tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post5990628755558352843..comments2023-10-14T10:52:35.183-04:00Comments on Clio & Phineas: PR Weekend and Mood: Talk about Fabric ShoppingCliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05552253628640209694noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-66077883477403790882012-05-30T21:47:38.929-04:002012-05-30T21:47:38.929-04:00So fun to see you. Loved all your clothes and the...So fun to see you. Loved all your clothes and the wig!SEWNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05447977771494445400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-78903910650965104322012-05-26T19:18:22.026-04:002012-05-26T19:18:22.026-04:00Looks like PR Weekend was fun! I want to see the ...Looks like PR Weekend was fun! I want to see the purple hair. Good questions--I think we are pretty similar in our buying habits.The Slapdash Sewisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11668474749166329852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-34143797978555794152012-05-26T13:21:43.036-04:002012-05-26T13:21:43.036-04:00That sounds like so much fun! Hmm, I love your que...That sounds like so much fun! Hmm, I love your questions---I think I'll turn them into a blog post! I'm a bit of a stasher, but usually of basic fabrics---denim, plain knits, lining, interfacing---stuff I know I'll use at some point. I also do a lot of fabric thrifting, so when I see something "good" there (usually a basic, but not always) I tend to grab it.Tanit-Isishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15824217102632813598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-20136578194457794682012-05-25T10:12:16.912-04:002012-05-25T10:12:16.912-04:00Thanks for coming, Tricia! Great insights.
No, I...Thanks for coming, Tricia! Great insights. <br /><br />No, I am not a stasher, not even now that I work at Mood. I buy only what I plan to make in the next three months.<br /><br />I'm not a poly fan, but we have some new polys in the store that you would swear are silk but without the price tag. These could make me change my mind.Meg @ Mood Fabricshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14424239958934347486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-22315815808501263862012-05-24T21:09:59.990-04:002012-05-24T21:09:59.990-04:00I am a stasher, I only occasionally buy for a part...I am a stasher, I only occasionally buy for a particular project. I only buy fabric when I find it cheap, as in $5 a meter or less, usually less.<br /><br />I have never bought fabric online, but I may start soon, as I am boycotting my local fabric chain. <br /><br />I buy some notions online, mainly because that is the only way I would get some things. <br /><br />If/when I buy online I will follow the advice of bloggers such as yourself.<br /><br />I honestly have not bought many real disasters, I have some off grain rayon that will be muslins.<br /><br />My tips are:<br />-shop in thrift stores<br />-stay away from prints as they can look dated really fast and don't age well<br />-buy black fabric when you find it in a thrift store, you can always find a use for black fabric <br />-polyester is evil<br />-if you find silk in a thrift store, always buy it, even if it is a dated print, you can use it for lining<br />-if you find real Ultrasuede, buy it, no matter what color (dusty rose anyone), you can always find a use for it<br /><br />That's about it.ElleChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16656569539140359204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-49241648861226994262012-05-24T04:13:15.881-04:002012-05-24T04:13:15.881-04:00Umm, in my first comment it should be " it ca...Umm, in my first comment it should be " it can always be a muslin if I decide I don't like it tomorrow." Not yesterday. I should not listen to the Beatles when I type comments...T. Sedaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684101466551796470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-73793135713257272812012-05-24T04:07:16.756-04:002012-05-24T04:07:16.756-04:00(Part II)
