What is gingham, anyway?

Encyclopedia Britannica says this about that: 

Gingham, plain-woven fabric, originally made completely of cotton fibres but later also of man-made fibres, which derives its colour and pattern effects from carded or combed yarns. The name comes from the Malay word genggang, meaning “striped,” and thence from the French guingan, used by the Bretons to signify cloth made from striped colouring. Medium or fine yarns of varying quality are used to obtain the plain, checked, or striped effects. The warp and the weft, or filling, may be the same, even-sided and balanced.

Gingham is strong, substantial, and serviceable. It launders easily and well, but lower-textured fabric may shrink considerably unless preshrunk. Prices of gingham have a wide range; designs or patterns run from the conservative to the gaudy. Uses include dress goods, shirting, trimming, kerchiefs, aprons, children’s wear, and beachwear.

And if that isn't enough information, here are just a sampling of fabric companies that have a line of gingham fabric in yardage, or bundles and yes, even rolls in cotton and laminated cotton or flannel,  ticking or oil cloth:

Art Gallery Fabrics, Penny Rose Fabrics, Lecien Fabrics, Riley Blake Designs, Stof for Blank Quilting, Windham Fabrics, Marcus Brothers, Henry Glass, Studio E,  Wilmington Prints, Free Spirit, Moda, Cotton and Steel, Robert Kaufman, Michael Miller, Timeless Treasures, Northcutt Fabrics.

I found all these while checking out this free pattern - A 3-hour baby gingham quilt.

from The Jolly Jabber - the news feed from The Fat Quarter Shop.  But, here's a heads up....there's a video too and if you watch it, you won't need to download the free pattern.  

 No, this isn't an advertisement.....just thought you'd want to know! 

What's old is new again

and forever timeless.....

Gingham Fabric

***********I amend this post to include my version of this baby gingham - but rather than gingham, I used The Rifle Paper Co. fabric off the shelf.  I also added amended the pattern to add a row of light to one end of the light/medium strip set and a medium to one end of the medium/dark strip set.  I like the balance around the quilt.  My quilt has 11 blocks across and 13 blocks down for a finished size of 55" x 65".