Tag Archives: fabric

Chicago PR Weekend

25 Wednesday May 2011

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My great road-trip-mate for this PR weekend was Connie of Couturesmith who is not only a blast, but she’s multi talented, she’s raised 5 lovely daughters, lots of pigs, made wedding dresses, plays guitar and, of course – sews.  Turns out she also reads, plays baseball, golf and has a great sense of humour.  Of course, I knew all of this when suggesting a 6 hour road trip. 

I had only two hitches; first I forgot my camera, so was reduced to my Blackberry Camera – the second was my bank card which was ‘compromised’ the morning of the trip.  This after alerting the bank I’d be in the US, checking funds, making sure that I could use interac and also finding out which ATMs I could use for free!    So no interac and they would only release my bank card when I was actually at an ATM to get some cash.  Luckily it probably reduced my purchases, although I’m still thinking I should have bought more at Fields!

Oh, did I mention Connie’s also a great shopper?  She had mapped out 3 detour shopping highlights on our way down.   The first was the Fabric Gallery, in which the owner displays the gorgeous fabrics in colour co-ordinated groups.   This jewel of a shop is one of the stores you see in the “finefabricstores.com” ad in Threads magazine – in fact the owner told us she organizes this group of independent fabric stores.  I was a bit hesitant to spend all my money in the first store, which I could easily have done.  I did end up with the gorgeous breton stripe ponte rayon knit in black and white (below)

Red Stretch Cotton & Black and White Breton-stripe Ponte

Our second stop was Fields Fabrics.  Totally worth it – as a matter of fact probably worth a 4 hour trip from Toronto for a shopping day there.   The store we were in was about the size of two Fabriclands.  They had a great selection of knits especially.  Connie got some great Polartec print fleece that’s printed on one side and some laminated Amy Butler fabric.  The have a huge selection of quilting cottons in designer prints (Fabricland here doesn’t carry the licensed, expensive lines).  The other wonderful thing was that both the Fabric Gallery and Fields carry extensive pattern collections from independent pattern companies like Amy Butler etc.  and books, which was great to see.  All I got there was a Kwik Sew pattern, which was 20% off:

 
 
 
After Fields, we headed to a nearby Target, not sure if we would see another (sure enough there was one about a block from where we were staying smack dab downtown!) I scored a genuine pleather metallic gold messenger bag for $12, a notebook and a make up highlight cream $1!!  We enjoyed looking at their Calypso designer wear which was quite lovely and had great embellishment details.   By then it was after 3 and we hit a drive through Burger King for much needed sustenance. 
 
After a detour around an accident, 7 incidents of venison roadkill, $8 in toll roads we finally made it to our destination!!
 
I’m blogged out now-more later!  But I leave you with the rest of my purchase pics:

Rayon Crepe, Linen Knit, Silk Ottoman

 

Soutache Ribbons PurchasesPatternswap Haul

 
 
 

Winter Sewing – the Big Reds

27 Monday Dec 2010

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Winter Fabrics - Reds

Winter Fabrics 3: Here are the reds, they’re showing up on my monitor way more orangey-red than in real life.  From the top left:  orangey-red ponte knit, cherry red rayon knit, striped knit with both colours and black.

Winter Sewing

27 Monday Dec 2010

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After finishing my Christmas gifts which included the infinity scarfs, and 3 variations of the Jalie pleated cardigan:

Jalie 2919 Grey Flocked Knit

Jalie 2919 in Grey Rayon Knit

I made a third one for my mom, but didn’t upload a pic.  It’s rather like my ‘spice’ coloured one but in blue & purple tones.  

Now onto some capsule sewing for me. I was thinking of 4-5 co-ordinates for work, then adding some casual pieces later, based on a grey/black/cream/red colourway.  Oh, I’d also like a top to wear under my spice coloured jalie – maybe I can see if I can work that into the mix.  So far my ambitions list (which ALWAYS exceeds my ability & time) is:

to be added later:

  • Red plaid tunic – either a pintuck front type with a collar band from Burda or slim long-shirt like Vogue 2972 by Alice & Olivia
  • Slim jeans, not as skinny as before from Jalie
  • second pair of leggings with some contrast panels of snakeskin print
  • another Vogue 2980 Sandra Betzina top with faux bolero – it’s just so cute and easy.  I need a white one. 

