Fabric from Purl
Maybe it was a shame that I only got to visit one fabric shop in New York, but to be fair that wasn’t really why we were there. But I made sure we made it to Purl Patchwork, which is on a lovely, lovely street in Soho, with a great sandwich shop and bakery just a few doors down – I had the most delicious chicken sandwich from there and the two shops combined make Sullivan Street a must go destination next time I go. (Oh yes, I’ll be back.) One of the nicest things was seeing the colour-wheel quilt from Last-minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts
Isaac turned out to be an excellent companion for fabric shopping (who knew?), tirelessly pulling down fabric after fabric, and saying ‘what about this one?’. He loved it, which is just as well, since it was his wallet getting an airing. I think that in the end I was quite restrained, don’t you? I could easily have come back with twice this amount, especially considering the exchange rate and the just general ‘cheaper than the UK’ vibe.
I have to take some of it out today for someone to choose fabric for a bag, and I have an inkling they will choose this lovely red fabric on the top here. If that’s the case I might have to order another half yard for myself because I love it. In fact I love the whole bundle as it is, tied up with string so it’s going to be difficult to take it out at all.
My plan is to pre-wash the lot (!) and then do more detailed photos as I put it away, but it looked too delicious piled up in a rainbow not to take a photo.
P.S. Thank you all for your kind wishes and congratulations – we were both very touched that you took the time to say so.
At home, no one can hear you wearing a period costume...
Today I took a step towards achieving a long held dream. Previously I thought it too frivolous, too odd, too peculiar to indulge in. But today, waiting for my young man to arrive in town, I went to browse through the patterns and found that Simplicity were all on sale at £3.65 each.
Reader, I bought 4055.
Let me explain. I am at home a lot. I write, I craft and I accept a lot of parcels for my neighbours because they have real jobs. Finding comfortable clothes to sit and work in at home while feeling respectable enough to answer the door to Royal Mail, Fedex and UPS men is difficult. What could be better than a regency gown? No uncomfortable waistband when the biscuit barrell forces its way down my throat, no need to worry about unwaxed legs, about straps falling down or visible underwear. All is concealed, all is left free.
But it does seem a little strange doesn’t it? For a 21st century woman to need a two hundred year old dress design to work in at home? I do love Jane Austen (_a lot_) but wanting to be Anne Elliot is not the reason I want the dress. I really do think it will be comfortable to work in.
And I really want to open the door to the delivery guy in a frock. Possibly with gloves. Or is that taking it too far?
Fabric Junkie
Some of the haul from the Knitting and Stitching show…
Sugoi ne?
Ah me. Can’t keep my fingers off the internet can I?
I finally decided after seeing Stacey’s Hello Kitty book that it was time I got myself a japanese craft book. After all, I learn japanese and I craft so it seems like a no brainer.
I found this one on ebay, with a host of projects to make from just half a metre of fabric. Each section has a cutting layout for the fabric, and boy do they make the most of it. Some of the projects are teeny tiny, I thought they would be good for some of those ‘bits’ I’ve got floating in my stash.
Speaking of the stash, I really need to learn how to fold my fabric better. Oh and I want to get a glass fronted cupboard so I can see it. It’s never ending.
One last fling with amazon...
I love this book! I really truly love it. I’m on a self imposed ban of amazon for a couple of months but I decided to have a last splurge on sewing books before I stopped. Bend The Rules arrived today and is full of little projects you can make from the scraps in your cupboard – no waiting til the fabric shop opens! But aside from that I really love the way Amy has written the instructions for people like me – they can be bent, like the title says. I really enjoy it when I figure something out and change it to suit me better. That’s what craft is about half the time – taking someone’s idea and making a leap with it. It’s why it feels alive. Anyway, for starters I want to make the little baby bibs, the felt woodland elf hat (note to self – find a child to put this on), the pleated bag and the little tote bag.
The other book I bought was Lotta Jansdotter’s simple Sewing, partly because it’s a linked purchase with the above. To be honest, although it’s a nice book and well put together, and it looks pretty enough, I didn’t really get excited by any of the projects. They were just a bit too simple, or just not different enough from other patterns I have. The one I probably will use is the one for the doorstop, because I saw some like it for sale at Spitalfields market last year and decided I could make one. Except of course, I didn’t get round to it.
I’ve heard that my machine is ready for pick up at last, so I’ll be off to Wimbledon tomorrow first thing. Wish me luck for that drive!
