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Saturday, May 16, 2020

Trying not to own all the fabric!

I recently placed a fabric order with StyleMaker Fabrics for two pieces of fabric...


I've sewn the only lemon fabric I had ~ making this dress last summer.  The rosy piece caught my eye because it's precious and honestly I don't have anything like this in my fabric collection.

Earlier this spring, I purchased two border print pontes - cause border print and ponte...

BTW this is ponte still on Fabric Mart's site!

I also purchased a panel cotton voile and a rayon black and floral...


I've been on a maxi dress sew and I thought these would make amazing maxi dresses. I've also really wanted to make this dress - Simplicity 9041:


...and finally this Vogue 9253.


Yes I'm one of the last people to make this dress...

My challenge is that both dresses are fabric hogs.  The S9041 takes 5.5 yds of 60" wide fabric and the V9253 takes 5 yards of 60" wide fabric. Lately the most I've purchased is 4 yards for a single piece. I own only 3 pieces of 5 yard pieces of fabric and I'm concerned that I will go crazy and purchase several pieces of 6 yard pieces for them to sit on my shelves.  

I mean I own a lot of fabric...

This was when I was pulling fabric to share with a friend

...and I'd really like to make some maxi dresses that don't need a dozen buttons down the front!

So what's the point of this post...well I'm making plans and sewing but even with all of the fabric I own...I still need to buy more to make my sewing dreams come true.  Does anyone else ever feel this way? *sigh*

Okay, back to my sewing machine. I'm sewing a couple of maxi dresses using patterns that aren't fabric hogs. It will probably be a minute before these come to the blog because next weekend is Memorial Day weekend. While I am working from home during these quarantine times, I do have six days off...so Imma sew.  Sew to my heart's content!

...as always more later!



34 comments:

  1. I had to stop myself today from buying more fabric for a pattern I want to make that will take about 4 yds. I just bought fabric earlier this week for some projects. My intent when I started my fabric stash was to always have it on hand for whatever project I wanted to sew. The problem is it's either not the "right" fabric for or there's not enough fabric for the pattern. I am improving though - when I buy fabric now it is for a specific pattern and only the amount of what the pattern calls for (no extra).

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  2. All I need is to be inspired with seeing something pretty and also, comfortable to make me buy fabric instead of using my stash. I have a separate room for my fabric and its gotten so unorganized I am buying when I shouldn't. But, I do want it all!

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    1. I think i'm jealous of the separate room for your fabric! LOL!

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  3. I do. I sew considerably less and wear considerably less than you (I work in scrubs and don’t socialize much). My stash is still huge for me, maybe half or a third of yours, but I still buy frequently for new patterns when I buy those. From what I hear, both of us might be grateful this fall and beyond for those stashes. As an imaginary quilter, I had (have) enough great quality quilting cottons for masks for everyone. I think I need some larger cuts, seldom buy more than 3 yards at a time and I’m an a ply sized 5’11”.

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  4. Can you make the dresses you want out of fabrics you already own if you combine two fabrics? For instance collar, facing, waistband in a solid with a print for the rest?

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    1. Ruthie - that's a great idea and you know I have no problems mixing fabric but it's not what I'm "seeing" for these two patterns right now. I wish I was...cause 6 yards of fabric is a lot to me these days!

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  5. OK, I feel better now. Your fabric stash looks like mine!!! There's just something about a piece of fabric that you see and have to have--doesn't matter if there is no place to store it. Love that blue and white print and that rosy print and i could go for that border print and I could use the lemons for a table topper in the kitchen. I do Home Dec and quilt too so I have it everywhere.

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  6. I just noticed your shelving. I have 2 of those crammed full and stacks on the cutting table that I have to move every time I cut something out. My kids just roll their eyes every time they see it. If I had room, I could use another one of those shelving units.

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    1. craftyjudy01 - I have fabric stashed behind the cutting table and that's what you're seeing on top of the cutting table. I just bought some clear plastic bins because I'm going through and boxing some of it up. I'm putting it in the storage room behind my sewing room. I need a little more move around space in here!

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  7. I'm on a self-imposed fabric fast and I'm desperately trying to work through my stash. I'm just admiring everyone else's fabric purchases. The lemon print fabric is lovely, nice choice.

