Rayon of Sunshine

I wrote a post last week about all of my new fabrics and what I'm going to do with them and then it was unceremoniously (and mistakenly) deleted. Partly, it was a Blogger glitch. Partly is was a migraine issue.

I'm not one of those who bothers to retype a comment that gets eaten, so you can imagine how disinclined I am to reconstruct an entire post. Nonetheless, this post was relevant from the vantage point of illustrating how my recent fabric binge is a considered undertaking.

Gist: I'm only buying fabric to go with patterns I intend to actually make, like, in the next 6 months. Other gist: Can't fit any more fabric into the cupboard. Apparently, my limit is 45 yards. Now on a fabric siesta.

Stay tuned for a new version of the deleted post, when my hostility finally subsides, but in the meanwhile, let me say this:

The rayon "denim" I used to make the Claudia pants is from Gorgeous Fabrics and you should not waste time. Go buy 4 yards. But not until I buy another 4 yards (which will bring me up to having purchased 8 yards of this drapey deliciousness). Note: It appears that Ann has just updated the store site - I know this change has been in the works - so it's all new and fun, but it does appear to be loading quite slowly today and I'm having trouble logging in. Maybe order this fabric tomorrow...

Let me give you the lowdown:

• Whether you're the skinniest of minis (and you need some delicate fall in your fabric) or a more robust sort (looking for good drape with a dollop of even stretch that doesn't look stretchy), you will find 6 ways to use this stuff. It would make an excellent dress - woven or stretch woven. It's perfect for pants. It would be terrific for a skirt. You could even make an unlined (Hong Kong finished) jacket. I see possibilities for a great peplum, sleeveless top (the kind with a side zip) etc.
• It's very "modern RTW" seeming. I could see Theory or Pink Tartan using it in one of its designs.
• Yeah, it's on the synthetic side of the equation (though rayon is a hybrid). But it looks luxe and it breathes really nicely.
• OMG, IT. DOES. NOT. WRINKLE. Not straight out of two washes and twice in the dryer. Not after a day of wear. It's veritably space-aged. Have I mentioned how I loathe wrinkles? It's one of the reasons you will never see me in linen or woven cotton. (The other reason is that I really don't like most iterations of either of those fabrics.)

If I had to complain about it, I'd say that it's not the best for working with darts. The very thing that makes it beautiful to wear makes it suboptimal for clean tapering at the ends of the darts. I would NOT try using this to create tucks or pleats of any sort. You'd be going against the grain, as it were. Mind you, it does press very well (no need for pressing cloth, can deal with steam and high heat) and it holds a hem crease perfectly.

A mediocre fabric can be blamed for taking up space in your stash, but a beautiful one won't be there for long. My justification for owning lots of this (not that I want everything made in the same fabric!) is that this "denim" can be used to make just about anything. Furthermore, I did trash 2 yards of it on muslins, what with my perspective that, if you want to make a finished product you can rely on, you need to use the fashion fabric on test versions. What can I say? I'm like the very opposite of the WW2 sewist in this respect.