Tag Archive for 'fabric'

QUILT SAMPLER 2 FABRICS

Published on January 9, 2011 in colour, patchwork and the workroom. 9 Comments Tags: fabric, grey, pinterest, quilt sampler 2.

January is off to a fun & busy start! I’m taking all our new classes this month, so I’ll be busy doing my craft homework and learning new things – Intro to Cross Stitch, Leather Moccasins & Sewn Mittens!!

The Quilt Sampler 2 class started on Thursday, so I thought I’d start by posting my colour palette and fabric choices. I’ve decided to do shades of grey (no surprise), aqua and mustard. My inspiration photos are this and this. I really love the soft, silvery look of these photos and also the proportion of each colour. I’m going to try to keep referring to these images to see if I can achieve the same feeling with my quilt blocks.

I’m still using Pinterest like crazy, especially to keep a board with colour palette ideas for future projects. It is so perfect for organizing your inspirations. If you’re not using Pinterest yet and want an invite, just let me know.

A YEAR LATER

Published on October 18, 2008 in textiles and the workroom. 7 Comments Tags: 13 dresses, anniversary, fabric, the workroom.

I’ve been looking back at photos of the shop over the last year, I thought you might like to see how much things have changed since I first opened up last fall. In the beginning there were just four cubes of fabric shelving that were quite sparse. Look at how much the fabric collection has taken over in the last year! Most days, I wish there was even more space for more fabric. I suppose it’s good to have some limits, but don’t be surprised if you see some more shelving and more fabric soon. I can’t help myself.

I finally got some good photos of dress 13. In all the hectic-ness of the anniversary party, I didn’t get any suitable photos that showed off the pattern. I know I keep saying so, but it’s coming up soon!

NANI IRO

Published on September 26, 2008 in textiles and the workroom. 11 Comments Tags: 13 dresses, coloured tights, fabric, nani IRO.

I’ve been dying to see this nani IRO fabric in person. It’s double gauze cotton (a soft, loosely woven cotton that is double layered together) and it just arrived with a large shipment of Japanese fabrics. It’s beyond lovely.

I’m going to flip through my nani IRO pattern book for some inspiration for this fabric.
If I’m in love with a fabric, I usually have to wear it. Hence, the need for crazy 13 dress challenges.

p.s. Where the heck is dress #13???!! It’s late, my friends. I can only say that it will be worth the wait. (and it’s still too warm to wear coloured tights)

13 DRESSES : DRESS 3

Published on July 5, 2008 in stitchery, textiles and the workroom. 4 Comments Tags: 13 dresses, cityscape, fabric, simple wrap dress, spoonflower.

Dress 3, originally uploaded by the workroom.

Dress 3 – Wrap Dress
Fabric – City Limits Espresso Neighbourhood

This was actually the first dress I made this spring. I made this in the Simple Wrap Dress class taught by Sarah. The pattern was originally a frumpy Vogue pattern, but Sarah modified it to be the sweetest little frock. I’m not sure how many of these she has made, but she’s got it down to an exact science. The dress looks great on everyone who makes it.

This was the perfect opportunity to use one of my all time favourite fabrics. I wish more fabrics were like the City Limits collection. The illustration style is whimsical and the repeat is so large that it feels more like an art piece. I have a known weakness for cityscapes, so this fits right into my growing collection.

ALSO – Everybody is talking about Spoonflower, where you can design and custom print your own fabric. I only mention this because I think some of you, dear & talented readers, need to do this…

THE BLOCK

Published on June 27, 2008 in patchwork, stitchery and textiles. 3 Comments Tags: block, breakfast, cross stitch, fabric, key lime pie, lecien, lorelei, my first quilt, my folklore, purl soho.

Trimmed Quilt Block, originally uploaded by the workroom.

My quilt top is now completely pieced together. I can hardly believe it. Since this is my first quilt, I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to make it absolutely perfect. This personal pressure definitely accounts for the fact that it took me 5+ years to collect all the ‘right’ fabrics for it.

You’ve already met Lorelei (the centre piece blue floral), now you can meet all the other fabrics. The fabrics that started it all and set the tone for the colour palette are the first three from right to left. These fabrics were designed by my dear friend Angela for a bedding line that didn’t end up going into production. I snatched up all the sheet samples after the market show was over. The fabrics are yarn dyed, meaning that the yarns were dyed beforehand and then woven together. That stripe is not printed, it’s woven. Even the two solids have multiple coloured threads woven in which really adds another dimension. Besides being designed by a close friend, this fabric doesn’t exist anywhere else, except for in this quilt. How cool is that?

