Sewing with Stretch Cotton Sateen

Have you ever sewn with stretch cotton sateen fabric before? It's often listed as a suitable fabric for making a variety of pants, dress, and jacket patterns, but I've just never really selected it for myself. I think I had this preconceived notion that it might be too fancy for this stay-at-home mom to get much wear out of, but I just couldn't ignore this beautiful vintage inspired print when ...

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The Draped Cowl Neckline in Recycled Polyester and ITY Knit Fabrics

Necklines play such an important role in a garment since they're front and center, yet I find myself sewing the same one over and over when it comes to my knit clothing (I'm talking about you neckband). I can't remember ever having sewn a draped cowl neckline before, so I think it finally deserves some attention in my wardrobe. This neckline has a put-together look that can be casual, professional, ...

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Versatile Organic Cotton/Bamboo French Terry

As soon as it gets chilly I want to get all comfy and cozy, so naturally I begin gravitating towards French Terry fabric!  If you're looking for a French Terry that can be made into a variety of garments, then you'll need to check this one out.  This midweight charcoal organic cotton/bamboo/spandex French Terry might be the most versatile French Terry I've come across, and it's so incredibly soft, natural, ...

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A Cozy Ribbed Sweater Knit

Since I'm here in sunny California, I have only recently had to add layers over my tops.  I'm a sucker for sweaters, so I love being able to pull on a warm cardigan and go about my day.  What I love about sewing (as opposed to say, knitting) is that I can whip up cardigans and sweaters made from soft sweater knits fairly quickly, especially with some of the basic ...

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Tori Richard Cotton Lawn – A tale of lobsters

It seems that as the weather gets colder and summer really comes to end (I'm clinging to it folks!) I feel compelled to sew a final garment in a lightweight cotton lawn fabric.  I really didn't need my annual tradition as an excuse this year because this cotton lawn isn't just any cotton lawn, it's a Tori Richard cotton lawn.  Ok I have to admit I wasn't familiar with the name, ...

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Burnside Bibs in a Perfect Fall Linen

Linen is one of those fabrics I thoroughly enjoy sewing with and wearing.  Who am I kidding, it's one of those fabrics I will buy just to add to my stash!  Apparel linen is comfortable, wears well, and gets softer with each wash.  One of my favorite things about it is that it has that "crumpled" look, and it's ok, because linen is so wonderful that no one questions the ...

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Back to the Basics – Chambray and Twill

When it comes to apparel fabric, there's nothing more fun than playing around with unique fabric prints and blends, but there's something to be said about those classic natural fabrics too, such as cotton twill and chambray.  As I slowly replace my worn-out ready-to-wear clothing with handmade items, I've been trying to utilize similar fabrics, and I'm having no problem finding what I need in Cali Fabric's impressive apparel fabric ...

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This is Not Your Typical Kids’ Fabric

Typically when I think of fabric for children's clothing I tend to gravitate towards the ones that are low maintenance yet can stand up to some pretty tough play.  Or maybe I'll select fancy fabric for those special occasion outfits that are only worn a handful of times because I don't want them to get ruined.  Well, I think I may have found a fabric that falls smack dab in ...

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Getting Touchy Feely with Your Fabric

One of my absolute favorite things about fabric shopping is getting all touchy feely with it.  I really love texture, so my hands are all over the bolts, pulling out just enough fabric to get a good feel for its texture and drape.  This is impossible online for obvious reasons (although you can always order a swatch if you're patient enough!).  CaliFabrics does an excellent job though when it comes ...

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