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clothing, easy sewing projects, fabric, fabrics, patterns, sew, sew exhausted, sewing
I am sure that must be an age old question. And one that frankly I still don’t know how to answer. So I was curious how others viewed it and thought I would put it out there for discussion.
I am torn. How many times are you shopping and see the most fabulous piece of fabric and think, “What could I make with that?” Do you buy it and “stash” it hoping the perfect idea formulates or do you pass it by because you “sew with focus” and it’s not on your list?
Do you evaluate your wardrobe and decide you need two new blouses, choose the pattern or patterns you’d like and then go off and find your fabric?
Or maybe you just buy piles of patterns you like, pick one you’d like to make and go find some fabric to use!
Maybe you have PILES and PILES of “stash fabric,” and when you decide to make something you choose from your pile and find a pattern you think will work?
Seems to me there are too many ways to answer this question! And no matter how I argue in the favor of one after a few minutes I am all too ready to jump over to the other side!
For me there is no rhyme or reason. Sometimes I am super focused and want to make a Holiday Dress. I go pattern looking and choose the perfect one. Then I go fabric and notion hunting and make my dress. But there is always that time I have found a pattern I LOVE and looked high and low and not found the correct fabric I had in my head and went with something else altogether.
You ever want to make something you already have the pattern for, search at stores and online and just can’t find the fabric you pictured and end up with 5 new pieces of fabric that you’re gonna make in to something neat?” (Ummm- I am pretty sure I don’t know ANYONE like that…)
I admit that sometimes I wish I only bought what I was going to use. There is a part of me that wants to be super organized and focused in my sewing, have a list, buy only what I need, sew it up and move on to the next project. But most of the time I am so happy I have patterns galore and a nice stash of fabric so I can sew on a whim. Sometimes I actually like that a thought comes to me in the middle of the night- “oh my gosh I just had a vision of the perfect little gingham dress for daughter #2 and I know I have that fabulous piece of fabric just waiting for me!” And I am all set to go. š
And having stash means when the budget is tight and I can’t spend I can still sew from what I already have. YAY!
I don’t think I answered the question… I think I just rambled on and on. But I did figure out that this is how I sew:
Scenario #1: The fabric came first.– While browsing through the online fabric stores (with NO intention of buying I am just bored), I see the most GORGEOUS, AWESOME aqua snake skin like jacquard that I MUST have. Ok… Ok… deep breath. What can I make from this? YES! I have that Burda Blazer pattern I bought on sale a few months back. How much fabric do I need? 2.5 yards? Perfect! And it is ON SALE!!!!!! Woo Hoo! OH! And isn’t Jungle January around the corner? Can I use an aqua snakeskin for Jungle January? Well no matter, I HAVE to have this!
Ok… What am I going to wear this blazer with? Dang, I have REALLY been wanting to make Jamie Christina’s Mission Maxi.… OMG! Wouldn’t this aqua snakeskin blazer look AMAZING over a black jersey knit Mission Maxi???? Please oh please let me find a good black jersey… OMG– They have a black jersey and it is ON SALE TOO! This is the best day ever! (and I order the Maxi dress pattern and 2 new pieces of fabric).Ā (All three of these items are on the way!)
Scenario #2: The pattern came first.– Today I am going to organize my patterns. Damn I have a LOT of patterns. Why do I keep buying patterns? I am NEVER going to be able to USE all these patterns. Maybe I should try to win the next pattern pyramid so I can give a few away?- but wait, that won’t work cuz I’ll get to add a few to my collection… Ohhhh, I LOVE this this 1940’s vintage nightgown pattern. I HAVE to make this pattern now!!! I remember when I bought this! Ok … Ok… Lets see- I don’t think I have the right piece of fabric to go with this. It really needs to be made from a lovely voile or cotton lawn… and some lace too! Fire up the computer and start looking. OMG- Fabric.com is having a voile sale!!! I am all over that… Look at that aqua cotton voile?! $3.99 a YARD. Geez I can’t pass that up! AND they are having a sale on lace too?! White lace and aqua voile would make the PERFECT vintage nightgown! I am SO excited! And sheesh- as long as I am paying for shipping I may as well order a few other pieces of fabric… He he he…Ā The ummm …extra fabrics are going in my stash? (This is up after I finish my red denim jacket- all washed and ready to go)
I am pretty sure I have lots of scenarios I could share… But I think I am going to go sew… I have LOTS of projects in my head I’d like to work on. Some I still need just the right fabric for!
xoxox
Laurie
Sew Exhausted 
I like to adopt fabrics and give them a good home. Eventually I pull them out of the textile hoarding annex and they meet their pattern soulmate! …..love the snakeskin!!!!!
Oh I LOVE that sentiment! Adopting fabrics and giving them a good home! You must be a fabulous fabric mama… and matchmaker too!
