Category: fabric

Is it Hallowe’en yet?

I sometimes describe myself as a “recovering Goth”, but I discovered yesterday that I am still rather prone to the occasional relapse! About eight years ago I started a business called “GothStuff”, specialising in, well, stuff, for goths. I made skirts in a variety of styles, and Paul and I invested in a t-shirt printing kit. The t-shirts were designed by Paul and Selina, and they seemed to be quite popular.

We closed that business for a number of reasons, one of which was that I wanted to concentrate on working with organic, sustainable, recycled and Fair Trade fabrics, which are mostly plain, and mostly cream. Not very Goth, really. However I still have a terrible weakness for skull prints, and working part-time in a fabric shop I have to exercise quite a lot of self-restraint to prevent me from snapping up these little beauties!

Skull Fabrics!

The four fabrics at the top left are a fine nylon mesh – two with skulls & crossbones, and two with little skeletons. So cute! They’d be perfect for 1950s-style dresses, as a pretty top layer over a very full skirt. We also stock cobweb mesh in a wide range of colours, which I used to make pretty mini skirts back in the GothStuff days.

The eight fabrics down the right hand side are all 100% cotton prints. You have no idea how much willpower it has taken not to come home with many metres of the mini skull print in black and pink! The larger skull print also comes in several other colourways, but not a pink one, sadly.

The four fabrics at the bottom left are polar fleece. As this is manufactured from recycled plastic bottles, I have given into temptation and bought ten metres of the pink and black! I have two orders for hooded tops already, so you’ll be seeing pictures of those towards the end of the month.

I only wish that I could find a pretty skull print on an organic cotton. That would be my Fabric Nirvana, I think!

That was quick!

Less than a week ago I ordered eight yards of Alexander Henry prints from Buy Fabrics Online. They turned up this morning – all the way from America in just five days, and I didn’t even have to pay any customs charges.

I placed an order with eQuilter on the same day – let’s see how long it takes for that one to arrive. I wasn’t expecting to receive either parcel for at least another week, so I’m pretty impressed so far!

Alexander Henry Fabrics

From top to bottom we have:

“Bewitched” in purple – intended for a skirt
“Carnaby Stripe” – also intended for a skirt
“Rose Tattoo” in tea – this one’s going to be a dress for me, probably in a 1950s style, if 4 yards of fabric is enough for that.

The fabric that I’m waiting for is also the Alexander Henry “Rose Tattoo”, but in a different colourway.

I’m still working on my August corset orders at the moment, and I have another two dresses to complete before I can start sewing with these lovely fabrics. I guess I’d better get a move on!

Simplicity 2927 – up a tree!

Climbing a tree...

This is an action shot of Simplicity 2927 – up a tree!

The leggings are from a pattern that I drafted myself – something that I want to do a lot more of in future. It’s taken me a long time to find a UK supplier of nice fine organic cotton jersey, so I’d like to make the most of it! The jersey only comes in cream or white, so I’d probably fill the washing machine with Dylon dyes, to bring in a bit of colour. (The fabric shown was bought from The Cloth House, a long time ago.)

I’m currently coveting pretty much everything that Near Sea Naturals have to offer, whilst simultaneously agonising about the environmental impact of flying organic fabrics all the way over from America. It seems a bit daft to buy low-impact fabric and immediately add 3,000 airmiles to it! Although, as Miss Alice rather eloquently put it, “it’s not like locally produced organic cotton’s falling out of the sky”.

I’m still in the process of using up some of my stashed fabrics to make pretty corsets, so you’ll be seeing a few of those turning up as the weeks progress. Realistically it’s going to take me until next year to be really ready for doing something with my own designs and drafting my own patterns for them, but I’ll be working on it.

Chloe’s Cupcake Dress

Chloe's Cupcake Dress

This is Simplicity 4050, sadly now out of print. The only change I made to the pattern was to add a tie belt to the waistband.

The plain pink fabric is from my stash of Bishopston organic cottons, and the cupcakes are by Martha Negley for Rowan.

Chloe had seen the photograph of a dress I’d made for myself using these fabrics – Simplicity 4072 – and asked for one the same. Simplicity 4050 is the plus-sized version of that pattern, and to be honest I think it’s much more flattering. The neckline isn’t quite so low, and there’s no gathering at the front of the skirt. It also fastens with a zip at the back, making it a more streamlined dress.

The Simplicity 4072 turned out not to suit me after all, so I’m quite tempted to make myself a version of the Simplicity 4050 instead.

I’ve made clothes for Chloe before, and she always looks fabulous, so I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of her wearing this one!

I also made a matching Suffolk Puff corsage to go with it:

Cake Corsage

Pink Tartan and Pink Leopard Print!

Earlier in the week I finished my latest corset – a pink tartan number made from a favourite pair of old trousers. I’d been hoarding the trousers for years and years, despite the fact that they were far too small. I’m glad I did, as I’m very pleased with this new lease of life for them!

Pink Tartan Corset

As you can see, I liked my new corset so much that I dragged Paul out in the rain to take pictures of it for me! Thanks also to my sister, who gave me this fabulous umbrella last Christmas. Isn’t it cute?

While I was in a pink mood (when am I ever not in a pink mood?), I picked up a new addition to the corset fabrics pile.

It’s pink satin leopard print!

Pink leopard print satin

I mean, honestly, how can you resist?

I’m taking corset orders for September, if anybody’s feeling particularly glamourous…?

Kaffe Fassett Fat Quarters

Look what I’ve got!

Paul’s Mum very kindly gave me a set of ten fat quarters. Aren’t they beautiful?

Kaffe Fasset patchwork fabrics

They’re Rowan fabrics which were designed by Kaffe Fassett, and hand woven in India with the support of Oxfam.

They go absolutely perfectly with the Bishopston fabrics, so at the moment I’m thinking of some lightweight cotton coats, with fabulous striped collars and pockets. Maybe also covered buttons, if I can squeeze enough fabric out of the fat quarters.

I’m enormously grateful to Stef for passing these on to me. Look at the colours! They’re so pretty.

Ananse Village fabrics

This morning I received an email from Ananse Village. They’re a company based in California, who have a Fair Trade agreement with craftspeople in Africa. They sell clothing, musical instruments, jewellery, masks, baskets… all sorts of things.

They contacted me specifically to draw my attention to the fabrics, which I have to say are absolutely amazing.


The images above represent a 12″ swatch, and the prints are all made with wax. Some of them are amazingly detailed.

From a personal point of view, I probably wouldn’t want to have the fabrics shipped from Africa, to California, and then on to me. There must be a more direct route of buying African fabrics like this in the UK.

There’s no denying that the fabrics are gorgeous though.

The Bishopston fabrics are here!

The fabrics that I ordered from Bishopston Trading back in October have now arrived!

The enormous parcel was delivered on Friday, but I needed a bit of help to lift and unwrap it, so I had to wait a full twenty-four hours before I could look inside…

Bishopston fabrics - straight out of the box

Aren’t they beautiful?

You can see all of the fabrics in more details in their own Flickr set, here.

I had ordered 130 metres of fabric altogether! It came in nine pieces, each a different colour. Some of these were pre-ordered by friends who also like to make their own clothes, so I now have just less than eighty metres left, in seven different colours.

I’ve also ordered some new patterns to work with. As soon as they arrive, I’ll be making a couple of outfits for myself, and then adding four new garments to the shop.

I’m really excited about all of this lovely fabric! All of the colours go together so beautifully, and it feels so soft and luxurious. I can’t wait to make into clothes.