Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Stashoholism Confessional: NYC and More Fabric Mart


Fabric Mart Redux 11-2012

Source: style.com via Trena on Pinterest


So, shortly after we made our pilgrimage to Fabric Mart, I placed an online order.  The mustard ponte is the impetus for the order--I only bought one yard when we went to the brick and mortar store, and I realized that was just not enough.  I want this for a dress, suitable coloring be damned.  I had not made a Fabric Mart order since they transitioned to the new website (that is how good I had been!), so I was able to use the "WELCOME" code for 20% off the first order.  The prices reflect the discount.

One of the fabrics I had permission to buy on our Fabric Mart excursion was for a trench coat.  I didn't see anything while I was there, but when I saw this gold snakeskin-embossed coated linen on the website I couldn't resist.  Don't ask my why I didn't turn it right side out for the photo, but you can see a little bit of the right side at the upper left of the photo.  B&J has a coated linen snake print for $29.95.  My $6/yd is one fifth that price.  I think I got a deal.   In snoop shopping ideas for a gold trench, I came across this Burberry Prorsum.  It is from Spring 2006, so old news in the fashion world, but I don't think it has lost any of its allure in the intervening 6 years.  Love!

The silk/cotton, I realized when I received it, is what Karen made into her wedding dress!  It is really lovely stuff.  I am still contemplating patterns.  But at less than $4/yd for a silk/cotton?  Please.  No way I could leave it there.

Saks.com - Teri Jon - Floral Piqué Roll-Neck Dress
As for the pique, again, $1.60/yd?  Please.   I like red/white/blue prints for subtle 4th of July stunt dressing, and also just for every day of course.

I was randomly looking through old posts the other day (a couple months after this order) searching for a specific inspiration piece and I stumbled across my Spring/Summer 2011 inspiration post.  Well, look what I found!  I had completely forgotten about this inspiration piece, but clearly I still love the fabric, lol.  I don't know if you can tell from the snippet in the photo, but it is definitely the same fabric (though the red flowers bled a bit in the wash and my white bits are now faintly pink, boo).





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Fabrics 4 Less NYC 11-2012












As I have the past several years, I went to NYC in early November to give a speech for work.  What's a trip to NYC without a visit to the Garment District?  That's a rhetorical question.  I know you feel me.

This lot is rather boring and virtuous, sweaterknits for simple long sleeve tops.

Paron NYC 11-2012I got this wool/silk from Paron for a CRAZY steal.  While I was in NYC I saw on Clio's blog that Paron had a Groupon.  I immediately bought it and printed it out in the hotel's business center.  For some unfathomable reason, this had made it into the 50% section (note:  at the new Paron, the entire back section is *not* the annex--you have to check each individual fabric to see if it has the 50% off tag).  The Groupon was $20 for $40, essentially a 50% discount.  So I got this at 25% of its original price--$6/yd!!!  This fabric was worth every penny of its original $24/yd price.  Huge bargain.





The fabric drapes well and isn't sturdy enough for a fitted piece.  I saw someone make Simplicity 1796 on PR and knew it was perfect for this fabric.  It doesn't look like much on the envelope, and I never would have chosen it from the catalog.  I got the pattern at Joann during the most recent sale and can't wait to make it.












Metro Textiles NYC 11-2012

I am required to inform you that Kashi is lonely and sad about not getting enough visits from bloggers/Pattern Reviewers.  Duty discharged.

The lace was just so cool that I couldn't resist.  I really love the lace trend, but find it difficult to wear in the office.  My tone-on-tone lace skirt is a staple (though not bikeable so I haven't worn it much lately), but  floral lace seems hard to make professional.  This square lace can totally work in the office, in my opinion.  I was thinking I'd make another tone-on-tone skirt, but now I am in love with the idea of a shift dress with a gold lining.  Which is more cocktail than office, thus defeating the purpose.  And my life is waaaaaaay more work than cocktail.  Le sigh.

The silk dupioni is for another obi, as I wear the three I've made all.the.time.  The RPL is for a dress--it is so hard to find stretch wovens!!!!  I'm not sure I love the color, though.  It was the only non-black/navy/gray color in the lot.  We'll see.

The lime-colored silk was an indulgence.  I have never seen anything of that quality.  The weave is something like habitoi, but fine with no slubs.  It has body, but isn't crisp.  The sheen is remarkable.  I just had to have it. 



