On Friday our quilting class went on a field trip to the "old fabric" market to visit our favorite "blue cloth" vendor. I have been there several times....he is a cute little old guy that has sold this fabric out of a little hut for over 17 years. Most of our closets are larger than his whole store.
Cutting cloth for our quilts...
This cloth is homespun on a loom and was used for clothing during the cultural revolution. Most of the people in China do not like this fabric because it is very "utilitarian" , thick, and a little stiff.
Kandy with Mr. Blue Cloth man
This whole area where the old fabric market is located will soon be torn down. I wonder where Mr. Blue Cloth will sell his goods?
Food on the streets....we stopped and purchased some stuff that looks like slices of peanut candy. It is a little sweet and tastes like salted nut roll candy bars.
Our next stop was the blue cloth store in the French Concession. I had not been here before to it was exciting to find a new source for fabric!!!
Beth, Kathy, and Kandy We went down this little street and turned into a smaller walk way and then to a really narrow alley and arrived at the fabric shop.
Outside the shop was a small green space. It was a really nice day so the fabric was drying outside. It was so pretty to see it hanging in the trees.
They start with white fabric, then lay a stencil over the fabric and spread bean paste over the stencil. The paste goes into the fabric at the stencil openings. The paste drys and then the fabric is dipped in blue dye. The dye colors the areas of the fabric that are not covered with bean paste. The result is beautiful.
I showed great restraint and purchased only 2 meters of fabric....I am sure I will be back here often!
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