You Can't Overdo a Good Thing!

If you're anything like me, when you find the perfect pair of shoes and they fit like a dream, you buy one in every color! Sewing garments is the same - when you find a pattern that works, you can't just make one, especially if the style is versatile and goes anywhere.

We love the ease and comfort of Sandra Betzina's Vogue 1336 dress.  Laurel and I both made tunics from this pattern for our Sandra Betzina Trunk Show in November at the store.

Since you can never have to much of a good thing, we made it again - this time using a different print, but using the same nylon mesh for the sleeves and hemline bands. Nylon mesh is so versatile for jazzing up a simple pattern - use it for sleeves, neckline treatments, and if you're real brave, why not try it as a "peek-a-boo" strip in a dress or t-shirt?

 

Here's another of my favorite patterns - Victory's Satsuki dress. We've made it as both a dress and a top.  I love the comfort and style of this design. (Are you starting to see a pattern here - "comfort" and "ease?") But I also love the femininity of this design.  Whatever your body type, it will be flattering.

So why mess with success? I found this wonderful silk knit during one of my buying trips and I loved the way the print almost had an ombre look.  I immediately thought of the Satsuki dress.

I'm thinking that it's going to need one of Laurel's special Obi belts. You can learn how to make this great fashion accessory on FabricLady's Obi-Belt How-To.

We put these posts up as drafts before we publish them for our readers and look what happens - Laurel made a custom Obi Belt, just for this dress! She used a scrap of our boiled wool, picking up the deep brown in the knit and lined it with the print. Also a jewelry maker, she used some beautiful glass squares as the focal point for my belt. They will pick up the soft turquoise colors.

She secured the glass beads with a border of brown glass beads strung on thin wire. Clear jeweler's glue was added to fix the two elements together. She used Aleen's Super Fabric Adhesive to glue the finished embellishements to the belt and then secured them with thread. A few embroidery and machine stitches were added for detail.

Oh my!!! What a special gift for FabricLady!

This Satsuki dress and the Sandra Betzina tunic are perfect styles for working here at the store. In the cooler months, I can pair the Sandra Betzina with leggings and the Satsuki with boots. Come into the store and see our huge selection of knit fabrics and add one of these "Go-To Fashions" to your Spring wardrobe.

Creatively Yours,

Suzan

Do-Over for a pretty knit!

Some fabrics are just too pretty to not use again.  I find that when I'm picking out fabrics to buy for the store or have made up, I can usually envision several different garments that would work up beautifully.

I love this stretch silk knit Satsuki dress that we made last year. I kept a length of the fabric on a shelf in my office because I knew that I wanted to use it to make another garment.

Victory - Satsuki Dress

With the warm summer days we've been having, I have loved wearing a more casual look, especially separates, and t-shirts in particular. Since we already had made a tank from another silk knit (below), we decided to reuse this great Burda Easy pattern 7645 with the t-shirt/tunic option and make it up in my red and grey silk knit.

The top is so easy to work up and the fit is DIVINE! The neckline has a bias strip that is attached, turned under and then top stitched. The sleeve are just serged, turned under and also top-stitched.

What else can we make out of this sumptuous fabric, Laurel?

Burda 7645 - with Cap Sleeves - Love it!!!

Speaking of top-stitching, finding the right color of thread to use on a multi-colored fabric is a case of trial and error. The only safe way to get a good match is test out several colors on your fabric and choose the one that blends the best.

  

For our silk knit, Laurel chose the medium gray. However, if we were making a garment that actually incorporated top-stitching as one of the design elements, then color choice, fiber content and thread weight become more important. For this reason Laurel and many of our sewists keep a lot of threads on hand just for times when matching fabrics is critical. The consideration is whether you want to highlight it or hide it!

 

Just for grins, why not make this same top in a soft rayon knit...in black of course. And on this shirt, our top stitching rows are doubled for added interest around the neckline and the hem.  Top stitching just requires good thread, patience and a slow speed on your machine. And practice, practice practice! (Yes, I'm going to wear this top with everything!!!)

Love this rayon and lycra knit!  Love this Burda top!

Burda Top 7645 and Burda Skirt 3152
My new favorite Top and Skirt!

At Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics we have a great selection of threads in all manner of fiber content and color. We have everything from the workhorse Polyesters to fine Rayon and Silk threads. And naturally, we carry a variety of threads for our quilters and crafters as well - those of you that are free-motion quilters know exactly what I'm talking about!

Are you a thread collector?  You have to admit, that having thread stash to compliment your fabrics is like having a box of sumptuous chocolate truffles...you just can't wait to try one!

I want to also wish Laurel, my partner is sewing, inspiration and this very blog - a big Happy Birthday Leo Sister! Please check out her wonderful blog for even more fun and ideas!

Creatively yours,

 Suzan

email me at fabriclady3@gmail.com

The Obi Belt - a great Fall accessory!

I love my two Victory "Satsuki" garments...I love the ease and comfort of the summer top we made out of a wonderful tropical rayon batik pattern.

"Totally ready for Maui"

In fact I loved it so much that I wanted to have it made in a dress for my Fall wardrobe.  I chose a silk knit print in reds, slate blue, black and white.  This pattern works so well in a dress length, and is perfect for a day in the store or out to dinner.

