In my last post, I said that I spend 90% of my time in stretchy loungewear. Well, we have a wedding to attend coming up at the end next month and I don't think my t-shirt and joggers wardrobe is going to cut it for that type of event. I also didn't want to wait until the last minute to make a dress because I cannot predict how much my ...
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Between pregnancy and self-isolating because of Covid-19, I have been spending 90% of my time in stretchy loungewear. Unfortunately, I don't have enough loungewear to wear on a regular basis without doing laundry just about every other day. Ever since finding out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to make some more joggers for when I couldn't fit into my regular clothes. That time came up quicker than I ...
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Hi! I’m Cass (@CraftyProfessor on Instagram) and this is my first blog post for Cali Fabrics, so I’ll start by telling you a bit about myself. I have always been crafty, and I have always sewn, but it was only about three years ago that I really started sewing and using patterns. Prior to that, I had made lots of pillow cases, curtains, duvet covers, and dresses out of thrifted ...
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You know that drawer you have in the kitchen with all the random stuff in it? Rubber bands, pens, stamps, coupons, playing cards ... ours also has a plastic baby from a King cake and a ball that looks like a bloodshot eye. Well this post is the kitchen drawer of the Cali blog today, a random assortment of goodies connected by nothing but the fact I made them recently ...
Read MoreWe're getting ready to add some gorgeous new fabrics! Take a look at a few of my faves.
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Ah, pregnancy. It's that magical time in a woman's life where everything is uncomfortable and nothing fits. But in truth there's a lot to be excited about and thankful for - including spandex! Califabric's double brushed knits are truly a gift from the fabric gods and not just for those who are expecting. They are incredibly stretchy, so buttery soft, plus there are tons colors and prints to choose from. I ...
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Back to school means back to ALL the activities and crazy nights of shuttling kids to and from each lesson and practice. This girl is a die-hard dancer and loves getting back into the studio. She spends a couple of nights each week with her dance company and is one of those kids that just dances through life. Her studio requires black leotards so of course, she needed a ...
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You need rainbow arms and I'm here to help you get them! Here's a step-by-step tutorial for making some awesome armwarmers with knit fabric. OK, you don't actually have to use rainbow fabric but it's really cool if you do and Cali has the fabric pictured in this tutorial available here: Rainbow Stripe Jersey Knit. You really just need any knit fabric with at least 25% stretch and some measurements. To create ...
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As summer approaches, I knew I needed a new batch of t-shirts. I'm forever on the quest to find the perfect fabric for those slouchy tees I love so much. I grabbed six different knit substrates from the site and got to work! I debated on which pattern to use for this comparison and settled on the Love Notions Classic Tee. It is full of options, comes in sizes XS-XXXL, and ...
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Did I get you yesterday with my April Fool's joke? Maybe a little? It's time to show you what I really made with that lovely soft sweater knit! I didn't lie when I said this hot pink heathered sweaterknit was super soft, drapey, and my favorite color! And I really love how the heathered black tones down the brightness. As stated on the Cali Fabrics website, it's a fairly loosely woven ...
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When I got this squishy, soft sweater knit in the mail from Cali, I knew it had to be made into something special. It’s PINK which is my favorite color, drapey, and super cozy. I really couldn't wait to wear it so I just took my 2 yards and made this great no-sew rectangle which is about 72” x 60”. Easy to take it sporty with tennies and no-show socks. But also versatile, ...
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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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Hello friends! I have something a bit different to share with you today! As sewists, I’m sure we’re all inspired by rtw (ready-to-wear) from time to time and happily modify amazing patterns to suit our vision. While I don’t do this too often, I’m certainly no exception. And admittedly, as much as I love drooling over the high-end runway designs, when it comes to actually making something, shops such as J.Crew ...
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Do you ever get a fabric in the mail and then immediately order it in ALL the colors? That's exactly what I did with the modal jersey's from the shop! They're just about the softest things I've ever felt and I want to fill my closest with a million modal pieces! I picked up the brushed poly/modal jersey knit in charcoal, olive green, and soft peach to get started on my ...
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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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The evolution of the sewing blogging community has been an interesting thing to witness. I myself have been blogging about sewing (off and on) since 2011(!). In those early days, the phrase TnT, which stands for tried-and-true, was used quite a bit. Many of us made it a habit to use the same patterns over and again in a variety of colors or fabrics. Why fix what isn’t broken, right? ...
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Tis the season .... to freak out because you haven't even started all that holiday sewing you planned! Patterns for quick-sew, one-size gifts are at the top of my stack this time of year. But who wants a Kleenex cover? What do you make for someone you don't know that well and keep it on trend? Or even for people you do know well? Here are some ideas and links ...
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I have big dreams of being a crazy cat lady, but having only one cat, who herself is not a fan of other cats, I have to settle for cat fabric. This is not a bad thing! I waited too long and missed out on an earlier cat print at Cali and was so disappointed! But patience is a virtue, when I saw this beautiful cat print double-brushed poly spandex come ...
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I think teenage Sarah would be so impressed with adult Sarah's wardrobe choices for fall/winter 2018. I have been sharing on Instagram and my personal blog that I am working on a fall collection that is modern silhouettes with a 90s grunge flair. I named it the Smells Like Fall Spirit Collection (thanks Nirvana for the name inspiration). This vest is the second completed piece of the collection. The pattern I ...
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This sweet girl is all about fashion. She started online window shopping for school clothes in July. She loves to browse all the trendy websites and is constantly filling shopping carts with the latest looks. Unfortunately, her tall, lanky frame doesn't work for a lot of ready-to-wear clothing. She now knows that she can bring me her wish list and we can shop for fabric and patterns to recreate her ...
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