plaids and flowers….my mind is a twitter!:)
xoxoxo
Lea Anne Brummett
Congrats! This line is like stepping back into my childhood.
Kathy E.
Congratulations on your first fabric collection! I think it’s so sweet that you designed it with such sweet memories of your childhood. This is a beauty, for sure!
Debbie
Congratulations on your new fabric line. It’s so adorable and cheery! I can’t wait to play with it.
Jenny
these prints are SO cute, and I love that Summer Bunting pattern — congrats again!
Jenni
That yellow sashing! ?
Miriam
Congratulations! I plan on finding your fabrics and snatching them up. Your photos reminded me so much of my life in the late 40s and early 50s, and then my daughter’s in the 70s with her BFF. I would make them matching outfits as neither one had a sister, and they were like twins together. Thank you for a fun trip down Nostalgia Lane! I’m not on social media, and I regret a chance to win your delightful collection.
Amy Smart
So sweet!
Don’t worry, there may be future opportunities on the blog. 😉
Suellen Dehnke
I love it! The colors. The patterns. Everything!
Kathy Bertelsen
Oh I absolutely love these. Congratulations on such a great beginning.
Melanie Diederich
Your fabrics make me happy! Love them.
lorindadavis
These really do remind me of being small! Thanks for the walk down memory lane, and congratulations on your first collection!
Tanya
The girls in my wedding party all wore gingham! 1978 of course. I still love it.
Amy Smart
That is awesome.
LINDA
CONGRATS! THIS IS GOING TO BE A SOUGHT AFTER COLLECTION, AMY!
Sandy
Congratulations on your fabric line. Just love it.
Jean Condon
Reminds me of summer outfits my sister and I wore
Robby H.
I think you did a great job of catching that 70’s vibe, but without the polyester bellbottoms feel. ;- )
I saw these yesterday at The Loopy Ewe (online), they featured them in their Thursday email of what was new in the fabric part of the shop. Good luck with these!
Diane McCoy
Congratulations I love the fabrics so colorful , will be checking my stores next week .
Pam M
Amy, I enjoy your newsletter so much and have so often thought of what a great person you are. As well as a great quilter of course! Love your new fabrics–congratulations on this new venture for you!
Can’t wait to get the fabric and make the star quilt. Love it!
Delinda
You captured the 70s beautifully! Can hardly wait to hunt up my sister and I in our Gingham dress s with yellow flowers. How fun! So happy for you.
Sandra Woods
Congratulations on your new fabric. I would love the chance to win a bundle but your giveaway is too time-consuming/complicated.
Judy Chastain
Amy, I love the fabric and your quilts. Congratulations on this beautiful collection!
Cherri Kincaid
I don’t have any pictures to share, but you described my childhood clothing wardrobe perfectly. I had a straight gingham checked shift dress with a big ruffle going down the front in every color that gingham was available in. I have noticed recently how popular it is becoming again, thanks for the memories!
farmhousequiltsblog
Amy, that picture of you and your sisters all dressed in gingham is adorable!! Your new fabric line is just the sweetest and I love the new patterns you designed to go with them! Thanks for this post…it brings back many happy memories 🙂
Lori
Congratulations on this great line and for a tremendous blast from the past! I was in high school and college in the 70’s and made many of my own clothes. The prom dress I made my senior year featured 1/2″ square pink gingham checks UNDER a pink daisy print chiffon. The dress was really cute, the date was a dud, and the pictures have been huge source of amusement for my son over years 😉 I see Gingham Girls joining my stash very soon.
jantaber
I just ADORE your new fabrics! I’ve been thinking of a new quilt to make for my grandchildrens’ bedroom in our home, and this is IT! I’m not fortunate enough to live near a local quilt shop, but I’m heading right over to FQS now to place my order! Can’t wait to see and feel it in person. 🙂
Karin H.
Be still my heart … daisies on yellow gingham – perfect!! Congratulations on creating a beautiful and versatile fabric collection! 🙂
Ann Becker
Oh yah. Gingam is back. My all time favorite. Love this new fabric collection.
