NSM: Fabric Gift Card Giveaway Emmaonesock

Emmaonesock has a carefully curated online fabric shop of high quality fabrics. I've purchased many pieces from Linda, who owns Emmaonesock, over the years. I love her customer service and how she ships her fabrics.  I've watched her business grow from two people (her and her husband) to the bustling small business it is now!

My latest make using Emmaonesock fabric is a sleeveless shirtdress from McCalls 7470 in an embroidered seersucker...

I love Linda's selection because it combines the necessary fabric we need in our day-to-day lives ~ rayon knits, denims and shirtings with beautiful and unusual prints, designer pieces and to die for wools.

But you have to be fast if you find something you love on Linda's site, because she has a cadre of devoted followers buying fabrics as soon as they're listed on the site.

To help celebrate National Sewing Month, Linda is offering a $50 gift card to one lucky winner.

How do you win this gift card?
1. You must leave a comment in the box below. Remember only comments left on this post on blogger will be acceptable for the giveaway. Comments left anywhere else will NOT be eligible.

2. Please leave the comment by Friday, September 21st by 11:59pm EST. 

All of these rules MUST be followed to be eligible to win the gift card. A winner will be announced on Saturday, September 22nd.  You will have until Saturday, September 29th to send me an email.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pick another winner.  Also, please refer to the rules that were stated in the initial post for National Sewing Month.

Ready, set, comment and Good Luck!

Happy National Sewing Month!

An Orange Isaac Mizrahi Shirt

I bought this fabric years ago from Fabric.com around the time they had the Vera Wang fabrics. It was purchased because I liked it not because I had specific plans for it. So it sat on the shelf waiting it's turn to be used. I went looking for it because I wanted to make a different type of shirt ~ something a little fun and funky!

What I forgot was that all of those little orange shamrocks had to be matched up. Which resulted in some very #slowsewing to get those shamrocks to match across the fronts and at the yoke and back seams.

Supply List ~

• 3 yards of a midweight cotton stretch shirting by designer Isaac Mizrahi purchased from Emmaonesock.com also from the collection
• 1/2 yard of gray/orange print batik from the collection
• 12 1/2" 4-hole orange buttons from Pacific Trimmings
• 2 pkgs of 1/2 foldover bias binding from Pacific Trimmings
• Light Crisp Shirt Fusible Interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply

Construction & Design ~
Most of the shirts I've sewn use the silhouette of yoke & gathered/pleated back with a straight hem. I was weary of that shirt type. It prompted me to make some changes to my existing pattern pieces. I thought I would add the back princess seams into the mix yet keep the back yoke. I also wanted the curved hemline typical of button down shirts.

After some pattern alterations, I had new pattern pieces to use for this new version of my TNT shirt pattern.

Adding space to the lower side back piece

Added space to the center back piece

Putting all the pieces together to insure they work

I know the question is, why not just use a new pattern with the features I want, because I do own quite a few shirt patterns. However, I would have to start the fitting process all over again using a new pattern. I know where to make changes for my body using these pattern pieces. I'm not starting new...I'm just adding to the pattern that's already working for me.  Plus I really don't like to fit new patterns...it's one of the reasons that I use TNT patterns over and over and over again.

After sewing the shirt together, there was excess fabric in the back seams. So I took it all out...everything that I added to the pattern pieces was taken out...*sigh!* I need to adjust the pattern pieces because I really want to make this shirt silhouette type again.

The other challenge was to get the print to match across all of these seams, as well as from the yoke back to the back princess seams. So I single cut the back pattern pieces. It took a lot pins, some slow sewing and a good layout to get it to work. It matches across all of the seams except one under arm seam and I'm good with that.

Binding ~
The design change to this shirt is that I added bias binding to the collar, cuffs and hemline. I wanted to use the binding to enhance the shirt's print. Adding it to the collar and the hemline were pretty standard. But I had to stop sewing for the night and sleep on it to come up with an idea for the application to the cuffs.

I photographed the process so when I want to use it for a future shirt, I can refer back to it. Readers if you want to incorporate this into one of your shirts, please feel free to borrow it.