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  8. I love your comment about satisfying your "fabric dreams". That totally defines me as I do dream of fabric envisioning what garment it will become. Keep making your dreams come true. Karen

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  9. I adore your fabric collection!!! Nice new fabrics. I couldn't help notice your pins holder, I have the same one and the magnet is very strong. I have several smaller ones at my machines and then just put them back on the metal pin holder after finishing a project!

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    1. Linda - I love those magnetic pin holders. I have a small one by my sewing machine, two on the cutting table (holding different types of pins) and one on the cutting board.

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  10. I love your blogs. As a fabricholic, I relate completely. I had stopped making clothing when I started teaching quilting, but now that clothing is not coming from China as much, Imma going to sew, sew, sew. Thanks for the inspirations!!

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  11. Your sewing cave looks like a really wonderful store. I would love to shop in there. I so admire the quality of your sewing, so neat and professional looking.

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  12. Unbridled envy!!!

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  13. Love the lemons. You might be able make delete the bottom ruffle on 9041 and save a lot of fabric.
    Your makes are always so attractive. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Dotschi - you think it's a ruffle right - it's not!!! That skirt just has ALOT of fabric in it!

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  14. Those are all lovely choices (more florals, very uplifting!) I lost the desire to wear dresses several years ago, but I can understand your dilemma. Generally speaking, dresses are the single outstanding garment type with this huge yardage requirement. I still run into this issue a lot though, and mostly because I insist on buying bolt ends, cut pieces, and so on. On the upside, I really have to love them and can get very creative with blocking and economical pattern selection, not to mention being into the fabric for a pretty low investment. If I see a terrific sale price, I will buy more, for sure, just to have more options. Recently I bought a 100% cotton heavyweight denim for jeans for a mere $3/yard. I had to wash it several times, and limited myself to only 2.5 yards for jeans. While a part of me wishes I bought more, another part says, that’s enough to do what I want and need for now.

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  15. I keep saying I can't buy anymore fabric because I also have lots of it at my house. But then I see some and I have to have it..............Oh well..........

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  16. I knit more than I sew but I have a sizable, never the right fabric for the right pattern, fabric stash and enough yarn to open a store. Thank goodness for an unused bedroom!

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  17. I buy fabric because I'm attracted to it, it has promise, it speaks to me, it's on sale, etc., etc., etc... rarely do I have a specific item of clothing in mind when I make these purchases. Why oh why do I have to buy new fabric when I want to sew something? Usually because nothing I already have 'fits'. Lack of yardage is legitimate--go for it.

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  18. I remember thinking that a six yard wax print cut was just too much fabric of one print. I was ....inexperienced (that's a good word) in how many things I would want to make out of the same print to coordinate. My usual order is 2.5 yards of a cotton print, enough for one dress for me (making the same yardage-frugal dress pretty much all the time) or a shirt for my sister. And my stash reflects that cut preference. So yes, I need to buy more fabric for a thing. And that lemon print just sings.
    Love you. Stay safe sweeties

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  19. even with all of the fabric I own...I still need to buy more to make my sewing dreams come true. Does anyone else ever feel this way? ...
    Yes. And there is nothing wrong with that.

    Although, Threads 188 has an article by Kenneth King on mixing prints. Just from the slivers of folded fabric we can see in the photo, there seems to be some interesting combos.

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  20. even with all of the fabric I own...I still need to buy more to make my sewing dreams come true. Does anyone else ever feel this way? *sigh*

    Hey Carolyn! To answer your question, well...yes and no. I too have a lot of fabric. I too do purchase fabrics to fill a need I have when my "collection" doesn't have the goods I require. That means that yep, I do purchase yardage. But not "on a whim" or "because it needs to come home...needed to come home"..no in person fabric buying at the moment. So yes, I buy. But no, not on the scale or frequency that I used to.

    What I think you're looking for is reinforcement about buying fabrics even though you have quite a bit of it. Well, to be honest, I really don't see anything wrong with your purchasing fabric. You sew lots, and it makes you happy to purchase yardage. It's not as if you don't use it, is it? And you're not hurting anyone. In fact, your purchases are particularly meaningful right now, as they help support small businesses that are struggling. A win-win, in my book.

