Online Fabric Shopping

For someone who loves sewing, fabric shopping is one of the things you look forward. In my case, entering a fabric shop is similar to a kid entering a candy shop. I get all excited, oohhing and ahhing when I see something nice. When I went to Berwick street (off Oxford Street, London), I oohed and ahhd in the first shop I entered, but that quickly turned to "huh?", and "oh dear", when I was told the price of a metre of a gorgeous cotton print. I quickly ushered myself out of the shop. Needless to say, I have never gone back.

Fabric shopping in London is quite interesting, but stressful, because London is so big, and you spend most of the day travelling from one end of town to the other. Sometimes its not worth it. I'm fortunate that I have my beloved Goldhawk road close to my house, but its really difficult discovering new places if you don't venture out of your area.

Cue in online fabric shopping.

Though I love fabric shopping, I have never bought fabric online. Well I did buy a lace trimming once, but I don't technically class that as fabric shopping. I think I'm much too scared that what I ordered might not come through, or that I won't love it when I see how it really is. Plus I always like to touch fabric and make a connection with it before buying. Also it does not help that some of the online fabric shops do nothing to really promote the fabric they sell, and sometimes the information provided is so confusing and the sites are so headache inducing that I'd rather not go there.

I've discovered one online shop though, which is really tempting me into buying some fabric. Its called My Fabrics. Its a German company I think, because they have their outlet store in Germany, and the prices are quoted in Euros.The site is well organised. They give care instructions for each fabric, as well as pictures of items you can make with the fabric.

Their sale prices are also very good. With prices going down to £2/metre on all sorts of fabric, like this pure 100% pure Italian cotton fabric, which went from 16.95 euros to 3.26 (£2.76).

Their shipping rates are not bad either. Anything up to 100 euros is shipped through DHL at 5.95 euros, and anything over that is free. Very tempting.

They also welcome visitors to their fabric outlet store in Halstenbek, near Hamburg. Which is good to know, especially if you find yourself in Germany. I wonder if it will be mad to plan a trip to Germany purely to visit this factory. Come to think of it, it might not be that bad, especially with cheap flights from EasyJet ( yes I know, my husband says I'm crazy too)

Ohh, so much to see, and touch.

Right, I better get off and start looking at possible targets for my sewing projects. Its a good thing there is the Goldhawk Rd. meet-up on the 14th of May. That way, I won't go wild on the My Fabrics website.

Take care everyone.

Xoxo

Dibs

Where are they?

I have not been able to sew a dress this week, but I have noticed one thing about myself this year. I have been wearing the dresses I have so far managed to make this year more than once. Which is alot in my case. Last year I made a few dresses, wore only 1 out of the house, and now I don't know where they all are.

Last year though, I was not so fussed about the finishing of my garments, and I was not remotely bothered about seam edges and all that. Coupled with the fact that my machine(Brother LS 2125) was the most basic machine on the planet, I did not have fancy things like an overlocker foot which I now have with my Pfaff. Plus being the lazy little minx I am, hong kong seams and french seams were not to be even considered.

I think I am taking a more healthy approach to my sewing this year, and even my husband has noticed, and is asking me to consider buying more expensive fabrics ( who would ever have thought men would encourage you to spend more aye?).

So, I thought I should show some of the things I made last year that I was prooud of ( for about 1day).

First up, the coffee date dress. Things did not go quite as planned with this one, so I changed the neck. Fortunately Elaine May (the selfish seamstress) was quite understanding, and actually helped me with more instructions on my all in one facing.

Where is it? - I have no clue. Will have to tackle it again this year because I really like the pattern, and it reminds me of me when I just started sewing seriously.

Next, the vogue 8470. I managed to do this dress, wore it round the house, then decided I did not place the zip well, took it off, and never put it back. I saw it the other day, and have kept it aside, to be looked at later this month hopefully. So I might (torchwood) be inspired to put a new zip by the time I go on holidays. I think it will be a nice holiday outfit.

Where is it: - Future project basket. Waiting for Princess Dibs to take pity.

Then I made this Burda magazine dress. I did actually wear this one to work, but i think I outgrew this. My pear hips decided to acquire more fat. So, I can't fit into this one anymore, and I THINK i donated this to a charity. Who will buy this, I don't know.  The pleats at the front were a bit dodgy i think . but nonetheless I wore it a couple of times.

Where is it: - no idea.

What I was most proud of that I made last year was the Vogue 8280. I cried a couple of times during the making of this dress. My husband had to tiptoe around me during the week I made this dress. I was quite happy with the end result though. I still have this pattern, and plan on making it again when i get a really good fabric. I will be using a cotton or wool fabric that has some stretch, so it will fit better. I did wear this one to a party the very day i finished it, and also a couple of times to work.

