What's your fabric passion?

[Kristl]

Hello fellow fabri-holics! I wanted to start a discussion about our fabric passions. As an employee here at fabric.com for the past six years, I have amassed quite a stash. My passions are silk and linen. I cannot get enough! Most of it is neatly folded and uncut. I buy a new pattern knowing I have the perfect piece of linen in my stash. I pull out the fabric and stare at the new pattern thinking, "I don't know how this pattern will fit me.'' There's my downfall. I need to make a muslin before I use my pretty linen. So there they both sit, uncut. I am trying to improve.

I was wondering, what's your fabric passion? What makes you stop in your tracks and buy it - whether it's on sale or not? Check out my blog (http://forums.fabric.com/blog/) entry for more gory details about my stash, or to read some great entries from the rest of our staff!
Kristl

[chickadee]

Hello, Kristl! Nice blog!

Working in a fabric shop would be detrimental to my budget! :D

Over the years I amassed a huge stash of woolen and cotton fabrics in solid colors. I love natural fibers! However, I ended up giving away much of them -- except for a few favorites. I have found that I prefer to do less ironing! Reality rules! :D

These days my sewing is mostly for my own apparel and occasional home projects. What makes me stop in my tracks now and buy it -- whether it’s on sale or not?

Polyester moleskin fabric! I have bought several cuts in solid colors, and am always on the watch for more. It sews up beautifully, has a wonderful drape, is machine-washable and dryable, and scarcely needs any touchup ironing!

For summer, it’s durable cotton-blends in solid colors -- anything that is machine-washable and dryable, and does not require pressing. Yea -- reality rules! :D

[aobodessa]

Hello Kristl,

My fabric passion is cottons ... I love them. I want them. Every single one. I absolutely adore anything with ultra-rich colors, great design (think paisley on speed!), and a soft hand. I love to quilt, although I have made a lot of clothing for myself and my three daughters with cottons.

I absolutely HATE anything that stretches; I never learned how to sew on it, so I am not successful and it frustrates me. So I'll stick to my good ol' 100% cottons.

If it speaks to me, (and what cotton doesn't these days???) I buy it. The only way I don't is if the pocketbook is empty and I know I'm going to need a tank of gas before payday. Otherwise, I bring it home, wash it while hubby is working, dry it, press, and fold it to fit in with the rest of the stash. Then, when I do get time to play with my fabrics, he has no idea of what is new and what is old. I can always tell him, "this old piece of fabric??? I've had it in here for a long time!" Of course, it helps that I have boxes and boxes of the stuff .... he enver knows if it's coming or going!

Odessa

[martie]

My favorites are unusual in design and texture. I love cotton and silk as the basics, then I throw in all of the hot bold items that say " this is the zinger" that this outfit or quilt needs. Not only are the fabrics really important to me but so is the thread. I LOVE metallic threads and the new rayons are wonderful.

I see almost all striped fabrics as bias trims.

If it is fabric I love it.

Martie

[must_sew]

Silk charmeuse and dupioni are my dream fabrics. My favorite wedding project allowed me to use them together. The gown was a crisp A-line with dupioni, but the skirt did not connect at the back, to reveal the underskirt of a thick, rich charmeuse. I had the privilege of framing that split in the back with a vine and flower border of glass beading. The hours of labor were a delight because of the fabrics!

[adens]

It is hard to define my favorite fabric. I do love wool, however, the feel, the smell...especially plaids and tweeds. I love to sew it and steam it and mold it. I also love vintage lace and odd little pieces of things I find in thrift stores. I really like vintage slips and have begun adding new trims to them to make them a wearable garment. I have an ETSY shop if you want to see some of them, aVintage.etsy.com Have a great day!! Andrea

[tinycreations]

My favorite fabrics are printed cottons of all kinds. Interior fabrics, silks and cotton blends, upholstery fabrics, outdoor fabrics also, now that I'm sewing in that field.