It’s a good thing when your fabric “speaks” to you cerebrally, thereby successfully turning itself into a lovely garment. Certain fabrics talk so loudly and literally, that you can be heard approaching from afar while wearing same garment. What are these fabrics? Not sure I can classify them, but I can pinpoint some specific ones.… Read More When the Fabric Talks Too Loud – Literally
I nailed my own illustration! Or did I? After decades of sewing all kinds of fabric, how did I miss sewing a ribbed knit (or rib knit)? This particular one is a bamboo/elastane blend; it handles easily and is extremely comfortable! I bought the yardage from Sew Much Fabric, where you’ll find more colors to… Read More Ribbed Fabric Story
While making the still unfinished kurta, I went down the rabbit hole of researching the cotton double gauze. Which led me to the world of puckered fabrics. Which led me to plisse. I’m familiar with seersucker but never paid attention to “plisse”. Also, now I know to the best of my knowledge that my cotton… Read More Puckered Fabric Info — I Want to Know More
The fabric buying spirits, though, are alive!! This beautiful grey bamboo rib knit (and some other fabric) was recently purchased from Sew Much Fabric; I noticed a bunch of rib knit garments emerge in the fashion diaspora during the past year. Although I have never sewn a garment in ribbed fabric, I did wear a… Read More Ribbed Fabric: Medicine for Sewing Lag
It is quite a stretch for me to say “dog days of summer” in September. In Texas. The air conditioning is running all day, and nothing other than lightweight clothing is the norm. The weather may get cooler in November, or not. Dog Days Tunic. I feel really good in this! And the “granny topknot”……..… Read More Rayon Georgette Tunic for Dog Days of Summer
In the southern region of Pakistan, there lies a province named Sindh. Therein live some crafts people who are experts in the creation of 2 yard (approx.) pieces of cotton called “Ajrak” in a gloriously printed (and sometimes further embellished) form. These are used as scarves for men and women, turbans, and in the modern… Read More Textiles from Other Lands: #Ajrak from Pakistan
Did you read last week’s post with basic information about Fabric Grain in woven fabric? A new question raised by me back when I was learning to sew was: Do knits have grain? Answer: Yes! Today, lets explore fabric grain in knit fabric in a basic kind of way. We all know that knits are… Read More Basic Sewing Concept: Grain in Knit Fabric
The print looks like an oriental rug store threw up on me, no? I’m making fun of it, but I actually love it! But what drove me to this butterfly style again (McCalls 6510)? It’s the printed rayon challis from Mood Fabrics. To accommodate the print, I had to make something with as few seams… Read More The Print Determined the Pattern Selection
I’m obsessed with the illusion neckline detail on this Fendi dress in their Fall 2017 RTW line. The red strip sewn in a U shape seems to be floating on the model’s skin. Not an earth shatteringly new detail, but so pretty and wearable if adapted to show less cleavage. I say that because we… Read More Can’t Let Go: Fendi’s Neckline Illusion
It’s true. It helps to have friends who have friends. In my case, it helped that my friend Maria has a friend who is an upholstery shop owner. Through the friend (twice removed), I was the recipient of some discontinued samples of home decor fabric; the samples range from 8 inches, 16 inches and 24… Read More Found Fabric: Home Decor Samples
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