Chic Fabrics NYC 11-2012
And as you know, I've already sewn up this printed denim from Chic!

I also bought 10 yards of batiste.  My last source, Vogue Fabrics, appears not to carry batiste anymore and I was dangerously low--down to my last 1/2 yard, I think.  Chic's batiste is narrow, but the quality exceeds what I've bought from anywhere else--and it is not $4/yd anywhere else.  Frankly, I think they (or at least the salespeople) have no idea what they have on their hands.  The guy was kind of incredulous that I wanted that much of the fabric, and tried to sell me some shirting instead.  It is quite sheer, however, and may not add the needed opacity to some fabrics.  This time I prewashed in the bathtub, which wasn't fun, but didn't get it all creased up like using the washing machine.  I also ironed this SOB before rolling up it.  Ironing 10 yards of batiste:  not my idea of a swell Saturday night.

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DC Area Meetup 12-2012

DC Area Meetup 12-2012












I am woefully late in blogging this meetup, but it has been well-blogged, especially by Robin, our hostess (seriously, visit the post, if only to see how fab I look in the group photo.  I have no idea how that happened.  I am *never* the one who looks good in a group photo.)  Suffice it to say, we all brought truckloads of fabric and patterns to swap!

Fabric Swap Party at Robin_s,

Given how much there was to choose from, I think we can all agree that I was remarkably restrained, lol.  (And Seraphinalina reminded me about the offset of bringing fabric to swap--I brought, in volume, about 3 times as much as I took.)

First Choice Boxers 12-2012

In addition to the fabrics pictured above, I also picked up some odd-shaped remnants in this starlight mint print in two colorways, perfect for whimsical boxers.  The boyfriend wears boring dark plaid boxers, so at his birthday and Christmas he can expect me to try to inject some levity into his underwear wardrobe.  It is my opinion that sewing up one fabric from a lot justifies the entire lot.  The boxers were made within a couple of days of the party.  Justified.  (And that denim dress?  Justified the entire NYC purchase.)

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G Street 1-2013

In my defense on this one, I bought a Groupon to G Street several months ago and had to use it before it expired.  I bought several notions, and this gorgeous teal silk.  I normally am firm about resisting silk sheers.  I don't see the point of sheer fabric--it's not really "clothes" if you have to wear it with something else!  But this is my color, and the weave is really nice.  It's not a chiffon or an organza--the texture is somewhere in between.  It will be another Burda 02-2009-123 shawl collar wrap blouse.  And will you look at that?  The knit I got at the meetup (second from the right) will be excellent for a camisole underneath.  See, it all comes together.

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Fabric Mart 1-2013



The excuse for this purchase from Fabric Mart was the cotton flannel for interlining a coat (which, err, is still in the flat fold stage).  It was 50% off, and PRers had described the quality as excellent.  I wasn't going to get that price, width, *or* quality from Joann, so I decided it was time to get it.

I haven't been able to get Cidell's gold shorts out of my mind so I ordered the metallic linen.  It's not quite what I expected--instead of a subtle sparkle it has visible silver lurex threads running through it.

I was drawn to this Maggy London wool blend for a Fall/Winter dress.   After I placed my order, I realized the fabric was perfect for this Oscar de la Renta dress ($1890) that was one of my top picks last year.  I have been looking for a suitable fabric since then, believe it or not.  It needed to be something with body, but not a lot of bulk with all the pleats. I really wish I'd bought another half yard.  Hopefully I can squeeze it out, which may entail narrowing the skirt.  Butterick 5558 (now out of print, unfortunately)--a Maggy London design, by coincidence--is a great pattern match.


Fabric Mart 1-2013 Athletic Fabrics

Athletic fabrics for t shirts.  These are *excellent* quality--thick with great recovery.  Unfortunately, I was unhappily surprised by the colors of the two $6 fabrics.  The red is a very orangey red, not the blue-red it appeared on my monitor and that flatters me, and the "honeydew" is very, very pale and doesn't suit me.  I am debating sending them and the metallic linen back.  Does anyone have experience doing returns to FM?  Is it bad form to consider a return if there's nothing wrong with the fabric, I just don't like it?  FM is a great company and I don't want to take advantage of them.

Fabric Mart 1-2012 Free Bundle
My free bundle.  A friend just started taking sewing lessons and mentioned wanting easy-sew cottons to practice on so I will give her the cotton print.

I was not at all turned on by the red stretch lace--floral, you know--until I realized it would actually make a cute nightie (backed by an opaque knit!).  






