A few days ago, I asked my Facebook buddies: “Did this fabric really just tell me it wants a bright color, like lime green, for the lining?” Well, I wrote a little story about what happened. The whole process has been so endearing to me, I’m having a hard time letting this one go!

I was at my usual fabric place, when I saw this fabric on the sale shelf – a beautiful blue batik. “What on earth are you doing over here?” I said. Sometimes fabric “talks” to me, but Batik said nothing. He was just lovely, and a good price, so I bought what little was left on the bolt.

A few days later, I said “Batik, you would make a fantastic 4-jar bag. But what to use for lining? Would you like muslin?” Again, Batik said nothing. He’s a very quiet sort – despite his flamboyant appearance, I think he’s actually quite shy.

I cut the pieces for the bag, and just as I started to work with them, I heard just a whisper: “I don’t want muslin. Maybe lime green?” Well! Batik has a voice after all. But lime green? Did I hear correctly? I asked my facebook buddies – did this fabric just say what I think it said? I got varying opinions, and I’m sure any one of them would have turned out lovely. But it all depended on what I could find, of course.

So a few days later, I stood in the fabric store once again, with a scrap of Batik. We looked at all the greens, none of them quite right. But there, in the remnant basket, was a beautiful, vivacious Red. Her dye pattern was very much like Batik’s, and I thought they might be happy together. But what about the green? And would there be enough? I asked Batik, “Do you want to try this one?” “Yes” Batik said, in a very assured way. And I think he smiled.

So Red came home with us. It must have been meant to be, because she was precisely enough for the lining, and 4 napkins! (See the photo at the end – that’s all that was left! It was close!) It’s hard to let Batik and Red go, but I think they are very much looking forward to beginning their adventure out in the wide world. But then, they could go on adventures with us instead?

update: Both DH and the 15yo came to me and said that if I list this bag, they’re just gonna buy it and give it back to me. (To stop the sobbing, I’m sure, but still sweet.) So it looks like Batik and Red will be adventuring with us! 😀

And yes, they seem happy with that arrangement too. 😉