Windham Fabrics Introduces the "Lancaster Heritage" collection by Patty Harrants

JERSEY CITY, NJ. - Designer Patty Harrants created the Lancaster Heritage collection in the true tradtion of "Scherenschnitte" - a popular form of decorative papercutting from Germany in the 1600s.

The Dutch and Germans were known for their intricate papercuttings and used them to decorate legal documents, as well as relgious commemorative papers. The papercut pieces were largely symmetrical and always decorative.

Paper cutting came to the American colonies when middle Europeans, mostly German, fleeing religious persecution, came to Pennsylvania in the late 17th century. Museums in Lancaster County and in Philadelphia have extensive collections of these detailed cuttings. Patty's fabric designs are based on some of these original patterns and represent a simplified version of the more intricate cuttings in existence.

Her combinations of ethnic-style prints with traditional colorings are a rare find and a welcome addition to any quilter's stash.

To see the complete collection and available free projects of Windham's latest fabric collections, visit www.windhamfabrics.com.

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