Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Editorial comment

From time to time as i come across instances that need commenting on i will do so in this blog.
these are only my opinions, which anyone and everyone is free to disagree with.
Generally speaking i will try to limit my commenting on things that i think will have some effect 5 years down the road; commenting on anything less is a waste of letters and time.

today in a search for a mystery quilt i came across the following post. i won't violate the author's copywrite by pasting it here, but this is the web addy.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2008/08/anonymous-claudine-hollywhoever.html

so what is this brough-ha-ha all about? whether or not to use new material or salvaged material in quilts. Some like to use scraps for the sentimental and frugal value. Others like to use new material for up to date fabrics and for the longevity of the quilt itself.

there are speaking points to both sides of the question---until one considers the effect of such decisions down the road.

In the last few years we have seen an increase in the closing of local quilt stores, fabric being removed from the shelves at Wal-Mart, gas prices going up, and a revived interest in scrap and strip quilts using salvaged fabrics. My concern (and the reason for this editorial) is what effect will this have on the quilt market 5 years from now if these trends continue?

there are some quilters who have oodles and oodles of stash at their hand thru dedicated buying in previous years. Those quilters will be able to survive any lean years that might be in the future. But for the beginning quilters, those on a budget, and the quilt market itself it is a different question.

We know that from the first design sketches to the finished bolt on the store shelves, the time it takes for the production process is a year or more.
So the question becomes how will a decrease in purchase of new quilting fabrics by those who are dedicated to using only scraps or recycled fabrics affect the next year's quilting market.
Will the fabric makers scale down their lines, in succeeding years? Will they be forced by shrinking economics to lay off production workers (who are often in 3rd world countries)?
Will we be seeing even be more quilting stores closing because of the recycling trends as has already happened?

we laugh and joke about buying fabric so that we can keep the cotton mills going and people employed. but multiply one quilter who stops buying new fabrics by the money not going to the quilt shops or the fabric makers or the quilt designers, or the notions and thread sales, and you have something to be concerned about.

on the question of recycling old clothing into quilts we should be asking ourselves this question:
Q.. why am i buying this?

A. if this is a shirt that can be mended and worn by someone, then it still has a useful life as what it was intended to be. It's not ready for recycling but for re-use, and i can leave it for someone who needs it, knowing that they will be greatful to find it.

again, IMHO, thrift store shopping for the purpose of recycling clothing into quilts isn't necessary for most dedicated quilters.
they have enough disposable income to keep their hobby going without using what others are in need of to be clothed.

you comments, either for or against this editorial comment, are always welcome.

5 comments:

mereth said...

Hmmn, I love using my old stuff, but I'm also buying more new fabric than I've ever been able to before. I can't believe how each new range seems more beautiful than the last; we have some really talented designers and I do my best to encourage them!

pdudgeon said...

thanks so much for stopping by, Mereth. I love your work.
pam

zizzybob said...

"again, IMHO, thrift store shopping for the purpose of recycling clothing into quilts isn't necessary for most dedicated quilters.
they have enough disposable income to keep their hobby going without using what others are in need of to be clothed."

I am a dedicated quilter and I do not have enough disposable income to spend on the many, many, charity quilts that I make. What difference does it make if the fabric is a shirt or a quilt if it ends up in the hands of someone who need either?

pdudgeon said...

zizzybob, thank you for the many hours that you put in making quilts for charity. I know that those who receive them will bless your name and be greatful.

thanks for visiting my blog,
pam

Lori in South Dakota said...

Now this was a really interesting post!! I read back thru many of your posts, loved the soup recipe. And many more things I saw. And how is your Nightfall quilt--have you gotten it done? I love the civil war fabrics and I am still *saving* mine! LOL