Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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.

24 comments:

  1. Rayon that does not wrinkle? Space aged fabric indeed.

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  2. Wow this fabric sounds practically magical!

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    1. It's always dangerous to oversell something, but given that I've paid shipping for it 3 times, you know it's got to be good.

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  3. Outrageous. You raved so hard that I just bought 3 yards (even though I would never choose something like this online), and some sweater knit to justify the shipping, even though of course it will cost a fortune to get it to NZ, AND I already bought from EmmaOneSock today. I may have to stop reading your blog.

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    1. I have to say, this is my favourite comment so far. It's a good thing you use your powers of influence for good (fabric) instead of evil, you'd make a formidable super-villain.

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    2. HA! My kid is convinced that I am a super-villain!

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    3. Oh, Lyndle! I'd better not have led you astray :-) What sweater knit did you buy?? I wanna know.

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    4. Well, you did. I just came back to this post trying to find the composition of the "denim" as it's gone from the site (I didn't get any kind of shipping note with my order, is that normal?). I bought this one: http://gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/printed-jersey/superlative-stripe-sweatery-jersey-pinkblack/. It's just arrived and feels nice. Mmm.

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    5. Nice fabric! You should get a shipping note when they ship - in addition to a purchase email (effectively the receipt). They often ship a few days later than the purchase. If you didn't get a notifier and you're sure you bought the fabric, I'd email to confirm it's shipped. BTW, I looked and the fabric does appear to be gone. So if they didn't charge you for the product, chances are the order didn't go through and it's not avail any longer. Nonetheless, do check!

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  4. i'm completely intrigued! bookmarking the fabric listing for when i need to re-stock... :)

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    1. OK, do that. But srsly, don't be surprised if it's gone when you go back. I've done it with other fabrics and I missed out.

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  5. A slightly off-topic but related question ("related" since you mentioned pressing): I am in the market for a new ironing board. Every ironing board I have had has been essentially flimsy except one my parents had that was solid wood (I suspect someone mad it) and was built like a brick truck. While I may not need that level of stability, I want a sturdy one. I probably need a new iron too. I am not (currently) a sewist but I do aspire to ironing my clothing more often. Any suggestions of types, where to even look, etc? I live in San Francisco, perhaps not the sewing capital of the world, and heaven knows I understand the rarity of ironing, but surely........somewhere...... TIA

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    1. Oh, good question! I hope someone gives us an answer because I've had the same board for 30 years and I got it at IKEA! What I can say is that, IMO, the iron is much more important than the board - unless the board doesn't hold itself up.

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    2. It's the wobble, can't stand the wobble! I need a board which can handle a cat jumping up on it without toppling over with my iron on it! Also interested in good iron choices: easy to fill with water, easy markings to read the settings, etc.

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    3. My IKEA, 30 yr old ironing board doesn't wobble! But I don't test it with rowdy pets :-) I suspect, the nature of the gizmo is to rock if it's hit with something - it's lightweight and collapsible (and it's standing on a small surface area). So I think the cat's gotta stay away from it in order to protect it from either falling or getting damaged. Mind you, maybe there are really sturdy boards that can withstand the kitties :-) I just don't know about them... (Design Within Reach probably sells them though...)

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  6. I'm intrigued! I take it they ship to Canada? Without crazy fees or taxes?? (Can't find shipping info on the site)

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    1. It's hard to find. Right at bottom of the page, there's a sentence that ends with Terms of Use, in mini writing. click on this and it tells you about shipping. It's based on fabric cost - may be worth using a freight forwarder.

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    2. Oh they do say they only charge the actual shipping cost and refund any difference, so don't be too alarmed.

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    3. Hey - I can tell you how it goes. You order and you get charged 35 bucks to Canada (if your shipment is under 100 bucks - based on the pre-sale price of any fabric). You then get refunded any overage, once the parcel is put into USPS. I usually get back about 8-10 bucks on 6 yards of fabric so the shipping is quite competitive, IMO. Is it the cheapest? No. Mind you, neither is the fabric. But the service is very good. On the rare occasion I've had issues, Ann has been completely responsive. And the fabric is very good. Excellent if you choose well!

      I do wish that one could order half yards. That would really appeal to me. But they only cut full yards, fyi.

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    4. And Samantha: I've never been charged Customs on one of these orders. It's possible, but I haven't generally ordered more than 6 yards and 100 bucks. It's just gone undetected as a result of the nominal cost and size. Hopefully it will continue to be that way.

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    5. Fantastic! I'm off to get me some of that :)
      Thank you,ladies.

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  7. That fabric really is awesome. Now, if I weren't on a diet...

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    1. I know, I know. But don't you have a free fabric coming up (for all of your use of other stash fabrics)??

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