Thursday, July 14, 2011

Stashoholism Confessional: I Have No Excuse

G Street 7-2011

Yes, I have fallen. After I was getting all smug about it, too. However, I took to heart KBenco's comment on this post:

"My theory is that if you don't keep buying pretty fabric when you see it, the what-was-i-thinking fabric multiplies and takes over the stash."

Ha! I love that. I am blaming all of this on you, KBenco!!! I think what really happens is that you eventually skim off the cream of your stash, leaving only the serviceable but boring fabrics. However, I can't really pretend that I am in any danger of doing this, since I keep track of projects waiting for me in stash and there are more than 20 on the list. At the rate I have been sewing lately, I have the next 10 months or so set up for me.

But I think that's the key. I have been SO BUSY lately, uncharacteristically so, and haven't had time for a good sew since before I went on my trip. Even over the 4th of July, which was a 4 day weekend for me, I had about 3 hours to sew in total. Boo!!!! I have found that when I don't have time to sew, I am actually more likely to buy fabric because it's a way to stay connected to my hobby. I need to carve out some time for me and my sewing machine.

Fabric for M6279 However, I did keep to my mindfulness goal and bought fabric only for which I could envision a specific project. On the far left in the photo is a sort of seersucker, sort of denim, stretch on grain (rather than crossgrain) fabric that immediately brought to mind McCall 6279. I just love this dress, even though I am not usually crazy about safari styles. I considered several fabrics in stash for it, but nothing worked quite right. This fabric, which probably looks like a plate of spaghetti on your monitor, is a dark off-white background with tiny pinstripes in chambray blue and red. Frankly, I don't know how it will look as a dress in real life, because it's the kind of fabric that if you look at it too long you kind of go into an acid trip; it must have to do with the colors creating illusions of shadow and depth. Sewing it will be interesting.

Next is the one fabric I meant to buy, a random knit for muslining my self-drafted version of McCall 6363. It was the only knit of suitable weight of which there was enough fabric, I hope. I was hoping for 2 yards but it is only 1 5/8 yard. I can make the muslin short.

The purple stretch sateen made me think of my mom. Purple is her favorite color and she asked me a couple of weeks ago if I thought someone her age could wear satin. She is making a passel of junior bridesmaid dresses for a friend out of blue satin and apparently anticipates having some left. I saw the purple sateen and just couldn't resist. I've ordered (oops) a black and white knit to make a top and will make a simple elastic waist A line skirt (per her preference) of the purple. I'd prefer a trumpet skirt, but I think she will be more comfortable in an A line.

Fabric for V8706 I was so thrilled to see right after I bought Vogue 8706 that Amanda S. had made it, particularly her hints on the small bust situation. She used a double knit, which it hadn't occurred to me to choose for this pattern but it is nice to have a sturdier fabric in a very fitted dress. So here is my animal print. Not quite a double knit but a fairly sturdy knit. I don't know if it will "count" with the boyfriend--I think he is more into traditional leopard--but it is much more palatable to me!

The last fabric is a lightweight gray denim, again with the stretch on grain rather than crossgrain. I think G Street must have gotten offcuts from a denim manufacturer. I have been thinking of (*gasp*) shorts for this summer. They are very fashionable right now and there are lots of polished styles out there. My objection to shorts is their informality, but the styles I'm seeing now are not for athletics (do NOT get me started about people wearing athletic gear as real clothes) but are meant for nicer occasions. Burda has published several shorts patterns lately, including a couple with size zips so I don't have to deal with the whole fly front situation. I also got enough of this fabric to make a skirt as well. It's a nice color and weight.

If only I could buy sewing time at G Street, I'd be all set!

Let me live vicariously through you. What are you sewing?

=================

Bunny asked what I used to underline my gray voile flounce dress. I edited the blog post (sorry I didn't put it in the first place) to reflect that I used cotton batiste to underline the bodice. I almost always use cotton batiste as bodice lining for summer dresses, because it is very lightweight, breathes well, and sweat evaporates from it more quickly than traditional lining fabrics (the downside is all that sweat makes it start to look icky and yellowed after a while). I usually line the skirt with something more substantial and slippery.

I ordered my cotton batiste from Vogue Fabrics last year, after researching to find the best price. I am pleased with the quality and it has sewn up well.

17 comments:

ELMO said...

I laughed when I read this as this was listed on my blog roll next to an entry for a $1,200 pencil skirt. I support your being off the wagon, and look forward to safari dress.

