Does Fabric Really Fade in the Sun?

Before one year of sun exposure

This is a little birdie pincushion I made from recycled wool at Sew Biz Quilt Camp last summer. He's been sitting in the window of my sewing cottage for almost a year now. From inside, he looks just fine.

After one year of sun exposure

But the side that's been in the sun looks like this:


Even the rick-rack trim faded! Not to mention the vintage thread spool he's mounted on...

So, why does fabric fade in the sun?

Here are some interesting links:

Teachers answer a student's question at NEWTON.

AnswerBag.com explains how the moisture in fabrics reacts with the atmosphere to create a bleaching effect.

WikiHow shows how to use the process to your advantage with a technique for fading t-shirts to give them a vintage look!

I believe now from first-hand experience that the folks who are advising us to keep our quilts out of the direct sunlight know what they're talking about!

Quilt Challenge!

I picked up my "quilt challenge" packet at Sew Biz this week. You can read a little about the challenge here. The quilts will be displayed and judged at the New River Valley Fair in July. 

Northcott Fabrics provided four fat quarters and Sew Biz added 6" bee-theme strip (the fair mascot, apparently, is a bee).

The rules are basically these:

1. Must use 50% of provided fabric. May add as many other fabrics as desired. I'm not sure whether that means 50% total or 50% of each.
2. Size: Between 24"x24" and 30"x30".
3. Wrong side of fabric may be used, but over-dying is not allowed.

I'm fuzzy on whether the bee fabric is included in the challenge or whether it was just pretty packaging. But I like it and will probably work it in.


What makes this a challenge appears to be that the red poppy floral is from the same line, but a different color-way! Good luck with that red, right? I have a few ideas, but none too compelling yet...


My 13-year-old wonders how I'm planning to finish a two-foot-square quilt by July when I still haven't finished her baby quilt! I guess that's another challenge altogether.

Woven Measuring Tape Fabric

I was supposed to be helping my daughter pick out a birthday gift for a friend at Walmart when I accidentally wandered into the fabric department (I'm not a fabric snob). Can I help it if the fabric is right next to the toys? Then, somehow the girl at the cutting table got the impression that I wanted her to cut me a half-yard, so I had to buy it, even though I am supposed to be sewing up what I already own first. And now I have to figure out what to do with it, I guess. 


How about a sewing tool roll, like I make for my husband's wrenches? Or a sewing apron? Or another tote? Maybe a "dumpling bag"... Eighteen inches is enough to make a few small items, even. Oh, sew many possibilities!


Maybe I'll challenge myself to see how many different things I could make with this adorable  sewing-themed fabric. Yeah, that's it...