Planning ahead & fabric/pattern shopping!
Yesterday I wanted to do some fabric shopping, but for various reasons, I ended up with too little time to drive to the fabric stores and have enough time to actually do more than pick up a couple of items. I wanted time to just shop a bit, wander through and enjoy the fabric experience - something I've not done in a very long time.
Today, after dropping off the kids at school, and overdue library books, I got to do just that at Hancock Fabrics, and it was very very nice. Wandering through the fabrics, touching and touching, checking to see fiber content, getting disappointed that the soft fabric was really 100% polyester (at least poly fabrics are nicer now then when I was a kid), finding some nice linens that would make a great outfit - only to realize that I had stuff like it already and it wasn't as lightweight or as smooth as I want for a smock. Found diddly squat in the wools. Realized that their definition of "wool flannel" is not the same as the nice wool flannel I already have. Found their silks is pretty much limited to dupioni and a few pastel sheers, and then found a purple velveteen that I could have used on my Phyllis kirtle - except it is a light purple, not the rich red-wine purple my silk damask was.
Yes, I did eventually spent some money on some nice fabrics, patterns (woohoo! for the Simplicity sale), threads, and bias tape - (sarcasm/on) wow, what a haul (sarcasm/off).
I got some blue damask printed twill for an apron (vintage style pattern), and two cotton knit fabrics for Cam's new sweat pants - as he's just a bit too heavy for those his size (why they are made so skinny I don't know), and the next size up is several inches too long for his shorter legs. I did find the basics of what I was looking for, but nothing super inspiring for me.
Except for the blue quasi-floral blue cotton flannel that ended up super cheap at $1.35/yard, when the end marker noted it as $7-something a yard. That will be my new winter nightgown, which I desperately need to make up soon. My old flannel nightie is getting holey. But even this was not a must-have fabric, it just was nice, soft and blue.
I realized that my super inspiring fabrics are in silks and velvets, and most likely will have to be ordered online. I do plan on checking out what Joanns has at some point soon, but these are a good start for my ArtEvDaMo projects.
On the patterns, I bought...
While I was looking at the pattern books, I was listening to the ladies around me chattering while looking for patterns. Three ladies were looking for patterns suitable for a themed wedding party. One lady did not want to wear a skirt, preferring comfortable pants and boots, but it was for her sister so she would, begrudgingly, wear a skirt for the wedding. I'm not sure the theme of the wedding, but they were looking at LOTR style patterns, but were stymied because the patterns only went up to 20 or 24, and they were a bit larger than that. Personally, I think they needed to find someone to drape their garments on them to enhance their assets, and not look at a pattern designed for elven ladies with no curves, but for once decided not to get too involved, other than suggesting maybe the sister should just wear a nice pants suit if that is what would make her happiest. I think the sister getting married wants all the ladies in skirts for her wedding album, which is something I don't understand the need to do. But then, I eloped and didn't have a full church wedding.
I thankfully do have the skill to fit patterns, one that I need to practice some more and improve upon. But for those reading this far, if you are still working with patterns and are not happy with how they fit you, it really is worth learning how to modify patterns to make them fit you - whatever size you are, whatever curves you have, or don't have. That really can make the difference between making a garment that fits and looks good on you, and making part of a garment that doesn't fit well and ends up on the floor at the back of the closet. Yeah, I've been there - the frustration stopped me from sewing for several years. I didn't really learn how to make a pattern fit me well until it came time to make my own wedding dress. Thankfully, I had my mom to help me at that time. Getting a proper dress form that replicates your actual body, and making mockups, really helps improve that fit. (If you want to know what fitting books I use now, let me know and I can post about them.)
Well, off to clean up my living room, and put my new stash items away until I can create them, which will be soon. I am looking forward to November!
Today, after dropping off the kids at school, and overdue library books, I got to do just that at Hancock Fabrics, and it was very very nice. Wandering through the fabrics, touching and touching, checking to see fiber content, getting disappointed that the soft fabric was really 100% polyester (at least poly fabrics are nicer now then when I was a kid), finding some nice linens that would make a great outfit - only to realize that I had stuff like it already and it wasn't as lightweight or as smooth as I want for a smock. Found diddly squat in the wools. Realized that their definition of "wool flannel" is not the same as the nice wool flannel I already have. Found their silks is pretty much limited to dupioni and a few pastel sheers, and then found a purple velveteen that I could have used on my Phyllis kirtle - except it is a light purple, not the rich red-wine purple my silk damask was.
