Spring 2025 Newsletter: New Season, New Stories in Cloth

Dear Friends and Fellow Reproduction Fabric Lovers,

Spring is finally tiptoeing in with its green shoots, longer days, and the scent of fresh beginnings. It’s a season that always seems to whisper possibility—whether that’s starting a new sewing project, diving into a fabric stash with fresh eyes, or simply letting yourself be inspired by the colors of the season. 

At this time of year, I always find myself thinking about transformation—how one thing blends into another, how subtle shifts in light and hue can completely change how something feels. That’s why I want to take a moment to share a little fabric history spotlight—this time, on the beautiful evolution of ombrés.

THIS WEEK APRIL 6th through April 13th we are offering 10% off all our FQ Bundles!  Sometimes you just need that one perfect color to fill a gap in your stash or to tie a project together. We’ve got you covered!

A Bit of History: Ombrés and the Art of Shading

Ombré, that elegant blending of color from light to dark (or one hue to another), didn’t begin on fabric—it actually first turned heads in Vienna around 1820 on printed wallpapers. Artisans would drip long lines of color down sheets of paper, spread them with wooden paddles, and feather the edges with brushes to create beautiful gradations of tone. Imagine the precision and artistry that required!

Not long after, this same effect found its way onto textiles—though the transition was anything but simple. Early ombré fabrics were hand-crafted and labor intensive. By the 1840s, however, surface roller printing made ombrés more widely available. These new mechanical processes allowed color gradations to be paired with charming overprints: florals, scrolls, bubbles, and classic Victorian geometrics.

And from there, the story of color innovation just kept blooming…

Prussian Blue: Problem Solver Turned Style Icon

One of the most fascinating chapters in 19th-century dye history centers around Prussian Blue. Originally prized for its vibrant, lightfast hue, it turned out to have a quirk—alkaline laundry products would alter or even bleach it.

But rather than discard it, textile chemists saw opportunity.

By the 1840s, when manganese bronze fabrics were losing popularity, printers began experimenting. They printed designs in Prussian Blue and overlaid sections with an alkali paste. The result? Striking ombré-like contrasts in the fabric—fading the blue from deep cobalt to soft buff and rich chocolate. This unexpected interplay of color gave brown prints a fashionable refresh and added visual complexity that appealed to a changing market.

Even more exciting, Prussian Blue worked across cottons, silks, and woolens—ideal for the popular Delaines (or mousseline de laine), a blended fabric made with a cotton warp and wool weft. The arrival of Steam Style printing was a game-changer here. It aged the print paste more quickly, bonded dye to fabric more efficiently, and reduced material costs—allowing for even more creativity with color.

My personal line à la française

Today, I’ve been exploring this same spirit of transformation and reinvention through digital printing under my own label: à la française. Inspired by the pages of my 1849 Laines sample book, I’ve developed two new lines—Laines and La Spire—bringing these 19th-century inspirations back to life for a new generation of makers.  Some of the designs in this line are sold out but I do have a couple of bundles with them still in the shop! 

Here is a doll dress I created to highlight one of the Ombre's from my line. 

New in Shop: Reproduction Fat Quarter Bundles

THIS WEEK APRIL 6th through April 13th we are offering 10% off all our FQ Bundles!  Sometimes you just need that one perfect color to fill a gap in your stash or to tie a project together. We’ve got you covered!

Our new Reproduction Fat Quarter bundles feature carefully curated sets of six historically accurate prints plus one coordinating solid, all selected for their time-appropriate designs and rich color stories.

Available now in:  Double Pink, Double Violet, Shirtings, Chrome Yellow, Reds, Blues

We also have a couple of our 19th and 20th Century Luck 13 Green FQ bundles.  And if you have been looking at the new Frank Lloyd Wright or Annette Plog Time Honored Tradition bundles, now is great time to get those!  

Each bundle is a ready-to-sew capsule of Reproduction charm—perfect for antique-inspired quilts, mini projects, or simply refreshing your stash with purposeful color.

Game-Changer Alert! - Say Hello to the RulerLip

We love the RulerLip—and if you’re all about precision cutting, you will too!  This clever little tool transforms your ruler into a T-square, making it easier than ever to achieve perfect angles with confidence. You can find this in our Notions section of the website. 

• Easy on, easy off — just push it onto your 1/8” acrylic ruler and remove it whenever you need
• No more slipping — enjoy smooth, controlled cuts every time
• Flexible use — two 6" RulerLips per package give you options for added stability or connecting rulers together

Works with most standard rulers and fits beautifully into your toolkit.   Trust us, once you try it, you won’t want to cut without it!

I hope this glimpse into fabric history (and a few tempting new goodies!) inspires your spring projects. Whether you’re sewing a new quilt, recreating a historical garment, or just enjoying the feel of fine cotton in your hands, may the season bring fresh joy to your creative journey.

With gratitude and a good measure of Prussian Blue,  
Margo Krager  
Reproduction Fabric Historian & Designer

Go check out these new blues!  Sacre Bleu by French General for Moda Fabrics. This collection is a timeless blend of blooming florals and traditional designs, all in a breathtaking range of blue hues. French General never disappoints!