Fabric Friday: Ditzy (ditsy) print

denisebrain

VFG Vice President
Staff member
VFG Past President
I feel a bit ditsy today, so heck, why not?



A ditsy print is a very small scale all-over pattern with a random look, not linear or geometric. Flowers are often depicted, but are not exclusively used.

American textile manufacturers, particularly from the 1920s through 40s, mass-produced cotton ditsies, dumb-dumbs and bread-and-butters. These were popular and inexpensive, and the names refer to their innocuousness, as well as their saleability.


Four 1930s cotton ditsy prints. They don't necessarily have white backgrounds, it just so happens these four do.
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Popular for day dresses in the 1920s-1940s (especially 1930s), these came back with a vengeance in the nostalgic 1970s. Definitely cottagecore-ready, this prints are really hot again.

A couple of 1930s ditsies:
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And of course where would Gunne Sax be without ditsy prints?
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Thank you for mentioning Liberty, Donna—some of the finest ditsy prints ever made. Those kind of distinguish themselves from the pack by being much finer fabrics and printing, wouldn't you say?
 
Thank you for mentioning Liberty, Donna—some of the finest ditsy prints ever made. Those kind of distinguish themselves from the pack by being much finer fabrics and printing, wouldn't you say?


Definitely. I used to do a lot of sewing and Liberty fabrics have a much nicer “hand” than typical ditsy cotton prints. Smooth, finely woven, with beautiful colors and designs.
 
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