Apply the band to the sleeve, then press it in half

up towards the sleeve

Align the binding next to the creased line of the cuff.

Stitch the binding down with a row of stitching on each side of the binding.

Finish and apply the cuff following the pattern instructions

I really like how the binding is applied but the cuff has a clean finished look. Which is what I wanted more than anything.

A few pictures of the shirt ~

Conclusion ~
Honestly I never thought about the logo print on the fabric when I dreamed up this shirt. I'm not sure I would have used it if I'd realized I would be matching all those stripes and the print beforehand. I just wanted to make some pretty shirts. Thankfully, I did use the fabric because this shirt is different from the previous ones I've made...though I used my seam ripper ALOT...this was slow sewing...really slow sewing!  Also, this shirt has a slimmer fit with more button down shirt features. 

This is shirt number 6 for the month and I have 2-3 more to make before I'm done. Since the weather is cooperating by just starting to warm up, I think I will get those last couple of shirts completed before it gets hot.

My next post is about my shirtmaking tips. I felt like including one tip per blog post wasn't enough. Having one blog post with all the information seemed more appropriate so that's what's coming up.

...as always more later!

The Confessions of A Fabricaholic

If you've been reading along for any length of time, you know that I LOVE fabric.  To some it's an aspirational goal, to others I'm obviously using my funds wrong and to some people it's a headscratcher. Then to those who love fabric as much as I do, my fabric collection is a lovesong.

I haven't talked about fabric purchases much on the blog lately. Some of it's because I haven't felt like it...though I've still been buying. But it's the end of the year and alongwith recapping my Top 5's (those will be coming up soon), I wanted to talk a little about my fabric collection. Especially since my fabric collection means as much to me as the sewing does. 

In September I shared some new online fabric resources for National Sewing Month. There were several new to me online fabric sites and I have spent time pursuing their sites then purchasing from them. So I thought I would show some of the new pieces that have come to visit Casa de Sewing Fanatico. 

Now I know I work in the midst of the NYC Garment District and I do purchase local too. However, for many of you visiting the District is a special trip, but you can sit at home and thumb through online internet sites. Truthfully, I sit at home and thumb through internet sites too!

So here are a few purchases I've made recently especially after the amazing Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales:

LaFinch Fabrics ~

A Liverpool knit (used in the Rivermont Dress, a dotted chambray for a shirt

and a polyester crepe for a bow-tie blouse)

Blackbird Fabrics ~

A floral rayon poplin and a dark floral sweaterknit

Smugglers Daughter ~

A dark denim cause I'm always buying denim now!

District Fabrics ~

Love the packaging from District Fabric

An embroidered velvet

I have to admit to finding this one on Instagram and purchasing it by calling the store.  They were so helpful and sent it out quickly! I highly recommend following their Instagram account and seeing their lovelies.

Emmaonesock ~

A rayon printed twill

I also bought a few pieces of fabric from Stylemaker Fabrics ~

and 5 yards of white cotton interlock from Organic Cotton Plus. The Stylemaker Fabrics and the cotton interlock were purchased during the Black Friday sale.

There have been a few purchases from Chic Fabrics and Metro Textiles, in the Garment District too, but I've officially made my last fabric purchases for 2017. It's time to stop gathering and to start sewing. I don't know about you but at the beginning of every season, I need to do a gathering or a hunt of fabric for that season. I need to add a few new pieces to the collection to get the creative juices flowing. These pieces may or not be used during this winter season but they do encourage my sewing mojo and inspire me to start new sewing adventures.

So how about you?  Do you need fabric to kickstart your sewing mojo?  Or do you have a lean fabric collection? Maybe you're like me and believe that you should own as much fabric as you are capable of storing? Finally, did you indulge in the Black Friday sales? I know different strokes for different folks but as I said at the beginning of this post I love fabric and it makes me happy!

I may have another outfit post before the Christmas Break but I'm not sure. I am sewing but due to the holidays and everything going on, I may not have a photographer until the New Year. 