Katie Belle
Just when I’d decided not to buy any more fabric or start any new projects, along comes Gingham Girls!
Do you know of any shops planning to put together kits for Land that I Love?
deanneellen
Love your new fabric line ! So cute!
Rosemaryflower
I love this fabric. I love the sea side stars quilt so much
I want this fabric. want want want
Happy Easter
whatwerks
Love this fabric line! It really does remind me of a time when more people sewed their own clothing.I still do when I want something stores just don’t have, like modesty.
Lorraine
Couldn’t happen to a nicer (Gingham) Girl! Congrats!
Izzy
Amy, this collection is wonderful!! I have been looking for something like it for a while now. There are always one or two fabrics here and there, but not like this..I absolutely love it I was 9 yrs old in 1970 so I grew up with this also. My granny sewed all my clothes and I remember wearing a red gingham culotte all summer LOL I loved it because we were not permitted to wear pants until I was 13 and lets not forget the 70s Levis Jeans with red gingham shirts and lace !!!..
Sandra Rogers
I absolutely love this fabric. I was raised in the 60s and 70s too. I had a red and white gingham bikini. I look forward to finding this in my area.
Diane W
I dont do instagram or any social media stuff. So, wont be in the drawing. But, My very first bikini was a green gingham one! Will never forget that. Cotton gingham. Im sure i looked horrid, Im blonde and very light skinned. My mother was not happy. I think I only owned 2 bikinis in my life. Had my first baby, and stomach hasnt seen the light of day since. He is 36. Also, for easter one year, a family in church had all orange gingham dresses for the females and orange gingham shirts for all the males. It was a large family.
Diane W
And my going away dress (after the wedding) was a red gingham jumper. I made it and it was really pretty. Spaghetti straps, big ruffle at the bottom. And of course back then we were pretty modest. I wore a white capped sleeve tshirt. And Im gotten more modest.
Milena
Oh my gosh! Love the fabric collection. It brought a smile to my face. Congratulations. Milena
Sandra B
Great fabrics, Amy! Brings back some great memories…. And I love all the comments…..seems that you have really hit a home run with this fabric line…..Congratulations!!
belnappa
I love everything about this line! Oh the memories it has brought back of my yellow and green gingham bedroom! I want to make all 4 quilts! I’m still in the beginner phase of quilting but I plan on getting through some of the learning curve on these beautiful fabrics! Such a happy line of fabric!
Jodie Zollinger
Congratulations on your new fabric line Amy. It’s lovely and nostalgic. The butterflies and strawberry print is definitely a winner. I love your colorway.
kaholly
Better late than never, huh? This is not only a delightful post, but a gorgeous line of fabric! And I’m loving the quilts!
Shannon Trimper
Beautiful! Congratulations.
Kerry
What a sweet blog! Love the bright fun fabrics! I’m hooked ?
Marian
Beautiful collection! Love the colors and vintage feel to it. The quilts made with it are stunning! Congratulations!
Courtney
Such beautiful quilts! I love how you mix patterns
Trib
Beautiful fabric collection. Such fun quilt possibilities.
Sarah
What lovely colors! Very cheerful!
Colleen
Love the photo above of all in gingham
Karen Hootman
Congratulations. Beautiful fabrics and I love the quilts.
Karen Barrie
What a great flashback. .I remember the using many of this style of fabrics when I was sewing … somewhere there still maybe a piece in my scraps…especially the fabric with daisy !!! Congratulations !!!!!
Jgal
Congrats! Love the bright and cheerful colors in your fabrics.
Karen Seitz
Love, love, love Gingham Girls! Thank you so much for sending a charm pack to me. My dad, brother, and I have just finished up reviewing all my dad’s slides from the 60’s and 70’s, and there was a photo of my in a long dress my mom made. It was for one of my first junior high dances. It’s not gingham, but it’s a red plaid similar to the plaid in your collection, kind of the reverse of your red and white. If I could put my fingers on that one slide and get it digitized, I would post it, but I don’t see that happening very soon. I loved that dress, and Mom cut it down shorter so that I could wear it more places after the dance.