Laundered linen Fabric in light shades of pink look casual and relaxing when made into pillows. Photo credit: Espaniolet, Spain.

Vintage Handmade embroidered Guatamalan Huipil Cloth on a light pink ground color is a lovely way to add soft tones to a boho-inspired space. Photo credit: Indibungalo.

African mud cloth in natural can be made to look vibrant simply by adding some hand made dip-dyed tassels. There are dozens of instructional videos on you tube to show you how to DIY tassels. The pretty shade of pink is on trend.

Fabrics and fur in blush pink are just the right touch in this modern bedroom space.
photo credit: Frank & Eli, South Carolina.

So how will you interpret the Pantone color of choice for 2016? Check my Etsy shop for a range of African Mud cloth, African Baoule cloth, and other hand loomed fabrics that come with a dash of pink.
​Happy sewing!

African Feathered head dresses are a wonderful way to add loads of texture and color to a tablescape or wall. They are currently trending in bright colors as well as in white and natural feathers.

More history on these amazing African Juju hats coming soon!

Vintage Baoule cloth from the Ivory Coast of Africa is gaining popularity due to the wide range of geometric Ikat patterns and exciting color combinations.

These stunning textiles are created for use as skirts and wraps, so often they have wear or damage where the original owner sat on the fabric. This is why it's quite difficult to find vintage baoule cloth in excellent condition.

Next time you want to add a bit of personality and character to your interior space or DIY sewing project, consider using Baoule cloth from the Ivory Coast.

​Happy sewing!

#Jungalowstle has used a vintage African fabric to anchor the bed in this colorful boho style space. This particular cloth is an African Aso Oke, or Asoks cloth from Nigeria.

I do my best to stock Morrissey Fabric with a wide range of vintage African textiles including the colorful Asoks and Baoule cotton cloth seen here. The African Asoks above in the light gray color way also incorporates antique gold lurex thread. These lovely and unique vintage fabrics were originally worn as wraps, or skirts, so it can be difficult to find vintage Asoks and Baoule textiles in good condition.
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At Morrissey Fabric, I think it's with the effort to find, restore, and reuse these beautiful and unique vintage African fabrics. How would you style your own vintage African Asoks?

​Happy sewing!

Baoule cloth comes from the Ivory Coast of Africa and the color range is endless. These amazing hand loomed strip cloth textiles are perfect for adding global style and a pop of color to any decor.
the weight of baoule cloth is just right to use as pillow cover fabric. It has a soft hand and a nice drape allowing for a variety of uses. Drape over the foot of a bed, a sofa back, or hang a Bauleh cloth as wall decore.

Baoule cloth typically showcases Ikat patterns that range from simple stripes to more complex geometric designs. I search the market for a variety of baoule fabric so that my clients have a lot of color and pattern options.

So the next time you want a wow-factor to complete your interior design plan, please be sure to check out my selection of authentic vintage African Bauleh cloth.
​Happy sewing!

A major trend in apparel and interiors are global influences in prints. Main photo; the gorgeous chair is upholstered in a classic African mud cloth fabric in black with natural print created using a resist technique that prevents the black dye from absorbing into the cotton material.

the second photo is a selection of cotton throws that have been loomed and printed in India. Available at Morrissey Fabric and in the Etsy shop, any of these fabrics add instant global style to your decor. They are also light enough to use for a sewing project so you can diy a skirt or poncho.

African Kuba cloth can be used in any space that calls for some unique character and warmth. The example above from Domino magazine showcases a lovely Kuba cloth as a headboard backdrop when attached to the wall.

Some Kuba cloth history: The Kuba tribal confederacy of the Kasai river area of the Congo are highly regarded for their raffia work, weaving 'dance skirts', aprons, and mats on single-heddle looms. They make use of a wide range of textile techniques, including appliqué, embroidery, cut pile, and resist dying. (John Gillow, "African Texties")

Kuba cloth shown above is a Kuba woman's patchwork overskirt decorated with embroiery, eyelet stitching, and drawn thread work. The rectangular patches are made of alternately dyed and undyed raffia.

Kuba cloth with embroidered appliqué like the skirt above come from the Ngeende branch of the Kuba people.

This close up shows cut pile embroidery raffia known as Shoowa. Note the velvet-like result of the cut pile.

