No, Fab Fabrics does not currently repeat hand printed textiles. The brand’s known collections are produced through machine printing and digital methods, and there is no public record of a hand printed textile line being reissued. However, the question points to a broader confusion between “repeat” as in a pattern repeat and “repeat” as in a re-release, so let’s unpack both meanings and what Fab Fabrics actually offers.
What Does “Repeat” Mean in Textile Terms?
In textile design, a repeat is the unit of a pattern that tiles seamlessly across fabric. When someone searches “Fab Fabrics repeats hand printed textiles,” they might be asking whether the company sells fabrics with a repeating pattern that looks hand printed. The answer is yes—Fab Fabrics offers many machine-printed fabrics with a handcrafted aesthetic, but the printing process is not hand applied.
Hand printed textiles, such as block prints or screen prints, are made by manually applying dye or pigment to fabric using carved blocks or screens. These methods produce slight irregularities that are prized for their artisanal feel. Fab Fabrics, a company known for quilting cottons and apparel fabrics, primarily uses rotary screen printing and digital printing, which are faster and more cost-effective for mass production.
Fab Fabrics: Background and Product Range
Fab Fabrics is an online fabric retailer that launched in the mid-2010s, catering to quilters, sewists, and crafters. They are known for their exclusive collections designed by independent artists, as well as carrying well-known brands like Riley Blake, Michael Miller, and Art Gallery Fabrics. Their catalog includes cotton quilting fabrics, flannel, fleece, and some specialty fabrics like minky and canvas.
Most of their fabrics are printed using industrial methods. The designs are often inspired by hand-drawn art, watercolor, or block print aesthetics, but the actual printing is done by machines. This allows for consistent quality and lower prices compared to true hand printing.
How Hand Printed Textiles Are Made vs. Machine Printing
To understand why Fab Fabrics doesn’t offer hand printed textiles, it helps to know the production processes:
- Block printing: A carved wooden or linoleum block is dipped in dye and stamped onto fabric. Each color requires a separate block, and alignment is done by eye.
- Screen printing: A mesh screen with a stencil is used to push ink onto fabric. This can be done by hand (flatbed) or with automated machines.
- Rotary screen printing: A cylindrical screen rotates continuously, allowing for high-speed production of repeating patterns.
- Digital printing: Inkjet technology prints directly from a digital file, allowing for unlimited colors and intricate details.
Hand printing is labor-intensive and slow, making it expensive. It is typically used for high-end fashion, home décor, or artisan markets. Fab Fabrics, as a mid-market retailer, focuses on affordability and accessibility, so they rely on machine printing.
Does Fab Fabrics Ever Reissue or Repeat Old Collections?
Another interpretation of “repeat” is whether Fab Fabrics brings back discontinued designs. Many fabric companies do re-release popular collections, especially if there is customer demand. Fab Fabrics occasionally brings back best-selling prints or collaborates with artists on new lines that echo previous styles, but they do not have a formal program for reissuing hand printed textiles because they never produced them in the first place.
If you are looking for a specific Fab Fabrics print that is sold out, your best bet is to check resale platforms like Etsy or eBay, or join quilting forums where members trade or sell old fabric. Some fabric stores also hold clearance sales that might include older Fab Fabrics lines.
How to Choose Between Hand Printed and Machine Printed Fabric
If you are deciding whether to use hand printed or machine printed fabric for a project, consider these factors:
- Budget: Hand printed fabric costs significantly more per yard. Machine printed is more affordable.
- Consistency: Machine printed fabric has uniform repeat and color. Hand printed fabric has variation, which can be charming but harder to match.
- Durability: Both can be durable if the dye is properly set, but hand printed fabric may fade more quickly if using natural dyes.
- Ethics: Hand printed fabric often supports traditional artisans and small workshops. Machine printed fabric may come from large factories with less transparency.
- Aesthetic: Hand printed fabric has a unique, organic look. Machine printed can mimic that look but with perfect symmetry.
For quilting, many sewists prefer machine printed fabric for its precision and wide color range. For clothing or home décor where an artisanal touch is valued, hand printed fabric might be worth the splurge.
Common Problems with Hand Printed Textiles and How to Avoid Them
Hand printed textiles have some common issues that you should be aware of:
- Color bleeding: Hand printed fabrics may not be colorfast. Always test a swatch in hot water before washing.
- Misalignment: Blocks or screens can shift, causing patterns to not line up perfectly. This is part of the charm but can be a problem if you need exact matching.
- Uneven coverage: Some areas might have more or less dye, leading to patchy color.
- Fading: Natural dyes are beautiful but can fade in sunlight. Use UV-protective glass if framing, or wash in cold water with mild detergent.
To avoid these problems, always pre-wash hand printed fabric in cold water with a color catcher, and iron on the reverse side. If you are sewing a garment, cut pieces carefully to account for pattern variation.
Alternatives to Hand Printed Textiles from Fab Fabrics
If you love the look of hand printed textiles but want the convenience and price of machine printed fabric, consider these alternatives:
- Look for “hand-dyed” or “hand-painted” effects: Some machine printed fabrics are designed to imitate tie-dye, shibori, or watercolor.
- Use fabric markers or paints: You can create your own hand printed effect on plain fabric from Fab Fabrics.
- Shop from artisan cooperatives: If you truly want hand printed fabric, buy directly from artisans in India, Japan, or West Africa. Websites like Etsy have many options.
- Try digital printing services: You can upload your own design and have it printed on fabric, giving you a custom look without the hand process.
Fab Fabrics also offers a range of solids and basics that can serve as a canvas for your own embellishments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fab Fabrics sell any hand printed fabric?
No, Fab Fabrics does not currently sell hand printed fabric. All their fabrics are machine printed or digitally printed. They do offer designs that mimic hand printing, but the production is industrial.
Can I request a custom hand printed fabric from Fab Fabrics?
Fab Fabrics does not offer custom hand printing services. They are a retailer of pre-designed fabrics. For custom hand printing, you would need to contact a specialized artisan or a custom textile printing company.
Why are hand printed fabrics more expensive than machine printed?
Hand printing is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Each piece is unique, and the skill required is high. Machine printing is fast and can produce thousands of yards with consistent quality, lowering the cost per yard.
Will Fab Fabrics ever release a hand printed collection?
There is no public information suggesting that Fab Fabrics plans to release a hand printed collection. Their business model is based on machine printing, so it would be a significant shift. However, they might collaborate with artists who use hand printing techniques, but that would likely still be reproduced by machine.
How can I tell if a fabric is hand printed or machine printed?
Look for irregularities. Hand printed fabric often has slight variations in color intensity, pattern alignment, and the edges of shapes may be less crisp. Machine printed fabric is uniform and symmetrical. Also, hand printed fabric may have a different hand feel due to the type of dye or pigment used.
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