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OMG.  I know.  Out of control.  I have been sewing diligently, I promise.  Alas, no amount of diligence can offset this damage in under a year.  Gulp.  I need to come up with a workable plan for fabric-buying this year.  Maybe every other month?

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think I bought that batiste. The owner says it's apparently Italian and super high quality. There are twenty yards of it on a bolt, and I'm seriously considering going back for more.

That lace from Metro is fantastic.

Lynn said...

Well, why not buy beautiful fabric if you have the money and the space to store it? And as you show, you also have friends and occasions to pass it around. I'm wondering how I missed that beautiful glazed linen at Fabric Mart.

Isidore said...

I returned a fabric once to Fabric Mart because it looked black in the image but turned out to be a medium (not even dark) brown. I had to pay for return shipping I think, but it was a more expensive silk so it was worth it, and the color was really not my thing. I wouldn't feel bad about returning it if that is what you want - you given FM plenty of business over the years.

badmomgoodmom said...

I have returned fabric to FM and they were very nice. The fabric just looked very different on my monitor and IRL. They understand that it will happen sometimes when selling fabric over the internet.

Wow, that's some confessional. I had to move a huge stack of fabric off my cutting table because I went a little bit nuts at SAS fabrics near LA. They had a barrel of rolls of silk prints for $2.99/yd. At that price, I bought 5 yards of 3 prints and may go back for another print I left behind.

I also scored an Ascher Studio cotton voile in a gorgeous print for $2.99/yd. http://www.ascherstudio.com/

I spent ~$115 there and that buys a lot of fabric at $3/yd or $3-6/pound.

Unknown said...

Wow. Great post. Gorgeous fabric finds!! I had taken a break from buying for a while, but Fabric Mart is just too good. Just got some ITY knits from them the other day, and a challis fest is on its way tomorrow. You're going to have a stunning 2013 with all of these goodies.

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Gawd, I need a cigarette! What a fabric orgy! *LOL* Yeah return whatever you like to FM. They are kewl about it and won't give you a hassle at all!

You got some good stuff and made MY morning!

clothingengineer said...

I've returned a couple of pieces to Fabric Mart and they've always been very good about processing the return quickly and issuing the credit. Just circle the item you want to return on the packing slip and put it in the box with the fabric. Since they don't do swatching I think they just consider it a cost of doing business that way.

Little Hunting Creek said...

wow, I feel so virtuous about my fabric habit, and I was just thinking about buying two things. As for feeling guilty, I say, fuhgeddaboutit! Think of fabric purchases as "Art Collecting" ;)

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is quite the confession! :-O Seriously though, I have no idea how you find all these amazing fabrics! I've never ordered anything from FabricMart (clearly I'm not using the proper search terms, since everyone else finds all this gorgeous stuff on there and I don't!), but I'm sure that others will be in the know.

Be sure to let me know what you end up using that turquoise silk/cotton for, I'm in need of inspiration. :-)

SEWN said...

Wow, this is one heckuva confession! I love every single one of your buys. Well done!

Anonymous said...

Fabric porn is my favorite...oh how I love ogling your fabrics!

I agree - how could you NOT buy silk/cotton for $3/yd! And that metallic silk/cotton...ooo. I nearly bought that Maggy London Brocade, but I am not a fan of dry cleaning and figured with the wool and acetate hand washing probably wouldn't be an option.

And that silk/wool from Paron...love it! Paron Annex was my favorite place to get fabric for class projects when I was going to FIT.

That all being said, thanks for the fabric shopping contact high!

Mrs. Micawber said...

Wow, wow, wow. So many great fabrics here. That amethyst RPL is lovely - I think you could wear it very well. (Ditto the mustard ponte.) And yes, square lace is somehow more appropriate for the office than floral. (Why should this be?)

The words "Italian silk" are magical, as is the fabric. Also love that silk/wool print and the brocade. And the embossed linen, and the....

That Simplicity pattern reminds me very much of some of the Cynthia Rowley dresses.

Have fun with the boxers. I used to sew Mr. M's boxers years ago - froggy tropical prints and bicycle prints and whatever outrageous fabric I could find. It was worth it just to open his underwear drawer and see the wild array. :)

Karin said...

Sure you bought a lot, but it is all good choices! These are ALL gorgeous and easy to imagine using. I am dead jealous.
My stash is small and mostly filled with oddball stuff that I'm not sure why I bought!

