I have found a wonderful, smallish, but exciting bit of Sanderson fabric in my lovely, local Oxfam …
They don’t make them like this any more …
It says it is a sample piece and is ‘foreign’. It has a number which I’ve googled to no avail, it would be nice to know the year, looks a bit 50s possibly 60s to me (or is that wishful thinking?).
What do you do with a vintage find like this? I’m very tempted to squeeze a top from this, but is that okay? Should I keep it intact and place it folded up, safe from the scissors temptation in a cupboard? Or think what the hell and make a unique item of clothing? It doesn’t seem a bad thing to do with the curtain I bought as (looking at it closely) it’s been used as a dust sheet and I think I’m saving it from further abuse, but this is a perfect sample … I’m inclined to think sod it and have a bit of fun, so why do I feel guilty?
Come to think of it, there’s a strong possibility that my primary school had curtains out of this very same fabric in the school hall. All that talk of sun resistance and wash proof colours is making perfect sense now. It’s looking very familiar. Do you think Kent County Council had the budget for Sanderson in the 70s? Oh, now I just smell fear, farts and plimsoles, not good, perhaps the drawer is the best place after all!
Hmm, I’ll have to think a little bit. In the meantime I’m making a skirt …
with some of the fabric from my mother-in-law, a vintage pattern and vintage notions. I’m going for view ‘b’ and hope to complete it this weekend!?
We shall see x
sylkotwist 
I totally understand your reluctance to cut. However if I were you I would cut it. I struggle to cut up fabric and use antique buttons from my mother’s and grandmother’s house, it’s personal and I feel the need to preserve it.
However I would keep any tags etc and store them with the blouse you make. That’s the important thing to preserve – after all wasn’t the fabric made to be used? It’s just happening a little later than the manufacturer thought 🙂
I know how you feel, I feel nervous about cutting into vintage as well. But you should use it, its not really big enough to do a whole lot with, so just go for it.
Btw, farts fear and plimsoles made me laugh 🙂
Fabric this lovely deserves to be made into something that is worn with pride and and can be admired for being awesome. I understand the hesitation about cutting into something like this but it would be a shame for it to sit unused. Live the blouse dream!
If I didn’t know how well you respect vintage and how gorgeous the work will come out, I might waffle, but you go to it! Fulfill that fabrics destiny!
There’s no point in keeping it hidden away until it gets musty and moth-eaten: use it and enjoy it! 🙂