The dark brown fabric was a purchase from the legendary Purl Soho. It’s hard to see, but there is a very subtle cross stitch print with the alphabet going through it.

The last fabric is from the My Folklore collection by Lecien. I found this fabric in the very first order I received for the shop. It was last summer when the boxes of fabric arrived at my house. (I hadn’t even secured a space yet) I couldn’t resist opening up the packages and checking out the fabrics I had chosen. It was even better than Christmas. When I saw that brown floral on blue, I ran to my room and got out my bag of collected quilt fabrics. Yes! This was the final fabric I had been waiting for.

Stay tuned for a look at all the blocks together.

p.s. I had key lime pie for breakfast today. I thought somebody should know that.

13 DRESSES : DRESS 1

Published on June 25, 2008 in stitchery and textiles. 3 Comments Tags: 13 dresses, Amy Butler, bias trim, fabric, Kaffe Fassett, Lotus Tunic, personal challenge, sewing, sewing pattern, William Morris, Winding Floral.

getting ready to test Lotus Tunic pattern, originally uploaded by the workroom.

In the spring, I made a little personal challenge with myself to make ten dresses by the end of the summer. There are a couple reasons for this challenge – 1. I love dresses and 2. I was finding that I was doing very little personal sewing, being so caught up in running the shop.

Looking in my closet this morning, I realized that I had made six dresses so far! With still two more months until Labour Day, I decided I should up the ante and go for thirteen. (this is my favourite number & the day of my birthday) I’ll be posting each dress, starting with the ones I’ve already finished. Wish me lucky thirteen!

Dress #1 – Amy Butler Lotus Tunic
Fabric – Kaffe Fassett Winding Floral in Pastel

This is the first Amy Butler pattern that I’ve attempted to make. I found her directions to be quite clear and easy to follow. Amy suggests using a contrasting fabric for the upper bodice pieces and bias trim. I decided to stick with just one fabric. This William Morris-inspired print is so stunning that I wanted it to get all the attention. The pattern also calls for belt loops in the side of the tunic and a belt. I tend to avoid belts and I really like the look of the girl on the cover of the pattern. (They have styled it with the belt tied in the back, which is another option)

The only other adjustment that I made was to make the back darts bigger, to cinch the waist in more. I have a very curved back, so I make this adjustment a lot. Other than that, the fit of the dress is amazing.

I wasn’t planning on doing the lining. You can use the facing pieces from the tunic top instead. This is what Dory did with her dress. At the last minute I changed my mind and decided to do a solid Lilac cotton lining. I’m really happy that I did. The dress feels very finished & proper with the lining. The sleeve detailing is my absolute favourite part.

Already I’ve been spotted wearing it on multiple occasions by certain people. Yes, it’s THAT dress, the one you wear because it requires no thinking in the morning and you know you’ll look good.

MEET "LORELEI"

Published on June 24, 2008 in i heart, patchwork and textiles. 9 Comments Tags: Denyse Schmidt, ebay, fabric, lorelei, my first quilt, NYC, selvedge, Takashimaya, Tom Tom Club.

‘Lorelei’, originally uploaded by the workroom.

This is Lorelei. She is the centre piece fabric in an epic Queen-sized quilt that has been ‘in the works’ for over five years. It is also my first quilt. Now that I’ve got my own quilt and fabric shop, I think it’s time to push this project back to the front of the line.

I first took notice of quilting years and years ago at ICFF in NYC when I saw Denyse Schmidt’s quilts for the very first time. It was one of those moments when a whole new world opens up before you and swallows you whole. I started collecting fabrics for a quilt that is inspired by a couture quilt that Denyse did for the amazing store Takashimaya made from vintage Kimonos. I collected fabrics for this quilt until last summer when I finally found the last fabric to complete the collection… for the quilt top. I’ll fill you in on the quilt back fabrics later on.

Lorelei is a vintage cotton print that I bought off of ebay. Everything about it is perfect. The name, which also happens to be the name of one of my favourite songs by the Tom Tom Club. -love!- The typewriter font notes on the selvedge, which also read “Never Misbehaves”. -love!- The colours and the off-set printing of that sweet floral. -love!-

I’ll be introducing you to all the other fabrics of this quilt in the next little while. I hope you love fabric as much as I do.