These Shoowa squares make stunning wall decor when framed against s light linen with black frame.

Check back soon as I will show more examples of how to display African Kuba cloth for your own style statement.

Vintage Mud Cloth, or any vintage cotton fabric for that matter, often comes with dirt and grime that seems impossible to remove. Since I launder all the vintage textiles I bring into the studio, I've encountered some pretty nasty stuff among the hundreds of fabrics I've washed.

Cleaning vintage indigo presents its own share of issues. Especially the mud cloth with very long fringe. If I start with a piece that's relatively clean and undamaged, I simply launder with Tide with the washing machine set on Gentle Cycle. With fringe that's longer than a couple of inches, I gather small sections of the fringe and hold them together with a rubber band. This prevents tangling that can destroy or knot the fringe.

Stubborn stains require a bit more work to remove. I always spot clean surface dirt with Shout or Tide stain remover. That is sufficient. But what about stains that have been in place for a long time? I soak the area with a paste I make out of water and powder detergent. Apply to the stain, let sit for an hour. After that, rub the paste with a little more water from both sides of the stain, then launder as usual.

Very stubborn stains require a good long soak. As shown in the photos, I use a shallow plastic container for this method. Set the indigo item(s) in the plastic tub. Sprinkle powder detergent, I like Tide, directly onto the fabric, covering the heavily stained area completely. Next, I pour hot water into the tub. Avoiding pouring directly onto the stained area. This leaves a concentration of soap where you need it most.
then submerge all the mud cloth under water. Let sit for at least an hour.

Check on on your fabric every hour or so for several hours. Agitate the indigo cloth to help lift dirt and grease that is set into the cloth. After about three hours, check the stain. If it hasn't lightened at all, rub more powdered soap into both sides of the fabric. Leave in the tub a few more hours. Sometimes soaking over night is necessary. I

Warning: I don't use bleach because it will over-lighten an area, and could remove all the indigo color and leave the stain!

Finally, rinse the fabric thoroughly to remove all the soap from your vintage textile. Run through a gentle wash cycle one more time, then hang or line dry.

Not iall stains will come out of mud cloth or vintage shibori indigo. But this soaking method gives you a fighting chance at saving a vintage textile that might otherwise go into a land fill.
at the very least, the stain should be much lighter. And, you can take comfort knowing your cloth is as clean as it can get.

join me tomorrow to see the end results!

Vintage shibori mud cloth makes for a perfect touch of color when displayed as a bed scarf! This colorful composition remains soft and warm thanks to the use of vintage fabrics.

When using vintage pieces as part of your decor, often the faded quality of the color is all you need for that additional bit of character. the photo above, credit to Casa Jashua Tree, is a lovely example of mixing global textiles.

Shop by Amber Interiors opted for a mix of vintage African Indigo stripes, shibori, and a solid throw for color accents in this amazing living room. A simple white backdrop allows the indigo blue and natural wood elements to really pop.

How will you use vintage indigo to update your interior space? I'm happy to help! Morrissey Fabric carries a large selection of vintage and new mud cloth for you to choose from. Don't see a fabric that you are looking for? Email or message me for assistance.

​Happy sewing!

African Mud cloth fabric: When I receive new mud cloth, I prefer to launder it to achieve a comfortable, worn-in look. I'm usually very happy with the outcome.

The before and after-laundering photos above illustrate just how different a fabric can look after washing. The risk is that you might not be happy with the end results. I find that I have to take a deep breath and take a leap of faith to wash some of the textiles I take in at Morrissey Fabric. But with the risk I'm rewarded more than I'm disappointed. Especially when it comes to fading the colors so they won't run when my clients wash them.

Living in Southern California, I have a love for all things faded and distressed. I believe my admiration of sun-faded color comes from growing up in homes where both my mother and my grandmother collected vintage items ranging from painted kitchen utinsels to antique rugs. These beautiful objects helped me to develop an appreciation for repurposing and re-using items that others tossed aside. Now I find I have a preference for all things already broken-in and distressed over time.

You don't have to launder the textiles I offer through Morrissey fabric because I take the risk for you. But I also have the non-laundered new fabrics for those who want to take the journey in their own time.

Happy sewing!