Yes, I did eventually spent some money on some nice fabrics, patterns (woohoo! for the Simplicity sale), threads, and bias tape - (sarcasm/on) wow, what a haul (sarcasm/off).
I got some blue damask printed twill for an apron (vintage style pattern), and two cotton knit fabrics for Cam's new sweat pants - as he's just a bit too heavy for those his size (why they are made so skinny I don't know), and the next size up is several inches too long for his shorter legs. I did find the basics of what I was looking for, but nothing super inspiring for me.
Except for the blue quasi-floral blue cotton flannel that ended up super cheap at $1.35/yard, when the end marker noted it as $7-something a yard. That will be my new winter nightgown, which I desperately need to make up soon. My old flannel nightie is getting holey. But even this was not a must-have fabric, it just was nice, soft and blue.
I realized that my super inspiring fabrics are in silks and velvets, and most likely will have to be ordered online. I do plan on checking out what Joanns has at some point soon, but these are a good start for my ArtEvDaMo projects.
On the patterns, I bought...
- 2 apron patterns - 1950s vintage inspired for me, one that included a basic apron for Rob & the kids.
- A Victorian pattern I didn't have but have long wanted (it's one of the Wisconsin museum redos, and it is plus-sized.)
- a pattern that might get made into a gift (so I'm not sharing just in case)
- basic sweats for the family
- a fitted pants pattern that is supposed to be designed for body shapes including curves (and plus-sized, too). I didn't want wide legs or a cuff, but I did want pockets like this one has. The others didn't have that, so I can adjust the width of the legs, and remove the cuff in order to get the pockets. I hope this pattern works decently as I want some nice wool slacks.
- A scrubs blouse pattern that has fitting seams, and has cup sizes! I don't like patterns that are basic rectangles for a bodice as those I know won't fit very well. I figured I would use the sweats pattern to make the bottoms unless I can find a good loose pants pattern with pockets I like. Hmmm... I may even be able to adjust the fitted pants pattern into one with an elastic waist, since that's an easy mod. Basically, I want some basic tops to wear around the house with sleeves that won't be annoying.
- A basic nightgown pattern. It has a robe, which I might make up later if I find some fabric that works. I liked the fitted yoke area, which I might do some basic embroidery to enliven it.
While I was looking at the pattern books, I was listening to the ladies around me chattering while looking for patterns. Three ladies were looking for patterns suitable for a themed wedding party. One lady did not want to wear a skirt, preferring comfortable pants and boots, but it was for her sister so she would, begrudgingly, wear a skirt for the wedding. I'm not sure the theme of the wedding, but they were looking at LOTR style patterns, but were stymied because the patterns only went up to 20 or 24, and they were a bit larger than that. Personally, I think they needed to find someone to drape their garments on them to enhance their assets, and not look at a pattern designed for elven ladies with no curves, but for once decided not to get too involved, other than suggesting maybe the sister should just wear a nice pants suit if that is what would make her happiest. I think the sister getting married wants all the ladies in skirts for her wedding album, which is something I don't understand the need to do. But then, I eloped and didn't have a full church wedding.
I thankfully do have the skill to fit patterns, one that I need to practice some more and improve upon. But for those reading this far, if you are still working with patterns and are not happy with how they fit you, it really is worth learning how to modify patterns to make them fit you - whatever size you are, whatever curves you have, or don't have. That really can make the difference between making a garment that fits and looks good on you, and making part of a garment that doesn't fit well and ends up on the floor at the back of the closet. Yeah, I've been there - the frustration stopped me from sewing for several years. I didn't really learn how to make a pattern fit me well until it came time to make my own wedding dress. Thankfully, I had my mom to help me at that time. Getting a proper dress form that replicates your actual body, and making mockups, really helps improve that fit. (If you want to know what fitting books I use now, let me know and I can post about them.)
Well, off to clean up my living room, and put my new stash items away until I can create them, which will be soon. I am looking forward to November!