Using two types of materials in dressmaking

We are thinking about suggesting a new sewalong with the theme of using a contrast material with the main fashion fabric.

Googling the phrase I just found this wonderful article on the Threads website:

http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/28239/combining-fabric-weaves-and-weights/page/all

There are so many very useful and inspiring tips there, with photos that illustrate the subject, that I couldn't ever hope to provide from my own sewing expertise so I thought you might like a link to the article.  I won't attempt a summary of the article either, do have a look yourself.

Our sewalong came out of an observation by Barbara on an element of a Chanel fashion show that had lace filling in the kick pleat of a skirt.

Most of us have some kind of material in our stash that we don't know what to do with - usually a small amount that was meant for some kind of trim or accent.

Here is a skirt I made with a fat quarter of cotton and a Scuba like stretch fabric in black, just as an example:

I basted the black fabric in two lines to the red fabric underneath, turning under as I went. Then later I top-stitched both edges, as below, and then removed the white basting thread:

This is just one example of a garment that was made from two fabrics (I had to interface the hem of the red fabric or it would have been too floppy)


How about we exchange ideas of how to use at least one of these stash items up?

I myself still have a length of lovely scallopy lace or ribbon that I haven't found a use for in over fifteen years. I think it's time I did.

How about you?  Is anything lurking in your stash that could provide a great contrast to a fabric - what kind of garment can you imagine yourself making?

Please share.

I LOVE- shopping in the Goldhawk Road, enjoy it while you can

The GOLDHAWK ROAD- what does it mean to you?

Well, golden hawks, of course!  OK, for those bird spotters amongst you, this is not a golden hawk but an African Tawny Eagle.  However I just took this picture today and could not resist putting it on the blog.

However, if you sew The Goldhawk Road means that section of it with shops filled with irrestible fabrics, mostly at bargain prices.  You may also know that, since December 2010, the businesses on the North side of Goldhawk Road and Shepherd's Bush Market have been fighting a Compulsory Purchase Order to enable a redevelopment of the area, which creates luxury flats for sale while failing to address the needs of small businesses.  Read about some of the issues here in a report from March 2015.  Sadly, on Saturday during a shopping trip with a group of sewers from The Foldline ,one of the shopkeepers told us that the shops are likely to be closing this year, probably from sometime this summer, so go while you can and before scenes of groups of smiling sewers like these, indulging in a favourite past time (oohing and ahhing over quantities of fabric)  are a thing of the past.

I know you want to hear that what I bought.  One of my resolutions this year is not to buy anything more unless I need it for something I planned and, although sorely tempted, I did buy only fabric for lining a jacket.  I wanted to have some fabric for the lining that was a contrast to the plain exterior so, lurking beneath a plain darkish blue jacket, will be this!

And, finally, here is a hawk.  This is me and a female Harris Hawk, they are bigger than the males, the extra weight makes them better at killing but less speedy in flight.  She is a working girl and used for scaring pigeons away from areas in London where they cause a nuisance.

She is just one of the birds that I flew, including vultures and owls, at a great day out at The Hawking Centre in Kent.  I think the next fabric I buy will have to have some birds on it.