Dear Reproduction Fabrics Friends,
Some of the most beloved fabrics in textile history were never intended to exist. Eccentric prints are a perfect example of how an unexpected mistake in the printing process became a distinctive style that quilters and collectors still admire today. A sales lady came into our shop to show me a new Halloween line and 3 of the prints reminded me of this little piece of textile history.
In 1783, Scottish inventor Thomas Bell revolutionized textile printing by turning the traditional flat printing plate into a rotating cylinder. Roller printing made fabric production faster and more affordable, and one of the easiest patterns to print was the simple pencil stripe.
Around 1820, an English printing mill experienced what should have been a costly mistake. A roller was loaded incorrectly, causing the stripes to print at irregular angles instead of perfectly straight. Rather than throw the fabric away, the mill sold it as discounted goods. To everyone's surprise, customers loved it.
Those irregular stripes became known as Eccentrics, and the playful, off-kilter designs remained popular throughout the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century. Looking at them today, it's amazing how modern they feel—almost like optical art created more than a century before the Op Art movement.
I always enjoy finding fabrics that carry a story with them, and these are a wonderful reminder that sometimes history's most memorable designs began with an unexpected mistake. We have added some Eccentrics to our 1775-1825 section and put together a FQ bundle of some examples.
Speaking of wonderful fabrics...
The Festival of Quilts is happening right now in Birmingham, England, and I've been enjoying following along through all of the videos and photos on social media. Every year this show is filled with incredible quilts, inspiring makers, and exciting new fabric collections. I have to admit, watching from home has made me wish I could hop on a plane and wander the aisles in person!
Fortunately, some of those beautiful new collections are making their way to our shop.
We already have Le Petit Bonheur by Kim Hurley in stock! Inspired by antique textiles and ephemera, it is a stunning collection filled with soft florals, elegant coordinates, and a beautiful border stripe. We've put together fat quarter bundles and quilt kits and of course have some yardage left. Stop by our 1825 - 1865 section to see the collection!
And we are eagerly awaiting three additional Devonstone Collections arriving in August:
- The Gooch Coverlet by Judy Newman and Margaret Mew – Inspired by one of England's most remarkable historic quilts, with richly detailed florals and companion prints perfect for reproduction quilting.
- April and Audrey – Emma Newman's latest collection, full of charming vintage florals and timeless colors.
- The Darling Buds of May by Judy Newman – Another beautiful collection celebrating antique textiles with fresh, classic styling.
If you've been following these collections since they debuted in England, you won't have long to wait before they're here in Northfield.
As summer begins to wind down, we're also looking ahead to our Fall Class Schedule.
Whether you've been wanting to learn needle-turn appliqué, spend time hand stitching, or simply enjoy a few relaxing hours sewing with friends, we'd love to have you join us. Quilting is about so much more than finishing projects—it's about sharing ideas, encouraging one another, and enjoying the company of people who love fabric as much as you do.
If you're local, we hope you'll make some time for yourself this fall. We'd love to see you in the classroom.
Thank you, as always, for being part of the Reproduction Fabrics family. We appreciate every order, every visit to the shop, and every story you share with us. We look forward to bringing you even more beautiful fabrics and a little more textile history in the months ahead. Make sure to stop by frequently for the items in the shop on our What's New Blog, new discounted items in our Sale Area and of course unique items for our stash in Margo's Fun Finds. (FYI - We just added a new Quiltmania and Fabric bundle offering - Ann Varleys Dutch Flower Basket to our Fun Finds!)
Happy quilting,
Margo & the Reproduction Fabrics Team
ReproductionFabrics.com – Fabric of a Bygone Era