How long have you been waiting for this! 

This is a pretty good guide to many fabrics you would come across which are traditionally used for apparel.

​Thanks, Threads!

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/project-guides/learn-to-sew/guide-to-fibers

The history of fabric houses can be fascinating. 

When we moved our warehouse we were able to uncover beautiful finds that had been carefully put away. Some from trade shows, some extra special end-of-rolls, some designer pieces that never were put on display in the store.

Above is one of those special pieces.

To read more about the house of Abraham, a Swiss firm, see this link. 

I've always looked forward to Fall. The weather is such a nice break from the summer heat here on the Virginia piedmont, the leaves are spectacular, and the fashion!! Oh the fashion.

I've been an avid sew-er all my life and the change of season makes me feel all squirrely with preparation. New clothes, perhaps a new coat and new pair of boots. 

With the "covid 6" pounds finally leaving, and my determination that they not return even if we have restrictions that make me stay home, I really NEED to sew. 

I'm ready for some pretty toppers for Zoom meetings, an outfit for my occasional shopping trips, and a nice car coat. 

I'm ready to tackle a pattern system that I've always heard about, the Lutterloh system. I finally bought a system and a catalog of their patterns (new supplements come out every season). I've made a test garment from muslin and I'm almost ready to cut into my denim for the sample garment. I will use that for a concert I plan to attend, should circumstances allow. 

The fabrics this season are so inspiring. I'm afraid I'm going to collect several for my personal collection, but I have to give all of you customers a fair shot first! For actual samples of the fabrics, avail yourself of our sample set. More than 60 fabrics, with generous 3x3 and 7x7 "feeler" samples!

We'd like to hear what you looking forward to sewing for the coming season! How will you use your selections from our beautiful collection? 

Yes, these are nice for quilt making, but they are also great for apparel! 

They drape like a shirting and are completely washable. 

Perfect for crisp summer sundresses, garden party dresses, full skirts, loungewear, tops, drawstring pants, beach coverups!

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From a fabulous family owned company, In the Beginning Fabrics. We used their fabrics for face masks at the beginning of the pandemic and we are still wearing them! They are tightly woven, smooth and comfy next to my face. 

Use sewing patterns that call for broadcloth or shirting weight wovens with no stretch. Get ready for comfort! 

Or use their beautiful ideas for your next quilt, for table runners, placemats, and more.

Happy Sewing!

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Kristen has gathered some of her industry contacts into a new online learning experience called Costume Skills Institute. With a low monthly fee, you can learn skills that may be new to you, but have been carefully preserved by this community of experts. If you join her Patreon project at the highest level; you get a discount of 10% off all classes taken, Plus free digital patterns, members only sewing groups to ask questions and discuss special projects, and quarterly yearly gifts.

Learning is always fun, and you might even apply some of your new skills to your everyday wardrobing. Check it out! 

In addition, Kristen runs a "de-stashing" page on Facebook, where other costumers get to join in the fun of de-acquiring/re-acquiring no-longer-needed fabric yardages, trims, and even spec costumes and antique textile goodies. Kristen's "trunk show" page is filled with costumes that anyone can envy! ​

Images used with permission of Kristen Darville Foggie.

It used to be that we would flip through magazines for our seasonal fashion inspiration.
Vogue and Bazaar September issues would come out just in time for Labor Day weekend, and we would page wistfully through the winter clothes as the summer's waves crashed to an end.

Now we have everything at our fingertips, so why not made use of the information and inspiration!

Our blogger below has her mind set on an outfit by Etro as her inspiration. 

Where do you get your inspiration? How do you keep your pictures? 

I

​I have a favorite "jeans jacket" pattern that I have fiddled with for a perfect fit, and I think this will be just the new variation I need! Buttons later!

​https://www.pantone.com/color-intelligence/color-of-the-year/color-of-the-year-2019

Update: Suki is enjoying her well deserved retirement!


This is our store cat, Suki. She is in charge of patrolling the perimeter of the warehouse.

She is a rescue, and she's actually 11 years old!

She doesn't sit on the fabric, is not even interested in fabric, but she patrols and peers into corners where occasional "outsiders" might stray. She is good at her job!

Sometimes she sits on the shipping table, because that's where the action is and she doesn't like to miss out.







(Of course when I tried to get a picture she would not cooperate).

Store cats and warehouse cats have always been a thing, especially in cities. 

See this article about the "Beloved store cats of San Francisco."

And now there's a crowdsourced map!

 https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/Do-you-know-these-felines-Map-featuring-the-17523396.php