As I mentioned above, I will be discussing my Top 5's in another post soon and maybe a wrap-up post of this year and my goals for next year.  

...as always more later! 

First Discount for National Sewing Month is from Emma One Sock

As an introduction, I've been shopping from Emma One Sock for at least a decade. I love Linda's beautifully curated collection. While it's a little more expensive than some of the other online sites I shop, the quality of her fabrics is unbeatable. The customer service is OUTSTANDING, she ships quickly and is available to answer questions promptly via email. You can't go wrong with a fabric purchase from Emma One Sock.

I thought I would do an interview with Linda so that if you've never shopped at Emma One Sock or didn't know the proprietor behind this online fabric shop you would get to know her a little better.

1. I've been purchasing fabric from your online store for years now. For those who are just becoming acquainted with EmmaOneSock would you please share the story of how Emma One Sock came to be?
That's a long story!  Yes we were one of the first online fabric stores, having started out about 17 years ago.  To make a long story a bit shorter...my college training was in music (piano performance and music theory, back in the dark ages, ha ha) and after a career as a musician throughout my 20's I finally settled down and got married (to Eric!) in my early 30's.  I have always enjoyed making things, and taught myself to sew, knit, crochet, etc. when I was in high school.  When my kids were born (they are now in their mid to late 20's) I was inspired to make them little hand knit sweaters and sewn outfits. This quickly developed into a children's clothing line that was sold all over the US (Emma One Sock, named for my daughter Emma and my son Aaron, whose nickname as a baby was "one sock").  It was all produced locally with upscale European fabrics. After six years and lots of growth, I decided to close that business (it was quite exhausting), and had lots of beautiful fabrics left over. We began selling off those fabrics on eBay, but when we realized that there was a potentially huge market for the fabrics to which I had access, we developed our own website (thankfully Eric is a computer programmer) and over time it grew into a thriving business.  I couldn't bear to change the name so we are still known as Emma One Sock!

2. What do you love most about running an online fabric store?
Well, I do love fabric, obviously!... so being blessed with immediate access to so many wonderful fabrics is something that continues to excite me. I also very much enjoy the challenge of running a business, and striving for perfection. Our business is almost like a huge art project that Eric and I are constantly tweaking.  We are very old school ~ we both have a rather entrepreneurial spirit. There was nothing else out there when we started, no instant website programs that now make it easy for anyone with an idea to start an online business.  Our website was designed from scratch and continues to be our unique creation, complete with an internal management, messaging and inventory system, etc. etc, (all thanks to Eric).

3. What is the most important thing you've learned from running an online fabric store? 
Not sure I can narrow it down to one thing. People still want the experience that they used to get in brick and mortar stores, so we do our best to provide an online experience that is clear, visually pleasing and detailed, and we send out hundreds of swatches (for free) every week so that people can handle the fabrics. People definitely appreciate great customer service and fair prices. With any business, greed can destroy a company ~ we've always aimed for slow and steady growth and so far it has worked out well for us.

4.   What is a typical day like? 
We start out early here! I'm usually at my desk by 7 AM at the latest, and our wonderful staff starts arriving shortly thereafter. They cut and ship orders, check in new shipments, fill swatch requests, handle customer questions, and when they can come up for air they straighten up and post lots of roll ends. 

Brenden, Monica and Anita

Chrissy

Heather

I do a mix of posting new fabrics, updating the website, ordering fabric, handling customer emails, etc. Just recently Monica has taken over the photography, and that has been a big help to me! We are in the process of updating our photgraphy set up ~ just got a new camera and lighting. We're also looking into some other ways to improve the photos on the website, as well as other website functions. Eric does all of the website upkeep and programming, billing, ordering of supplies, etc. We have a small studio and everyone gets along well considering the tight quarters!

5.  Is it important to offer international as well as domestic shipping? 
Yes, we have hundreds of international customers, repeat customers ~ it's a huge part of our business, and we are very grateful for their loyal patronage! We do our best to find the best shipping rates and our international customers seem to appreciate our efforts.

