Why Chintz?
Chintz—richly colored, hand-painted and block-printed cotton—was one of the most prized textiles in America during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Originally produced in India using complex dye processes, chintz was so popular it was banned in England and France for much of the 1700s. Despite the bans, these fabrics flowed into the American colonies and were widely used for garments, furnishings, and quilts.
New Chintz from Dutch Heritage
We’ve received several thoughtful questions about why we chose chintz fabrics for our upcoming programs and we’re delighted to share the historical “why” behind that decision. We’ve chosen chintz as the anchor for our Pieced Strippy Quilt BOM and Textile Journey to the Semiquincentennial programs because it is a historically accurate, period-appropriate fabric that truly belongs to this era.
We’re also excited to share that we have four new Dutch Heritage chintzes that will be used across these two programs. Sometimes it’s hard to judge a fabric until you see it with your own eyes—and when the samples arrived, they were absolutely glorious. The color, scale, and detail exceeded my expectations, and I can’t wait to share them with you.
18th Century Inspired Pieced Strippy Quilt
In the Pieced Strippy Quilt BOM you will have the choice of 3 different Chintzs for your quilt top. We are limited on the number of people we can have for each colorway by the fabric we are getting the shop. This 6 month program will kickoff in January with the goal of having it complete before the 4th of July celebration. Margo introduces this progam on her YouTube channel.
Join us for A Textile Journey to the Semiquincentennial
Starting in Late January we will be Celebrating America’s 250th birthday with a year-long textile history tour spanning 1600–1800. This quarterly subscription explores four distinct historical periods through authentic reproduction fabrics and original historical essays written by me, guiding you through the evolution of printed cottons and quiltmaking traditions. Margo introduces the program on her YoutTube channel.
An optional English Paper Piecing slow-stitch add-on is available for those who’d like a hands-on companion project inspired by 18th-century mosaic designs. We are using a triangle design and I'm loving working on this and find the process very relaxing.
Our once-a-year Gift Card Promotion is here—just in time for the holidays. For every $50 gift card you purchase in December, we’ll send you a $5 coupon to use between January and March 2026.
Buy a gift card for yourself and enjoy a bonus toward a future project, or give one to a friend who loves reproduction fabrics, quilting, and textile history. It’s an easy, thoughtful gift—and a little thank-you from us to you.