    So I say "yay'! Keep 'em coming! I love to see what new and fun sewing projects you've got going, lady. Fabric purchases and garment making. Sending positive thoughts and sewing blessings your way. Keep up the good work, Carolyn.

    As I was moving to hit the "publish" button, another thought occurred. Sometimes, what I do, and I find it to be helpful when it comes to purchasing fabric, is to hit the "pause" button before I hit the "purchase" button. By that I mean, if there's something I'm wanting to make, and I initially can't find that perfect length of goods, I'll jump onto the fabric store sites and peruse. Usually will find something. I'll put it in the cart, then...(as Alton Brown famously put it) "just walk away!" Next, and this is important, I go back to my fabric stash and REALLY LOOK. Sometimes, a few times. And you know what? A lot of the time (even if it's not exactly what I have in mind) I find something that I can use and (to steal anothers' coined phrase) "make it work". To be honest, it kinda helps with the creative process, seeing what I can come up with given the on hand items I have. Now I'm finding that it flexes that muscle to see what's readily available, and what I can do with what I already have, rather that always defaulting to buy, buy, buy. It feels good to spend, believe me...I know! But it feels good to try and figure out how to use what I have. That's what I bought the fabrics I have for in the first place.

    One last thing? That plaid boucle in the photo on the right? About forth or fifth down. Where'd you get that, if you can remember? I've been on the hunt for a boucle that with that colorway, and the only place I've found it asking $282./yd. A bit too steep for my pocketbook! Thanks for any help you can give on that, and, so much for not buying fabrics. Or wanting to. ;-) Kay.

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    1. Kay - send me an email. We can talk about the boucle.

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    2. Now, isn't that funny? You gravitate to that plaid boucle - which looks a lot like a piece I have - and I gravitate to all the pretty florals. I keep going back to that piece with the rose peonies under the lemon print. It is so pretty. What are you going to do with that? Maxi dress? And that panel blue and white voile. Is that a panel print with an all over print on the rest of it? I used to buy quite a bit from Fabric Mart but I hate their $9.99 shipping because I don't usually buy in bulk and I'm too cheap to pay that price for a couple pieces.

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    3. craftyjudy01 - the rose floral is a rayon crepe new to the collection with enough yardage to be a regular maxi. The panel blue and white voile is supposed to be a Roscoe blouse. I mean when I get there! LOL! As for FM shipping, it's cheaper than several other online places I purchase from so I guess it's relative to how much you want the fabric! ;)

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  21. Oh....so pretty....I really like the white back ground w the pink & the blue white back ground one & the black back ground one..I like the criss cross dress pattern...looking forward seeing them made up..you make beautiful clothing. How big is your closet.

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  22. I have a huge stash but it doesn't stop me from buying more because I love fabric. I love coming home after a long stressful day and a box of fabric is waiting to be opened. I will shop my stash first. I buy fabric if it fits into my current wardrobe plans and will not end up in the stash. Most of the time I buy more then I need because I change my mind a lot. I get frustrated when I have to change my plans because there is not enough fabric, lol.

    My biggest goal for the last two years is to sew up the stash. One of my rules is to use up the entire piece of fabric when it comes off the shelf. If I have a sizeable piece of fabric left, I'll use it to make another garment. Camisoles, princess seam tops and gored skirts are my go to garments when I need to use up left over fabric. At the end I have small scraps that get donated to ASG. The funny thing is that no one notices that I'm wearing the same fabric with different garments.

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  23. That reminds me; there is a fabric at Mood I've been eyeing for a while. I wonder if it is still available. I'm going to take a look.

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  24. a thought you've tickled in my brain..."how much is enough?" even though my closet has plenty of clothes, i do not own a single cotton nightgown. so, to the sewing room i hie me to construct yet ANOTHER garment. seems odd to need any more to wear, but i really do need this one thing.--anne

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  25. I have the Vogue 9253 as well. It certainly is a fabric hog! I like to sew with linen and get mine online at linen-fabrics.com It is worth subscribing to see what their daily sales are. I bought 5 yards for this pattern for $30.

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  26. Are you kidding? You always need more to make your sewing dreams come true. ;-) Something I labor over pulling together projects. Most of the time, my answer to a problem is I need a bigger selection to choose from. Tee Hee.

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