6. Why has online fabric shopping become such an important experience to sewists? 
Like everything else, the convenience of ordering online has unfortunately put a lot of brick and mortars out of business, so in many cases people have no choice but to get used to ordering online. Some others enjoy having a curated choice ~  anyone can find an online fabric store that suits their taste these days, without having to leave their home! It seems pretty clear that our lives have moved online in every respect. There are many fine online fabric stores out there; people find their favorites and learn who they can trust.

7.  How has social media changed the day to day running of an online fabric store?  
It hasn't really changed anything for us in terms of day to day, although I did notice a boost in sales when I started an Instagram account this past January. As I said, we've been around a looooong time, and we keep running our business the way we always have; our customers seem to appreciate it. I do keep up with Instagram and Facebook, and enjoy figuring out new things to post each day. But I have to keep from getting totally distracted by my iPad, posting photos and checking everyone else's!  It can be a huge time eater, and I try hard to keep it under control so that I can get my work done! :-D

8.  What are your hopes/goals for the future of Emmaonesock? 
Well, I hope we continue to grow and flourish! Eric and I are in our (early) 60's, and while we are still going strong at this point, we are thinking ahead and giving our staff more and more responsibility. The fabric world has changed dramatically over the years. There are probably hundreds of online fabric stores now, whereas you could count them on one hand when we started. We just keep going with the flow, providing the best fabrics we can find, and the best service we can muster, to our cherished customers. 

Now because we're all sewists and love to know more about other sewists sewing machines, fabric collections, etc. here are a few sewing related questions and answers.

a.  I know that you sew but what type of garments do you like to sew? 
Honestly I haven't bought an article of clothing in a store in maybe 5 years or more! I make my whole wardrobe, but often opt for quick and easy knit projects, due to time contraints and the ease of sewing with knits.  Most recently I am working on patternmaking though, and am trying to tell myself to be patient and not to only make things that I can finish in a couple of hours.  That gets boring after a while. So, I'm turning my attention to working with wovens, perfecting fit, perfecting my basic patterns, so that I can make more tailored garments that may take a much longer time to complete. I hope to learn more about draping too, so that I can design more innovative garments.

b.  Do you have a dedicated sewing room? 
Yes! When my daughter moved out, I moved in…to her room. 

c.  What type of sewing machine do you use?  Are you a brand loyalist? 
I just upgraded about a year or so ago to a Bernina 710 (discontinued but similar to the 720) and a Babylock Imagine overlock. I chose Bernina after doing a bunch of research, and bought a floor model 810 which happened to be half price at the time (!), but I'm sure there are other great machines out there.  It also makes it easier when I go to Kathryn Brenne sewing workshops because all of her machines are Berninas so there's no period of adjustment. I do love it. The differential feed is a huge plus ~ I had it on my old machine (Pfaff) and wasn't willing to give up that feature. I gave my old machines to my daughter so they have a good home and are being used!

d.  Who or what inspires your personal sewing? 
I'm inspired by all kinds of things… I'm often inspired by what my customers make, by some of the amazing sewists who I follow on Instagram, and of course by my colleague Kathryn Brenne. Often I wake up sewing and designing in my head…I'm obsessed! I'm definitely inspired to strive to be less "slap dash" and more refined and meticulous by working with Kathryn. There is so much help and inspiration online now, and there are so many sewing retreats, workshops, schools…I have way more plans and ideas than I will ever have time to execute. Inspiration is plentiful, but finding the time can be a challenge, as I'm sure is the case for everyone!

Here are Emma One Sock's social media sites ~
Fabric Store
Instagram
Facebook

Now to the part everyone has been waiting for the discount. Linda is offering 15% off your total order from today, Sunday, September 3rd through Saturday, September 9th, 11:59pm EST. To get the discount, use this coupon code "EOS-FANATIC15-2017"  

Please remember that Linda will apply the coupon code when she bills your credit card and she doesn't bill it until after the fabric has been cut and is ready to be shipped. So if you place your order and don't see the discount that's why!

I hope you will head over to Emma One Sock's online fabric store and check out her amazing wares.

Happy National Sewing Month!

