Officially introducing: Gingham Girls

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.

Pattern available here

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.