PRE-ORDER our new book online now

African Wax Print: A Textile Journey

by Magie Relph and Robert Irwin

Our new book will be published on 1 Nov 2010, but why not pre-order now?

Your signed copy will arrive gift wrapped in a FREE piece of genuine African wax print fabric!

So, what's it all about?

African wax print fabric is a defining metaphor of African design, fashion and expression - an immediately recognisable icon throughout the world. But without the textile barons of the Industrial Revolution, would wax print exist at all? And would our perception of African design be completely different?

To find out, we follow the trail of African wax print from its origin in Java, via Manchester and Holland to the shores of the Gold Coast. It's a fascinating story.

Brimming with stunning illustrations and compelling text, this book provides a wealth of well-researched information and infinite inspiration for textile artists, quilters, embroiderers, spinners, weavers, dyers - anybody who loves and uses textiles. 64 colourful pages. A4 size. Soft cover.

View: Wax print fabrics

Popular Patchwork Special Offer

Daboya Strip Cloth Bag

This great shoulder bag - designed by Dorothy Deane exclusively for the African Fabric Shop - is featured in the latest issue of Popular Patchwork magazine. You'll find the pattern, full instructions and photographs on page 32.

So if you've already got Popular Patchwork, all you need is your Daboya strip cloth, lining fabric and beads for embellishing. Just choose your colour combination and order online now.

All blue and white, materials only. PAK029-PP - £15.15

With one red accent strip, materials only. PAK030-PP - £15.15

If you don't have Popular Patchwork

If you don't have the magazine, you'll need the pattern and instructions as well as materials.

Go to: Daboya Strip Cloth Bag Kit

Report from Festival of Quilts 2010

Thanks for dropping by our stand

We're just back from Festival of Quilts 2010 - what a fantastic show. Attendance this year was excellent and so was the general buzz. We were really pleased to see a few quilts made using African wax print, including a wonderful piece by Dorita Smith - who is featured in our new book, by the way. We met many of our regulars and a whole lot of new people who couldn't resist our display of fabrics from across Africa. We hope you enjoy your fabrics!

The Saturday Boy could hardly keep up with the clamour for our great, hand-woven baskets from Ghana. For all you basket fanciers out there - we'll have more for you at the Knitting and Stitching Shows in London and Harrogate in the autumn.

Several people came by specially to tell us how much they enjoyed our Under African Skies exhibition at the Quilt Museum in York. Thanks for telling us. We really appreciate it.

NEW fabrics on the website

Hand-dyed batiks, Kikoy wraps from Kenya and Indigo from Mali

Spring and early summer have been very busy with shows and planning our special exhibition at the Quilt Museum, but The Saturday Boy has just managed some "free" time to update the website. Happy browsing!

New from Ghana: Hand-dyed batik

Great new colours: Kikoy wraps from Kenya

New from Mali: Hand-dyed Indigo cloths

Celebrating 10 years of fair trade in African textiles

Special Exhibition: Under African Skies

10 Jul - 16 Oct 2010 at The Quilt Museum and Gallery, York

It's hard to believe... 2010 marks ten years since I first opened my stash of African fabrics to the quilting community. I feel very fortunate to be able to share the occasion with the The Quilters' Guild and with the many quilters and textile artists who have been inspired by African fabrics and textile traditions

The exhibition features the creative work of several of my customers - more friends, really, and their work is set out in the context of the fabrics themselves, with photographs and information panels about the fabrics, their makers and where they come from.

1 Sep 2010. Talk: Under African Skies

I will be speaking about my celebration exhibition and African textiles at the Quilt Museum and Gallery.

More info: Exhibition images and Magie's talk on 16 July 2010

Link: Quilt Museum and Gallery

African Fabric Shop Safari to Mileham, Norfolk

Thanks to everybody who made the day a great success

Another great day out in Norfolk... Thanks to all the people who came along to support the cause - fabrics, that is!

Special thanks to our great hosts Castle Quilters for their always wonderful home baking.

Link: More info and photos

All Pegged Out Challenge

Hosted by Quilts In The Garden 2010

Celebrating 'The African Fabric Shop at 10', we put together this little challenge for some quilting friends who have supported us over the years. Margaret McQuillen who organises Quilts In The Garden graciously hosted the challenge, along with a small exhibition of quilts made by friends and customers featuring African fabrics.

View All Pegged Out quilts - The Men

View All Pegged Out quilts - The Women I

View All Pegged Out quilts - The Women II

Textile Travel

Glorious Ghana Tour: Jan 2011

For a number of years now many of you have been saying, "I'd love to come with you on one of your research trips to Africa." Well now you can!

We've teamed up with our friend Fiona Wright of Creative Arts Safaris to put together a two week tour of Ghana's arts and crafts highlights. The main focus will be textiles, of course - batik, Indigo dyeing, Adinkra stamping and Kente weaving. We'll also delve into Ghana's rich bead culture with beaded jewellery artist and long-time Ghanaian resident Trish Graham.

More info at Creative Arts Safaris: Glorious Ghana Tour 2011

Colours of Africa Challenge Supports South African Children

The Colours of Africa Challenge 2010 was organised by my friend Laura Liebenberg, in partnership with the town councils of Essen, Belgium and Witzenberg, South Africa. The challenge raised more than €1,000 to support a crèche for pre-school children in Tulbagh, in Cape Province. The highlight was a two-day exhibition and auction of textile art.

View the Blog (Dutch and English)

Sponsored by Laura's small fabric paint business www.trapsuutjies.com