Ideas on 80's type fabrics?

[Catrinau]

I scored a HUGE tub of fabric at a yardsale for dirt cheap.  All of the pieces have at least 1 yard, if not 5-20 yards on them!!  There was some beautiful linen, beautiful cottons, great dress material, suede, corduroy, and tons more.  I love sooooo much of it and have big plans for most of it.
What I'm totally clueless on, though, is this major 80's fabric I ended up with.  The only thing that is coming to me is Hammer Pants and old lady mumus.  Please, please, please give me some ideas on what to do with this fabric.  Some of it is knit, some woven ... some of it is super thick upholstery type stuff. 






Thanks!
Cat

[jungrrl]

Honestly, I think they'd be good as quilt fabrics because you could cut down those bold patterns and break them up a bit. I'm guessing they'd be less busy but still interesting.

[Lo{ve}]

first off, i am very jealous!!! second, if there is a whole lot of some of the fabrics or you don't like it then you could consider the 'swap a yard of fabric july 09' swap and get something you could use!!

[Slingmomma]

OMG soooooo jealous! I am seeing lots of really funky bags outta all that fabric!

[blushingbluegrass]

I say make pillows and give them to everyone you hate 

Just kidding! I think some of those would make awesome skirts or purses, though....

[Aislynn]

I definitely agree on the patchwork idea...and not just quilts, either!  You could make a really fantastic tiered twirly skirt, or bags...it'd be fantastic!

[x46]

Those big prints were usually for surfer shorts or big shirts.  Perhaps boxers or pajama pants?

[donniesgirl]

There is where my husband tossed all my old fabric!  JK...  Boy some of that brings back memories.  

You might try a rag rug if you can find some coordinating ones where you like the major colors:

http://vintagechica.typepad.com/the_life_and_times_of_thi/2006/10/rag_rug_tutoria.html

I don't think the small white/pink polka dots at the bottom are too bad.  I'd probably make a couple girly little potholders out of them.  Or little girl sundresses.

The stripes remind me of outdoor cushions - maybe with a nautical theme.  I'm guessing those are knits or fleece & wouldn't work for that, though.

If it's just too awful or too much to work with, you might donate it to your local college's theater costuming department.  As a former employee of my alma mater's costuming department, I can attest that they always have a tight budget & are looking for all kinds of fabrics.  

[nonesuch]

some of the tamer ones might make a shirt or blouse. (Thinking the stripe,  maybe with the pieces cut on the diagonal?)

For some of the rest, I'd find it a little distracting to look at some of these as a garment, but I can see them as part of a garment. Think of Charlie Sheen's bowling shirts on Two and a Half Men, they are color blocked.

The bright prints would also perk up an otherwise boring jacket, shirt, or dress by being used as piping.  I'm lazy.  I've done faked piping on sleeveless shirts by using bias strips instead of facings, and rolling and stitching the bias so it looks like piping.  I've made plain shirts and used coordinated print for the inside of the cuff and the placket.

Jeans or pants sometimes have cool, contrasting facings, too.