Someone wrote me a note and said that they would love to go fabric shopping with me because I pick such great fabrics. That I see things in fabric that they are unable to see! Honestly I think that's because I LOVE Fabric!
![]()
I know some sewists collect patterns...loads and loads of patterns...because it fuels their imaginations and takes them where they need to be to get a garment made. Other sewists are really into technique and proficiency...the how and why or technical ways are what really gives them a thrill when they are sewing. Me it's always the fabric first. Fabric and design are what move me to sew.
![]()
There is no way that I would own the collection of fabric that I do if I didn't love it so. I hoard nothing else in my life. When I had to give away my me-mades, it hurt, but I barely felt a sting when I pulled 12 boxes of unworn shoes out of my closet and added them to the donation pile.
Now while I love fabric, I don't like sewing with ALL types of fabrics. I definitely have a list of fabrics I just don't mess with anymore and greatly admire the sewists who do. Anything chiffon ~ poly or silk ~ is not being made into a garment by me! *LOL* I don't mess with cheap and shiny ~ not worth my precious time! I like a woven silk better than a flowy/slippery/sitherly silk anyday! Just say no to peachskin! I love Jesus and my language when sewing peachskin would send me straight to hell any day!
Straight up satin is iffy for me ~ not because it doesn't sew well ~ okay take that back it can be a pain in the tuckus to get straight pucker-free seams. But garments made from satin tend to have a cheapish look to them I'm trying to avoid. Slinky knits are the devil...they won't come near my cutting table or my sewing machine. I love velvet but I won't go near panne velvet. It's just not worth the trouble.
There are some other fabrics that must be handled with care and attention but I will use them. Gabardine is one because getting that sucker to hold a press takes a lot of patience. Velvet because you have to be gentle with it, use good techniques and take your time. Faux suede and faux leathers make amazing garments but again, take your time and use good techniques. Otherwise, as my fabric collection bears witness to, I will sew a lot of different fabric types.
![]()
I love colors and prints. I love plaids and stripes. I love twills and tweeds. I love the drapes and folds of fabric. A good hand can be orgasmic...and the possibilities each new piece brings with it...is like breathe to my creative soul. So for 2016, I will primarily be sewing from the collection. I know I've said this several times in 2015, but I'm honestly having the best time pulling treasures from the shelves. Using some pieces in ways that I hadn't thought of before...
Now of course, there will be new tenants coming to the collection. I was gifted a Visa gift card for Christmas and of course I headed over to Emmaonesock to purchase fabric with it...fabric that I'd been drooling over for days. I won another piece in a Marcy Tilton giveaway, and of course I added a piece or two to my list. However, these purchases will be few and far between in 2016. The siren song of my own collection is calling to me, asking me to use it, begging me to make beautiful garments from it, to challenge myself to think outside the box! So for 2016, I will. I really will!
![]()
...as always more later!
I know some sewists collect patterns...loads and loads of patterns...because it fuels their imaginations and takes them where they need to be to get a garment made. Other sewists are really into technique and proficiency...the how and why or technical ways are what really gives them a thrill when they are sewing. Me it's always the fabric first. Fabric and design are what move me to sew.
There is no way that I would own the collection of fabric that I do if I didn't love it so. I hoard nothing else in my life. When I had to give away my me-mades, it hurt, but I barely felt a sting when I pulled 12 boxes of unworn shoes out of my closet and added them to the donation pile.
Now while I love fabric, I don't like sewing with ALL types of fabrics. I definitely have a list of fabrics I just don't mess with anymore and greatly admire the sewists who do. Anything chiffon ~ poly or silk ~ is not being made into a garment by me! *LOL* I don't mess with cheap and shiny ~ not worth my precious time! I like a woven silk better than a flowy/slippery/sitherly silk anyday! Just say no to peachskin! I love Jesus and my language when sewing peachskin would send me straight to hell any day!
Straight up satin is iffy for me ~ not because it doesn't sew well ~ okay take that back it can be a pain in the tuckus to get straight pucker-free seams. But garments made from satin tend to have a cheapish look to them I'm trying to avoid. Slinky knits are the devil...they won't come near my cutting table or my sewing machine. I love velvet but I won't go near panne velvet. It's just not worth the trouble.
There are some other fabrics that must be handled with care and attention but I will use them. Gabardine is one because getting that sucker to hold a press takes a lot of patience. Velvet because you have to be gentle with it, use good techniques and take your time. Faux suede and faux leathers make amazing garments but again, take your time and use good techniques. Otherwise, as my fabric collection bears witness to, I will sew a lot of different fabric types.
I love colors and prints. I love plaids and stripes. I love twills and tweeds. I love the drapes and folds of fabric. A good hand can be orgasmic...and the possibilities each new piece brings with it...is like breathe to my creative soul. So for 2016, I will primarily be sewing from the collection. I know I've said this several times in 2015, but I'm honestly having the best time pulling treasures from the shelves. Using some pieces in ways that I hadn't thought of before...
Now of course, there will be new tenants coming to the collection. I was gifted a Visa gift card for Christmas and of course I headed over to Emmaonesock to purchase fabric with it...fabric that I'd been drooling over for days. I won another piece in a Marcy Tilton giveaway, and of course I added a piece or two to my list. However, these purchases will be few and far between in 2016. The siren song of my own collection is calling to me, asking me to use it, begging me to make beautiful garments from it, to challenge myself to think outside the box! So for 2016, I will. I really will!
...as always more later!