When Laurel finished this dress and we placed in the Daughter's Choice area in the the store, a lot of people wanted to know more about the belt and how it was made.

The belt is a contemporary "Obi" sash, a popular fashion accessory back in the 80's.  The traditional Obi is a sash to be worn with Japanese kimonos. The Obi itself often requires the use of stiffeners and ribbons for definition of shape and decoration. There are many types of Obi, most for women - the contemporary women's Obi is a very conspicuous accessory, sometimes even more so than the kimono robe itself. 

I asked Laurel to write a tutorial on how to make an Obi belt.  It is surprisingly easy enough for many of our home sewists. So here you go:

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From the Dressmaker - The Obi sash

Hi all! Laurel here!

Here is one method for making an Obi sash - it is the same method I used to make Suzan's belt for her Satsuki dress.  There are many ways to construct an Obi sash - this is just one:)

I am making my Obi sash using two fabrics - a mock suede front with a polyester knit lining and ties. You can use any combination of fabrics - I like the knit backing as it's easy to stretch around the stiff front of the belt I want to create.

To begin, make a simple pattern, sized to fit one-half the length of your waist. ( I just wish my waist was 28")

Cut out the front panel of the belt in a heavy fabric, such as felt, suede cloth, wool, etc. If your fabric needs some extra stiffness, use a fusible interfacing, cutting it the same size as your belt front. 

Also cut out the back lining of the belt front in a coordinating fabric, but cut it at least 1/2" bigger on all sides of the front panel, so it will become an edging for the belt.

After adhering the fusible interfacing to the front panel, you are ready to embellish the front panel.  You may want to test out some stitches on your fabric to embellish the belt. (You could also sew ribbon strips or other crafty treatments.)

Once you decide on some decorative stitch patterns, go ahead and stitch your front panel.

After your decorative stitches are completed, it's time to sew the front panel to the knitted lining fabric.  Remember that the lining was cut larger.  Sew the front to the lining, lengthwise, right sides together, one edge at a time, leaving the ends open.

Because the underside (lining) is larger than the front panel, a border edging is produced when you turn the front panel right side out.

Now for the ties...cut two strips of the knitted fabric so that when they are sewn in a tie, the width is the same as the ends of your front panel. The ties need to be long enough to go around your waist and tie in the front of the sash.  How long is up to you.

Finish sewing the ties using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  I used a zig-zag stitch as my knit is very stretchy and I didn't want the seams on the ties to break when I tied it around my waist.

Turn the ties right side out for atteaching to the finished front panel of the belt. I keep a water color brush or a bamboo kabob skewer close by to turn my skinny ties.

Pin the ties to the front panel, and machine stitch all the way around the front panel, stitching in the ditch.

Oh SNAP!!! My mini-me, Colette, loves her new Obi Belt!!

Send us pictures of your new Obi belts!!!

Laurel and Suzan
Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics
A Center for Garment Sewing & Quilting
Serving the greater Bay Area since 1976
An old world fabric store for the new age!

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Daughter's Collection Summer 2013

If you watch any of the fashion related shows on television such as Project Runway, Fashion Star or any of the "Red Carpet" features, you know that when they talk about a particular outfit they always refer to the designer's collection - "Zac Posen, Spring/Summer 2013", "Giorgio Armani, Fall 2013", etc.

So Dad (Mr. StoneMountain himself) and I were chatting the other morning about my whole wardrobe adventure and he suggested that I name it the "Daughter's Collection". What an awesome idea! As the season's change, Laurel and I will be completing fashion looks for each season - things that all my home sewing fashionistas can take inspiration from and make for themselves.

Most of the fashions that we have already created are from the "Daughter's Collection, Summer 2013" - I love saying that! We made outfits that I can wear at the store in Berkeley everyday, as well as some that will work for vacations in Southern California, Hawaii and other warm climate destinations.

I love wearing these clothes! Silk is a wonderful fabric that breathes - perfect for summer. I have worn this great Sandra Betzina top over and over with the linen crop pants.

Waiting on the Shuttle!

Stepping out!

And who could go wrong with this "Daughter's Collection" easy tube top and maxi-skirt...this baby is going to Hawaii later on..

A nice walk after Brunch

Love this two piece knit dress!

Laurel told me she almost kept this Satsuki top for herself, she loved it so much. I can wear this soft batik to work, but I think it looks better in So Cal, don't you?

Vacation Linen Pants with my Batik Top!

Laguna Beach Sept 2013

Be sure to stay tuned to FabricLady as we reveal our plans for the Daughter's Collection, Fall 2013.  StoneMountain has a lot of new Fall fabrics in, so get started on your Fall wardrobe now - time's a wastin'!

Up early for a walk on the beach and my morning cappucino 

Taking in the view!

A sunset to remember!
Crystal Cove State Park

Farewell Newport Beach area...it's off to Marina Del Rey and some Fabric Buying in downtown Los Angeles. We have been buying fabric downtown since 1967! My Dad taught me well and I love to buy from old friends who are now like family. I will post lots of photos from the next few days...What treasures shall I find to bring back to Stonemountain & Daughter? What is your heart's desire?