MATERIALS Six assorted upholstery fabric samples (see notes below) About 3/4 yard, 45-inch-wide woven cotton fabric (see notes below) Scissors Rotary cutter, ruler and mat (optional) Upholstery ...

When a friend couldn’t bring herself to throw out several bags of upholstery samples that were taking up space in her garage, Deanna Newkirk assured her that she would put them to good use.

That’s why when Jan Shearsmith, head archivist at the Science and Industry Museum of Manchester, uncovered a set of 19 th-century cotton samples, he was impressed and wanted to know more.