Judy C said...

I only worry when I have unused fabric older than I am.(66) Does fabric go bad?

Karin said...

Do you need an excuse?

I have the same safari dress pattern, but probably won't manage to get it made this summer :( Maybe this will work to my advantage as I will now be able to read your review first! Hurray!

Anonymous said...

I just ransacked the $2.97/yd table over the weekend. There seemed to be a lot of 3 yard samples from showrooms. I think we got the same gray denim, but I didn't realize the stretch was on the grain until I got it home so I guess I got a wholeeeeeeeeeeeee lot of it.

KID, MD said...

I always shop too when I can't sew. It's been terrible lately while my sewing room has been a mess with the move. I actually saw your muslin knit and thought it was a bit outside your usual style, but I love it. I'm not sure it would fit into Salt Lake City mom-dom, but I'm pretty sure I don't care.

Adelaide B said...

I've been kind of off my sewing lately, so I ordered one of those mystery fabric bundles of Fabric Mart. Maybe something mysterious will get me going again.

Clio said...

When I can't sew, I buy fabric and patterns, too.
I hope you're feeling giddy rather than guilty about your haul - they're all really great picks (love the animal print!)

Jackie said...

Love your new fabrics. I guess we all buy when we can't sew. I justify the purchase for when I can sew, I'll have something new to try out. You know I love your animal prints since my daughters and I just had our own animal print gathering.

kbenco said...

He, he, let me show you my fabric cupboard some time. I accept all fabric buying blame, but am completely unrepentant :). I am feeling incredibly virtuous for using up 80% of my polar fleece stash but that sort of behaviour makes the posts (and the sewing)very boring. Bring on the leopard print!

lakaribane said...

I love looking at other people's stash! It so happens that just yesterday I was thinking, after seeing a Modcloth dress I pinned, that this seersucker I have would be great as the Butterick trench dress.

And I'm very happy to hear that you like the Vogue Fabrics cotton batiste. I think this year is THE year I'm finally going to buy the bolt...after the price has risen so much *headdesk*

meli88a said...

You could totally rock some cute trouser shorts, I am sure of it...

The athletic wear as real clothes conversation quickly leads to the pajamas as real clothes which always makes me itchy all over when I see it.

Kristy said...

If buying fabric makes you happy, and you have enough money left over to make sure your electricity doesn't get off - why not?

I had the conversation about gym clothes as real clothes with a friend just today! So wrong on so many levels, even if you have a great physique

McVal said...

I have to admit that my daughter and I get greedy on the free tables at our sewing meetings... My office wall is lined with boxes of fabric right now. Granted, it would line the walls of my sewing room but that is being occupied right now. Maybe by Christmas I can move them back in or get rid of the unusable items... Nah! I know I'll use it all! eventually!

Elizabeth Made This said...

That is so true about being left with serviceable, boring fabrics after having sewn up the pretties. As for me, I'm tring to stay cool with a voile sundress (the Burdastyle # escapes me at the moment) and a wrap dress. I just finished a pearl snapped shirt for my 2 yo made from really pretty plaid shirting from my husband's grandmother's stash.

Joy said...

You're very right about buying fabric when you can't sew! For me, that's because I'm always thinking about sewing even if I'm not doing it. My biggest pitfall, though, is having a nearby source of good, cheap fabric.

Jen M said...

And could we also not bring up the slippers-as-shoes phenom? Or that I was asked to wear jeans and a t-shirt to Christmas dinner last year? Ugh. When did actual clothing get to be a negative?

Some vicarious sewing: I am working on Vogue 8724, an empire-waist knit dress that comes with cup sizes and 2 lengths. Since I look awful in an actual empire waist (wide shoulders and full bust), I am lowering the waist by 2 inches, and altering the pattern some to make it work with a double knit fabric (much less stretchy than what is called for). This is my first go-round with the pattern pieces on a dress form, so we'll see...

Kitty Couture said...

Well, the single half-decent fabric store in my area burned down this week. Buying fabric online ends up being really expensive here. I used to feel bad when I was in Paris and tended to over-buy fabric but I realize I should have done it way more. Now, if I had the kind of opportunity that you have, I wouldn't think twice and would embrace it! You have the best excuse in the world: you CAN buy fabric easily!

Totally agree that we tend to buy more when we don't sew. I have been swamped with work and as a consequence have bought several Jalie patterns to try and alleviate my frustration!