Here are the main contenders for the fabrics, there are a couple of red co-ordinates (not shown)

Winter fabrics

Shown above from top to bottom are: deep charcoal rayon knit with a wide white stripe of  tie-dye across it; a puckered novelty knit in cream, stretch mesh with matte sequins in black with a blue cast

Shown above, top to bottom:  Rayon Poly lycra with pinstripes, black rayon knit and knit with printed skin overlay.  Below is the brushed plaid.

I also have some cherry red rayon knit, some lipstick red ponte knit and a red, burnt orange and black striped mystery knit that may make the cut.

What’s in your machines this week??

Stashing…Fabricland Sale Update

12 Sunday Sep 2010

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New Jalie Patterns Purchase

Well I pushed the ‘buy’ button on the new Jalie patterns I’ve been waiting for (the dresses and yoga pants) but wait!  Buy 3 get one free!  Who can resist! So into my cart went the pleated cardigan and vest and the stretch city coat.  They’re supposed to ship around the 23rd, which gives me time to make the new Hot Patterns Plain and Simple relaxed T & maybe another few knit tops while I wait. 

Fabricland Members Sale September 23 & New Clearance Section at Morningside & 401 Store

I resisted mightily the new clearance section at Fabricland yesterday.  You see, they opened a store about 10 minutes from me in the summer.  But, as with the newer stores, they don’t always have a clearance section.  Yesterday there was a nice little clearance nook.   I coveted a LOT of stuff.  Some stretchy boiled-wool in purple (I have some similar already) , marked down to $5/m.  Some wool coating with kind of a ‘scrambled roving’ on top, $5/m, I think it was originally over $40/m!  (similar to the photo below, which is from Emmaonesock, but the one at Fabricland was with a black background and grey/white scrambles, I believe)   navy/grey stretch t-shirting in a 3/4″ stripe – $2.50/m.  Some assorted rainwear-looking fabric that was just dumped there, $10/m marked promo, with no clearance stickers.  I didn’t even ask.

I was going to buy some nice looking stretch denim.  It’s a lighter weight and has a distressed finish.  At $10/m it’s not a bad price already, and I do get a 25% discount with my card.  But they’re having a 50% members sale on the 23rd, and there was a lot on the bolt, so I might as well wait until then as I won’t be making up the pants I have planned by then.    I’m planning to make a pair of Burda riding pants as inspired by the Wardrobe Contest Entry on Patternreview by Dinyadi.  I also love the cargo pants, so I’ll try and make a pair of skinny jeans based on the Jalie jeans pattern with the thigh cargo pockets.

Sewingsue E-bay Store Update

I did purchase a bunch of sewing patterns from the clearance bins at Fabricland, which were just restocked with $3.99 Vogue patterns.  I guess I should mention that I sell sewing patterns on E-bay, and I ship internationally.  Prices may not be impressive for you North Americans who can buy patterns cheaply, but I do stock a lot of out of print ones and I do ship internationally.  Yesterday I found 4 Marci Tilton patterns in larger size ranges that were quite popular with Australians when I had some in stock last summer, Here is a link to my store:

Sewing Sue’s E-bay Store

Sewing Progress

Hopefully I will get the Hotpatterns t-cut out today – I have some hard to find linen knit that was gifted to me earmarked for it, but there’s not quite as much as the pattern calls for and the layout will be a challenge.

I Heart….

12 Thursday Aug 2010

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Marcy Tilton "Chic Slashes" Knit

Actually, I love all of her fabrics!  Clicking on the photo above should take you to her website (ooooh fancy, how
does she do that?)

…Tooth update….it took approximately 2 minutes for my dentist who must weigh 95 pounds soaking wet to get the tooth out.  So, yes, Rusty I probably could have played volleyball…however I did get the profound pleasure of watching my handsome hubby smackdown his rivals last night in his games, shirtless.