New Tenants in the Fabric Collection

Now I know I said that I won't be adding much to the fabric shelves this year, and that I'd primarily be sewing from the collection, but a few new tenants have come to reside there. As my last couple of makes have shown and some future ones that will appear here soon, I AM sewing from the collection. However, most of my Christmas presents were gift cards which in my mind means free fabric, notions, sewing tools or books. So I bought some fabric and here it is... 

First I entered another free fabric giveaway ~ 

This time it was a Marcy Tilton giveaway for $100 of the fabric of your choice. Hey, I love quality fabric and Marcy has some amazing pieces of fabric. You should definitely stop by her site and spend some quality time drooling over the amazing pieces she has curated there. 

Here is what I picked for my winning piece...

It was chosen to go with Vogue 9174 - Marcy's new top for Vogue Patterns ~

I thought it was a little heavier weight than it actually is...but if I underline each piece with a silk batiste or a silk or rayon lining...hopefully it will work for the pattern. It will have a softer drape but that should make it perfect for spring/summer wearing.

Of course, after searching the site to find fabric, I found two additional ones that I just couldn't bear not to have in the collection. The first is called Tweed Posie and it's no longer on the site...

...it reminded me of the fabric I used to make this vest and skirt...which I thought I'd given away but after checking...it is still in the closet. 

The second piece is a black velvet denim which is still on the site. Here is the link for it.

I want to make a jeans type jacket from this Butterick pattern, originally sold in 2003, it's now out of print.  I've had in the pattern collection for forever and I'm finally going to make it because it fits my present lifestyle.

I want a simple topper to throw over outfits to wear in the office during the winter. In the spring it will be a great jacket for the warmer weather. This fabric/pattern combo fits into my Chicos Chic sewing philosophy.

* * * * *

The pieces from Emmaonesock were pieces I'd been drooling over for awhile.

Left to right: leather applique on mesh, black denim, cut out 

applique faux leather and a shirred faux leather

These were purchased with one of the Christmas gift cards and are heavy on the faux leather. Yeah I got a weakness for cool faux leather pieces and am slowly trying to buy them all up! *LOL*

1.5 yards of a leather applique on mesh, 3 yards of a black denim and 2 yards of the cut out applique faux leather (both sold out on the website), 2 yards of a shirred faux leather. Links are provided to the two fabrics that are still on the site but I don't know how long they will be there.

I'm sure that there won't be any new tenants added to the fabric collection any time soon because I've just bought my plane ticket to Seattle. Yes, I'm meeting up with Gaylen and spending a day at the Sewing Expo. So I've got to save funds for the Pendleton Wool and the Marcy Tilton booths! 

* * * * *

A Book Giveaway ~

Another one of the things I bought with my gift card was this book, "Couture Sewing - The Couture Skirt" by Claire B. Shaeffer. When I went to put it on the bookcase, lo and behold, I already had a copy. So I'm offering it up here. If you'd like to win this book, leave a message in the comments by noon EST on Saturday, January 16th. 

I will pick a name then and post the winner shortly thereafter. The giveaway is open to everyone and will not be mailed until after Monday, January 18th because it's a holiday here in the US.

...as always more later! 

Fabric Finds #2

My fabric collection is not an accident. It is a deliberate curated collection. At the beginning I bought a lot of basics...alot of basics in a lot of different fabrications...because I always wanted to be able to make a black pair of pants or skirt.

Lately though, since the collection is so well established, my purchases are more focused. I went through a period of buying pontes in all colors and prints because I loved sewing with it so much. Recently, any interesting pleather or faux leather has found its way into the collection.

My newest acquisition is this wool flannel purchased out of season cause you know this won't be around come fall ~

Yeah I know beautiful right! This is from Emmaonesock and there is still some left on the site. These are the types of purchases I've been making lately. Gorgeous pieces of fabric, sometimes bought out of season, because they will enhance the collection. 

So this is fabric is being highlighted for Fabric Finds #2. Hop on over and purchase a couple of yards...and like me save it for fall/winter if you're in the Northern Hemisphere or use it now if you're in the Southern Hemisphere.

...as always more later!