Uta said...

What a haul! And what fun to dream up patterns to go with the fabrics - I'd probably spend all my time on it if I were you!

Clio said...

Awesome haul! Honestly, I think this might be about as much fabric as I have in my stash total. I love seeing others binge.

Amanda S. said...

I've returned stuff to FM with no problems. It's got to be worth the return shipping, though. I have some of that metallic linen that I'm saving for a Pamela Roland dress - sorry you don't like it! Maybe it would make a nice skirt instead of pair of shorts. I have been stalking the FM website for MONTHS and they just had half off their leather hides for premium members. Yes please! I guess it's a good thing I didn't look around at their other stuff, or I'd be adding to the already overflowing bins and bins of fabric that I've got!

Faye Lewis said...

Really nice fabric additions made to the stash Trena!

Carol said...

My goodness what lovely fabrics. I have a hankering for some gold fabric like yours but, of course, I can't find it anywhere in Australia! Looking forward to seeing your trench

badmomgoodmom said...

Thanks for your comment about the friendship paradox. Now that you mention it, I can see how it applies to connecting with people on dates. (I got married by accident to my office/lab mate when I was 20 so this is only second hand observation from watching my friends.)

I went to SAS Fabrics today to pick up 5 yards of silk habutai for lining and a rhinestone iron-on for my daughter. 20 yards of high quality silks came home with me. In my defense, they had two barrels of high-end silks on rolls for $3/yd. Once it's gone, it's gone. So I have plenty now.

Iris helped me get over 'too good to use' when she insisted I buy some silk/rayon blend devore for her. She then nagged me into sewing it right away. And what do you know, that stuff washes and wears like iron.

decapod said...

If your athletic knits are nylon, you can overdye them with koolaid and vinegar...

velosews said...

You'll really appreciate your haul when you have an emergency and have to make up a top/skirt/dress in 1 hour from scratch. I had this experience on the weekend with my Mum. Long story short, she had a sleeveless cowl top in a lovely beige fabric to match her skirt within 30 minutes. If the fabric hadn't been in my stash, it would have been 'curtains' for me. Or table runner, depending on what you can get your hands on when you need it.

Sue said...

A lovely lot of fabrics. I have some of that blue print cotton silk at the top as well, that I got ages ago, but haven't decided what to make yet. Look forward to seeing this lot made up.

T. Sedai said...

I love your fabric splurges! I got some of that Fabric Mart silk/cotton floral - it is fantastic! I was going to use it for a lining... but now I think it is too good for that and I should use it for something else. I am conflicted. Can't wait to see what you do with yours.

Oh, and I love your metallic trench idea - hopefully you will make that soon as I would love to see what you do with your lovely fabric and inspiration!

Linda L said...

I was drooling by the time I got to the end of your post! What a haul and bargain prices galore. Got to go get a cloth to clean off my monitor now.

Virginia at A Sewing Life said...

Ordinarily you are a good, wholesome influence, but not today! But what fun you will have with such an abundance of new possibilities. As you drift off to sleep at night, I bet you are admiring them in your mind's eye. And that denim dress alone was, as you say, worth the whole shebang.

Sewingelle said...

What a marvelous haul. And bargain prices too. Well done and thanks for sharing- I love seeing others fabric purchases!

Kyle said...

Wow, that is a boatload of fabric! As you may imagine, I'm diggin' that ponte...

Marita said...

Pretty stuff, my fave's are the FM bunch and the lace from Metro, enjoy sewing:)

Dilly said...

Wow! Well there's no point having a confessional moment if you're not going to make it worthwhile... ;) Looking at all your lovely fabric has given me the itch to buy too - must resist! Looking forward to seeing what you make from this selection.

Seraphinalina said...

Wow, that's quite the haul. I love it. The silk/wool is my favourite. I love the colours and pattern.

Now with the fabric swapping, wouldn't that also mean you parted with some fabric? That would offset what you took away, no?

McVal said...

I can't believe I missed your confessional! Love the stash additions!

Anonymous said...

My stash is tiny compared to your marathon effort, and I still think I have too much! My problem is that I get tired of it if I don't sew it up reasonaby soon after I purcahse it. This years sewing plan - sew from the stash and then no fabric without a definite pattern in mind and vice versa. we'll see how long that lasts!

a little sewing said...

hilarious, this is like college girls gone wild.
slapdash sewists gone wild. You are a very prolific sewist, though, so you will burn through it all!