Haha! Your scenarios made me giggle! I am a Pattern Sale Victim at the minute so keep buying the patterns and then not having the right fabric. Fabric buying on line though is always when I am bored!
I too have so many patterns I need to try and use. And darn those sales… I just buy more! I am trying to find a balance now… (hahahaha)
You sound like me! Only, I’m not as easily tempted by patterns as I once was because I have so many and there’s not much new or different in the lines of the new ones (it’s only the envelope art that changes). The patterns that do get me are the vintage ones with really interesting details (especially when they are free or very inexpensive).
Most of the time, I probably tend to start with an idea, and then go looking for a pattern in my collection and then search for fabric in the color I want. It’s always the finding the fabric I want that slows me down (and it’s not like I don’t have a huge stash to dig through!). I have a couple of projects that have been on hold for months (or even years!) just because I’m still searching for the right fabric.
I do have a few pieces of fabric in my stash that I bought just because I liked them. But I usually buy fabric with a project in mind – however, I usually change my plans for a fabric at least twice before I end up cutting into it many months later.
(And then there’s the free fabric from work that ends up coming home with me. But that doesn’t count.)
I agree- they are starting to look alike! I definitely have enough patterns between the Big 4, Indie and vintage patterns I have. FREE FABRIC from work!!! That must be the BEST! And stash wise most of my stuff is quilting fabric- But I have done my best to add some apparel fabric this last year. š
I think I’m a healthy mix of scenarios. I love to grab fabrics without purpose and have a huge pattern collection thanks to my shop so I usually go shopping in my own pattern stash. But occasionally I find a fabric must have and can’t find the right pattern so I must seek it out or draft it myself. I also go through my patterns and select one that I just wanted to make right now. I evision it in a certain fabric that I spend weeks looking for then loose the urge to make it by the time I find it.
I have had that happen. I HATE not being able to find the fabric I have in my mind. And sure enough, if I dont find it after a few weeks, the urge to make it leaves. Sighhhh… Pretty cool you have a shop- Must make for a great pattern stash!
It’s pretty awesome to have about 1200 vintage patterns in my house at any given time! Though I’ve only reserved about 150 of those for myself
The fabric is the thing for me. It calls to me in the shop. Sometimes it’s specific about why it’s calling, other times it just wants to come home with me.
Eventually the fabric will tell me which pattern belongs to it; sometimes right there in the shop, sometimes when I get it home and listen carefully, and sometimes it takes months (or even occassionally years) before a fabric will tell me what to do with it. In the meantime it joins the rest of my fabric stash waiting for a pattern, or just waiting for me to get around to sewing it.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FABRIC
LOL… I love that the FABRIC is the star! As it should be… patterns tend to start looking all alike after a while. And I love that a few have waited years to speak to you. (They must be the patient ones!)
I have a pattern stash and a fabric stash, and rarely do the twain meet. Its a puzzle.
Hahaha… Love that! Why does that happen?!
Lol!! I remember all those scenarios you’ve described all too well, I’ve been there, done that and worn the T-Shirt!! There another blog you might be familiar with Dibs and the Machine – she has even described when she becomes the Fabric Detective after looking at her favourite ready-to-wear sites and tracks down the fabric and has come up with some amazing finds.
I will check her out! That sounds awesome… I needed her to help me find the RIGHT red fabric recently… (which I failed dismally at)…
Oh yes – I can relate to all of this! How is it possible to have 100 patterns and 100 lengths of fabric and NONE of them match up? My biggest downfall, though, is the bargain fabric – you know when you pass a sign that says “all fabric Ā£1.00/m” (or whatever) and even though there is nothing you particularly want you think that some of it might be useful for something, and you have that pattern that you’ve not made yet, as it takes 5m of fabric and you don’t want to spend too much, as you’re not sure if you will like it, so you get 5m of something you don’t particularly like just because it is cheap and suddenly you find that you have a cupboard full of cheap fabric that does not inspire you to do anything with it… or is that just me?
I am avoiding fabric shops at the moment because my fabric stash is huge and I can’t stop myself going into a frenzy and buying all the fabric. But that means I channel it into buying patterns instead. I just need to step away from the credit cards and somehow make the fabric stash work with the pattern stash.
touch question! I would say fabric but maybe its a little bit of both?
I’ve also been on both sides of this equation. I tend to have more fun shopping for patterns, so that’s usually how it starts. I tend to buy fabric based on what patterns I have and even go so far as to make notes to put in the envelope with the pattern–“Version 2, cotton/linen tweed,” etc.–in order to keep track of what I have. But sometimes I see a particular fabric and I figure I’ll find something to make out of it eventually, and it comes home with me!
I’m a big pattern shopper and have a lot if fun buying them so I have quite a collection… (Vogue will be on sale again soon!)… But I’ve got a lot if fabric too. I like how you make notes tho! That’s genius!