Where is it?: - I don't know to be honest. I grew bigger round the hips, and could not fit in anymore.

So, those were the things I made that I was proud of. The rest did not reach a noteworthy state of completion, so sadly (thankfully), won't be getting some blog time here.

Other things I made, and which I was proud of last year, were my wedding cake ( which I decorated mysefl) and my fascinator.



I bought a plain cake from M&S and decorated it. I made the flowers from sugar paste.




I folded the fabric and attached it to my top, to have that pink effect, and I just loved my fascinator.




I also put together the bouquet.

 I hope this time next year, I will be going through a list of what I made this year, and hopefully wearing one of them every week. Thats a big challenge, but I think with sewing, you have to push yourself all the time. I have 8 months to prove to myself that I can do it.

I am away for a week from today. Going to spend Easter with my in-laws. Unfortunately I won't be taking my beloved machine. So I won't be overlocking my seams. My mother-in-law has a machine so I will be able to make at least one dress. Hopefully I will have time to actually sew it and put some pictures up.

Happy Easter to everyone.

XX

Dibs

New Look 6025 top

This weekend the weather was really beautiful. Unfortunately for me though, I had to go to Christchurch to see a friend who lost her dad, so I could not make good use of the sunshine. I came back today, and as soon as I got home, I started making the New Look 6025 top.

I decided to make View A, but as I progressed with the blouse, I decided to make the neck and sleeves more interesting. So I used some yellow bias tape I had at home, and added a black lace trimming to it. When cutting the fabric, I forgot to cut the right length, so I cut the hem too long. I fixed this by cutting off the excess fabric, and made an elasticated hem.

It was a really fast and easy blouse to make, and I will definitely make this top again. I will like to experiment more with trimmings, as I think they make projects more unique. Plus I find the process of deciding on how to alter your outfits really enjoyable as you get the chance to be creative.

My finished top.

Goldhawk Road treasures

As you may have noticed, I am obsessed with Goldhawk Road. "Obsessed" being an understatement. So imagine my delight when I came to know that Karen, of didyoumakethat  fame, is organising a shopping trip to Goldhawk Road for the London peeps.

She organised one earlier this year to Walthamstow market, which unfortunately I could not attend. I can't remember why I missed it as I definitely had it marked down as one of the things to do. She also has guides to other fabric hotspots, and even has one for Paris. Blimey!! talk about dedicationJ. So if you are planning on going to Paris un de ces jours, and would like to buy some fabric, I'd suggest you go to her blog.

So, knowing that in a couple of weeks, masses of sewing enthusiasts will be flocking to Goldhawk road from London and beyond, I decided to show some of the treasures I bought on my last visit to that famous road. I remember I was going there to get just some yellow silk fabric, and promised myself I would not spend more than £20. I ended up spending about £60. I could not resist the temptations. Lol.

So, here are a couple. The ones I am showing are ones I prewashed. The rest will be prewashed later, when I have decided on what to sew.

 The black one in the middle is actually from Ikea, but I washed it along with the rest.

 My husband's shirts were relegated to the back of the line because, lets face it, they are not as important as my fabric!!

 These treasures, and more, await the brave. So if like Aladdin, you are desperate for some treasure, head along to Goldhawk road with Karen, on Saturday, May 14th. However, unlike Aladin who only had two words to say, there will be no Sesame opening for you unless you punch in those digits on your card.

Summer Holiday Wardrobe planning

I mentioned in my last post that I was off to sunny Mallorca in August. Naturally, being the impulsive little minx I am, I decided to set myself the challenge of sewing the clothes I will be wearing in Mallorca. Foolish right? I think so!!!
So, I suppose the first thing would be to decide on what I actually want to wear on vacation. I tried coming up with a rough list of what I could wear for 2 weeks:

• 2 maxi dresses
• 2 skirts
• 2 linen trousers
• 2 shorts
• 2 kaftans
• 3 swimsuits (bikinis?....probably not)
• 2 sun hats
• Knickers (yes, I will be making these tooJ)
• Negligee ( to be whipped out when our son goes to bedJ)
• 2 simple summer tops

Boy!! That list looks really long. I have not included t-shirts there because I plan on buying a couple of Mango and Zara basic t-shirts while there. I've heard they are cheaper in Spain. So I am not buying any t-shirts from now till August.
Is anyone else planning a holiday abroad? And if so, are you making your own wardrobe?