A Case for Buying Fabric as Souvenirs

I recently took a trip to Acadia National Park... in the middle of the winter. The park was closed so that you couldn’t climb any of the mountains, but the shore was still accessible, and it was a lovely trip. All of the little shops were closed. The only businesses that were open were two hotels, one local pizza, a beer type restaurant... and the local fabric store. Of course, I had to make a visit. I bought some beautiful fabric with blueberries on it; after all, it was Maine, and some starry night type fabric to remind me of those crisp winter nights. I plan to make some dumpling style bags from those fabrics (bought the pattern from another shop in Maine on the way up to Acadia), and I can’t wait to get started.

I make a deliberate effort to buy fabric everywhere I go, as a sort of textile reminder of my travels. Buying fabric as a souvenir rather than a T-shirt or a key chain is a great idea for a me as a quilter because it’s not just a mass-produced trinket that will quickly become lost, broken or forgotten, it’s something I am going to use. Moreover, the projects I create from these acquisitions are made even more special because they evoke memories of the trip with their every use.

I have extended my fabric souvenir shopping by recruiting friends who travel to buy me some fabric if they have the opportunity. I’ve received some beautiful bark cloth from Hawaii which became a tropical tote with paradise vibes and some sunny pillows for my screened porch. Quilting cotton from Korea became a shirt dress. Some silk from China became a scarf for only the specialist of occasions.

The next time you head out of town on a trip, be sure to stop by the local fabric shop. You may end up finding some memories there, too!

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