I've noticed that Australians called them "spots" and North Americans label them "polka dots" (apologies to other English speaking regions), just like Aussies talk about taps, bonnets, holidays, foundation piecing etc and North Americans refer to faucets, hoods, vacations and paper piecing.
No problem, just a minor cultural difference.
Until I happened to look in the dictionary. While I was in the 'p' section I noticed
polka dot (n) one of a pattern of small circular regularly spaced spots on a fabric
so I immediately went to the 's' section and looked up spots. Well there are 25 interpretations of spots but none of them described spots the way I refer to them. I didn't get too excited until I closed the dictionary and discovered it is the Collins AUSTRALIAN Concise dictionary!!! So Aussies don't call them spots either. How did Australian quilters claim that word?
A brief respite from this wordiness, for another photo
Some of my bolts of dotted fabric - notice the roll of dots, 1.5m wide and only (!) 10m long shyly standing in the corner. "Dots" is a good compromise:
dot (n) a small round mark; spot; point.
Seems like I have lost my muse, so I have been busy tidying up my fabrics and pondering language. I hope to find my sewing self somewhere in my stash.
10 comments:
If you are calling them "polka dots" they have to be round. Spots? Well, my dog has spots on her nose... or are those freckles? Maybe we are all a bit dotty...
Your fabric collection by any name is still wonderful. How much variety from a simple filled circle!
Great fabric collections..Spots Dots - all lovely....
It's very hard to resist a good polka dot. I'm sure you will find your muse eventually. I lost mine for a while but it's slowly returning :0)
Crispy
How about 'staples' - does that word have the same connotation in both versions of the language? Polkadots certainly are staples in my fabric collection;) Love the pictures - makes one itch to stitch!
Nice collection! My stash is basically left over scraps but I wish I could get to it for a little organizing. I just keep adding to the different baskets I have them in and they are spilling over with fabric.
Happy Stitching,
Cheri
yes sometimes I have to think about what an Aussie is writing to me!
I haven't really been drawn to polka dots before but now I realize how they add life to a quilt...I may need to break down and add some to my repro collection for the Roseville Album and Flower Garden quilt!
Kathie
I'm a bit the same, but those dots are divine.
I love dots, spots and polka dots! Yes, they all add a bit of flavor to a quilt.
Language is a funny thing. Even in the states something can be named one thing in the east and another in the west.
Polka dot fabrics are so fun. You have a nice collection there.
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