QUILTS & FABRIC: PAST & PRESENT


Friday, November 12, 2010

Polka Dot Problem




Some people may think I have a Polka Dot problem---an obsession with circles offset in a diagonal repeat.

I do collect polka dot china.




And my dog is named Dot.

And I have a hard time resisting polka-dot items of household decor like the dogbed above. Dot looks very good on it.

And I do have a few too many polka-dot wardrobe items.
Myrna Loy looks better in that little thing than I would.

So I've been analyzing my problem and thanks to the internet I've come up with the source.


As they told us when we were young, comic books would ruin our lives.

My favorite comic was Little Dot

Dot had a dot fixation herself. Each story featured her attempts to dot-i-cize her world. She lived in Dot-Land. Her full name was Dot Polka. It seems I read these in the late 1950s.


Another influence was Polka Dottie with her friend Rootie Kazootie and the dog Gala Poochie Pup. They were book characters. Polka Dottie and Poochie had a rather surreal relationship with the dots which could be stolen, juggled or bounced.


So with such pervasive cultural influences one can see why I have, like Little Dot, a "strange obsession."


High fashion or low



 I come back from my travels with pictures like the one below.

Hotel Lobby in San Jose

If you are crazy about dots you might want to check out these Moda Basic collections.
Go to the Moda Basics page
Click on the PDFs to see
Dottie
Essential Dots


and Marble Dots
Stock up now.












17 comments:

  1. I LOVED Little Dot, too! I hadn't thought about those comics in years, so thanks for the memory. Anyway, what's not to love about polka dots? Michele

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  2. You are a hoot..... As they told us when we were young, comic books would ruin our lives..... I loved Little Dot and have not thought of her in a long time.

    Now which to stock up on first Morse or Dots.... Morse wins as it will come and go and Dots will always be there somewhere.

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  3. Thanks for starting my day off with a smile - I love your humor and the way you inject it into so many topics.

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  4. Alas, I don't remember Little Dot or Polka Dottie (my mom was strict about comic books!), but I do remember reading "Put Me in the Zoo" to my kids. Repeatedly.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3MOCin2SgY

    Nice dots!

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  5. So... have you made a Dot quilt ?

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  6. I haven't thought about Dot in years, but I loved her when I was little! Thanks for the memory poke!

    Not that your Dot isn't adorable, but maybe with this obsession, you should get a Dalmatian! :)

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  7. Great post! It is interesting to think about our early influences. I enjoyed Dot too, and also have a love of dots. Hmmm.

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  8. I share your passion for Dots, Barbara. That's why I called my shop Quilt it & Dotty. I even have bought an Iphonecover in a red and white polka-dot pattern. Which might not be so strange, but it is considering I didn't have an Iphone at that time! I went to the Phone-shop with the cover saying; I want a phone that fits in here. Strange looks were coming my way!!!
    I buy every dotted fabric there is. And you are true, it must be a diagonal pattern. That's the right one.

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  9. I have been collecting dot fabric and want to do something in all different type of dots.

    Debbie

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  10. I LOVE dots too! They are so fun! You need to come stay with me sometime and sleep under polka dot sheets...check out my website at www.farmersdotter.com! Thanks for taking the time to look!

    Brenda...the Farmer's Dotter

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  11. Lots and lots of dots in my stash.. As a young girl, I used to wear polka dots 'frocks' as we called them in India.. I particularly remember a navy and white and a hot pink/white polka dot dress I owned..
    Hmmm.. I had forgotten about those! Good memories!
    Thank you!

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  12. We like dots too - we've got a quilt shop in Burford, Oxfordshire UK - and our basics include Moda Essential Dots - we love them! Your article on dots is great fun and made me think of a dress I had when I was about 10 - large polka dots with a tie sash at the waist. I used to pull it tight (gave me a waist) and would twirl about! LOL !

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  13. Barbara, your posts are always so entertaining and visually a blast. Thanks!
    You know, that new Accuquilt Go! cutter makes cutting out dots insanely easy.....

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  14. I'm crazy about dots too although I do draw the line at wearing them (not sure why) cuz they're so cute. I've started a great "Got Dots" quilt-along that's proving to be a ton of fun at Jovita's Patchwork Atelier - I hope you'll check it out :)

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  15. Hi Barbara! I just found a Polka Dot treasure of a quilt at my flea market...a Blazing Star (I think) in all sizes of blue and white polka dots. If you have a chance come see its pictures on my blog, it's a fun find...such a coincidence, as I had just read this post from you.

    Love your blog, I learn so much!

    lizzy d

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