I’ve hit a bit of a snag recently with my sewing – for the want of materials!
My New Look 6000 project is currently in limbo while I source a matching zip (!). I’ve never had this much difficulty with zips before and thought I had a matching zip before I started sewing, but realised when I went to inset it that it’s quite a strong colour and I don’t want the zip to be so much of a feature. (I went with a blue zip to match the cross stripe, but it’s a bit too bold in zip form.) I haven’t had any luck since in sourcing a cream or nude zip that will sit in nicely against the dress fabric.
Meanwhile, I keep coming across lots of blog posts and articles about how to organise a fabric stash or proposals for ‘stash-busting’ projects to help cull unwieldy unused piles of fabric, but my problem is getting hold of fabric in the first place!
The main issue for me is the lack of good-quality and affordable dressmaking fabric in Ireland. I much prefer to check the fabric in person before buying to better assess the quality, which makes online purchases either pretty risky or really delayed (if waiting to check swatches and samples before buying).
So, in an attempt to tackle this, I’ve decided to build myself an ongoing personal fabric directory so that I can start planning projects a bit earlier and build a better knowledge of different fabrics.
I used myfabrics.co.uk for the first time recently, buying some soft grey suiting that I figured I could find various uses for if it proved unsuitable (no pun intended…) for making clothes. The site gives five free samples with every order, so I ordered five different samples for fabrics I thought might work with patterns I have ready to use. And those five samples led to me ordering some navy gabardine and soft black cotton over the weekend – and another five samples.
The first batch of swatches from Myfabrics.co.uk
By compiling all of these samples and bits and pieces of fabrics that I’ve been working with before, I’m planning to build up a (gradually!) comprehensive personal directory for planning future projects. I think it will be a lot easier to buy fabric online if I have a better understanding of what the different mixes feel and look like.
I’ve already begun compiling notes and fabric suggestions for a bunch of patterns I have waiting in the wings but which I haven’t been able to source materials for via fabric shops in Ireland:
Planning…
Lady Stitcher 
Way to go with organisation. I love your notebook! I’d like to have a visual planner for my projects instead of keeping them all in my head because my head and my sewing room is getting cluttered with piles of fabric and patterns…
Thanks Joanne! I’m finding it really helpful for sourcing materials instead of having one or two specific things in mind when shopping – it’s very handy to have the details of different patterns etc in one place to bring along to the fabric/craft store.
Thanks for the tip re. my fabrics.co.uk, I hadn’t heard of them before and I really like free samples (doesn’t have to be fabric, to be honest – I was offered a try of some new biscuits in the supermarket the other day and I nearly cried with happiness).
Your planning notebook is lovely. I wish I was that organised!
Thanks Laura! I actually just got another batch of swatches from them this week. If you’re just ordering swatches though and no length of fabric, they charge €3\£3 but give you a voucher to redeem against a future order.
(And who doesn’t love free biscuits?! 🙂 )
There’s that notebook!!! Those sketches are so pretty!! Definitely let us see more if it!!
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Thanks Lisa! 🙂