(4) I think the better question is wher...(Part II)<br /><br />(4) I think the better question is where *don't* I shop online. Well, FabricMart is my favorite (darn them and their crazy good sales), though I have recently been liking the contents of Fabric.com (though I am annoyed by the slooooooow shipping - I ordered almost 2 weeks ago and they just shipped it?), and I also frequent Fashion Fabrics Club, though lately I haven't been too impressed with what they have. I have bought fabric from Mood online (their website annoys me but their fabric selection is amazing, though mostly out of my budget). I also buy a lot from Spandex World for skating costumes. And I have bought some things from the Michael Levine online store as well.<br /><br />(5) Well, I haven't been 100% happy with some of my recent FabricMart purchases, however for $1.99/yard what is there to complain about really? The bad stuff goes in the muslin box. Though I did take a gamble and order 8 yards of a white polyester stretch gaberdine at $1.99 - and it is *really* nice. Super soft and not too thin and slightly stretchy. Perfect for going under some thin fabrics in my stash... Oh wait, I was supposed to be talking about bad fabric. Life is too short to spend too much time thinking about bad fabric when there is so much good stuff out there.<br /><br />(6) Shopping tips - well, I agree that avoiding polyester is a good idea, though I don't always follow that advice. Though I won't pay more than $2 for it either if I can't touch it first. Poly/rayon/lycra blends tend to be pretty safe though. Also, always check the width of fabric before you buy (check twice then order a little extra anyway). Also, look around at lots of different online stores before you buy anything. It will give you a good idea of what average prices are so you can have some idea if you are finding a good deal (for example, I would say $15-20/yard is average for 44" wide silk without any special patterns or anything fancy going on, so when I saw $6/yd silk charmeuse on sale at FabricMart I couldn't get it in my cart fast enough). Also, if possible try to have a good knowledge of what different weaves of fabric are like - it helps a lot when looking at fabric descriptions. Also, I am going to state that unless you are buying stretch fabric from a specialty place like Spandex World, be really careful of buying things sight unseen. A lot of times "stretch lace" and "stretch velvet" are not what you are expecting. For active wear/dance costumes you want to look for a 5-10% lycra content and the main fiber will usually be nylon. <br /><br />Anyway, it is late, and I should stop rambling so I can get back to work on skating costumes (I need to finish 2 of them by this weekend so no sleep for me this week).T. Sedaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684101466551796470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2132533809320962451.post-23024654984158083992012-05-24T04:06:32.403-04:002012-05-24T04:06:32.403-04:00(Part I because Blogger thought my comment was too...(Part I because Blogger thought my comment was too long)<br /><br />Oooh, PR weekend looks like it was fun!<br /><br />As for my fabric shopping habits... Hmmm...<br /><br />(1) I am a total stasher. No doubt. *However* I do tend to buy fabric for specific projects and not just at random. Usually I have to have a specific pattern in mind for a fabric before I buy it. For basics like grey or navy wovens I need to have a general plan (like pants or jacket or whatever). Of course, there are a few things I have that were just too awesome to pass up, even though I don't know what I am going to do with them yet. And, well, my weakness seems to be silk for less than $10/yard. I mean, the price is just too good to pass it up... Oh, and if the price is $2/yard or less then I just buy it - it can always be a muslin if I decide I don't like it yesterday.<br /><br />(2) I buy fabric online and in person, though it seems my fabric buying has shifted to mostly online lately. I would prefer to buy fabric in person in a store, and while I *can* get to the LA garment district it is not convenient. And the local fabric stores are, on the whole, stuffed to the brim with quilting cottons and polyester junk. I have a *few* good fabric stores (more than some people, I know), but they take more than minimal effort to get to, and don't carry basic things. If I need something specific it isn't worth the effort to drive there and not be certain of what I am going to find when I know I can get it online for the same or better price.<br /><br />(3) Mostly online purchases are fabric, though I also buy interfacing and some harder to find tailoring supplies. Also serger thread. And needles in bulk. Sometimes hard to find thread colors. Also lots of rhinestones and sequins. And sometimes patterns or pattern magazines on Ebay. Ummm, let's just say if I can't get it at a Joann then I go to the internet. Ok, fine, I buy most sewing supplies online. I would say that when I buy fabric usually there is something fabulous and impractical that I love and can't live without, but while I am buying that I also look for fabrics that I can have as stash basics. When I buy notions and supplies I stock up and buy things for my stash.T. Sedaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684101466551796470noreply@blogger.com