Isn’t it fantastic when you receive belated birthday presents? My birthday was back in February, but I received my mother’s birthday present a couple weeks back… a shopping night at Fabricana, my local fabric store!
Want to see what I got? Of course you do! Fabric purchases are even more delightful when we can all oooh and ahhh over the loveliness. Inspired by the Fall Palette Challenges happening at Colette Patterns, I picked fabrics that coordinated to make a pretty fall mini-wardrobe. I didn’t choose a palette, but I started with one fabric that drew me in and built around the first one… this one!
Ok, so it’s two fabrics. One fabric, both colourways! I thought the printed polyester floral would be lovely in a ruffled Pendrell blouse. I want more blouses in my wardrobe that look professional but pretty, and this fabric is exactly right. What a beautiful way to wear florals for Fall! They’re sheer but not so sheer they need to be underlined.
Oooh.. lace! This is also going to be a Pendrell blouse, inspired by my attempt to make a lace version back in February. I couldn’t get the stains out of my thrifted tablecloth, and honestly, this cotton lace fabric is going to be much more comfortable to wear. I believe it’s 80% cotton 20% nylon, so it’s mostly cotton. Love it!
Underneath the lace fabric is stretch caramel wool. How perfect for fall! I’ve been dreaming of another Beignet skirt ever since I finished my first one, and this fabric will be perfect! I won’t line it, so that it still stretches, and I’m going to tweak the fit so it’s even better than the first version.
Lovely fall knits! What do you guys think of the animal print one on top? It’s a knit of some rayon/poly blend, and I think it’s pretty sophisticated to wear with the camel skirt. The other two are cotton knits – 95% cotton, 5% spandex. I know – knit fabrics, right? You’re as surprised as I am! Well I havesomething planned for these fabrics, something that makes knit-sewing easy!
Last and certainly not least, wool coating! This is lovely, plush wool coating that’s 80% wool and 20% nylon. It’s going to be a coat to complete the mini-wardrobe. It looks way better in real life than it does in the photo – soft, warm and wooly!
We have three knit tops, three blouses, a coat, and a skirt. Everything goes together! It’s brilliant. I wish I always sewed with a wardrobe plan, it certainly makes it easy to know what to wear with each new item. And I love these autumn hues! All of these fabrics for less than it would cost to buy a wool coat.
Hopefully I’ll be able to complete all of these projects before fall is over! Ambitious? You bet. That’s just how I work, it seems! The wrap coat comes first, that’s still in the works! Afterwards I’m most excited to make and wear the caramel wool Beignet skirt.
What do you think? Aren’t these lovely? What a great birthday present! Thanks Mom!
Love love love. Love it all!!! Can’t wait to see your lace Pendrell!
@Suzie: Thanks! I think it will be so pretty in lace!
@Tasia: I add my voice to those so anxious to see a lace Pendrell blouse. I’ve been coveting that pattern ever since I saw it pinned on Pinterest. I love the ruffles.
Your fabrics are lovely, I especially love the leopard print knit! And I hope you can share your method of easy knit-sewing ;o)
@Marie: I love it too! I’m not usually a leopard-print girl but I was drawn to this one. You bet I will write all about it, when I make the knit tops!
WHOA. Whoa. WOW. I think we have very similar taste, and now I am suddenly thinking about why it would make sense to drive for a day to go to Fabricana and buy exactly the same fabrics. Especially those wools…. What a wonderful birthday present! Sooo pretty.
@Tina Boscha: How far of a drive is it? It’s a great store, especially when it’s fall sewing season!
Ooh, I love the fabric destined for Beignet 2, and the lace pendrell will look beautiful with it, as will the animal print! And turquoise and purple too – two of my favourite colours! Can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with those knits…
@Vicki Kate: Thank you! Turquoise or teal is my all-time favourite colour, plus I think it looks fantastic on everyone. Once the wrap coat is done I can’t wait to get started!
Oh I love Fabricana so much, yay for belated birthday gifts! What great fabric you got, I look forward to seeing the projects!
@Bri: Me too! It’s a great store, one of my favourites!
What a super Mom you have. Every fabric is beautiful and I totally agree that Mini-Wardrobe-Plans are the best way to handle our clothing purchases/sewing project. Can’t wait to see the finished products.
@Corinne: She is the best :) and knows me so well, too! Of course I would like fabric as a present! I’d love to have the discipline to always sew with a plan, and always choose coordinating fabrics. Too often I’m distracted by “bright and shiny and goes with nothing you own” fabric!
I am sooooooooo TOTALLY JEALOUS!!!! I just went onto the Fabricana Website and watched the video of their shop! WOWSERS! we have nothing like that over here, about 2 or 3 little fabric shops, and all that stuff you got would of been well over €300!!
Maybe i need to set up a fabricana of my own! :)
@Shel Baker: It is a great store! Tons and tons of fabric, all prices and types. I live in a big city with lots of suburbs, so I’m really lucky to have plenty of fabric-buying options!
I love your idea to pick one fabric that really draws you and then build from there. This is going to be a fabulous wardrobe!
@Annabelle: Thanks! Choosing one fabric and building around it is something I should do more often, it’s fun to build up an imaginary wardrobe of fabric!
I like the cotton lace. Can’t wait the finished blouse.
@Maia: Thanks! Me too, I thought it was really pretty and different.
Lovely fabric! I nearly *gasped* out load at your cotton lace. It’s so pretty…. :)
@Zilredloh: Thank you! It sure is, it’s not too hole-y and feels soft, as compared to synthetic lace. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was coming home with me!
Lovely fabric, what a great birthday present. I am quite partial to the prints at the top. You have me very curious about this upcoming knit project. I do like the ease of wearing knits.
@Seraphinalina: Thanks! I’ll definitely post about the knit projects. Lots of exciting sewing coming up this season!
Fab birthday pressies! I love that animal print knit.
@Chrissy: Thanks! :)
Woowwwww! Are you planning to sew all of these this fall? If so I’m super impressed. Either way, I love seeing the colors other people choose– it really opens my color-palette horizons!
I really like the way the camel and lace look together… and I had never heard of stretch wool, so looks like I’m due some shopping too! Very inspiring post!
@Lindsay: Well, about sewing everything this fall…. I’d sure like to *wear* everything this fall, so I guess that means I better get sewing! :) I would like to, I have all of the fabric and all of the patterns and even the thread! So it’s just my own time that’s holding me back. If only there were more hours in the day! I bet I’ll finish everything in the next year, but perhaps not all by the end of fall. Maybe by my next birthday (February) at least? :) The good part is that blouses and the skirt can be worn all year long!
@Lindsay: Oh yeah, stretch wool! It’s brilliant. It’s very expensive but luckily the Beignet skirt doesn’t take that much. (Less than what’s on the envelope, for sure.)
Wow! So pretty!
@Kathleen: Thanks!
Yay. Lovely fabric. Can’t wait to see what you make with it all. :)
@jadestar: Thank you! I hope I can get to sewing it soon :)
I love the animal knit! I don’t know if it’s just my screen, but it looks fairly muted in colour – I have a top (simplicity 2599) made from a woven with a grey-toned leopard print and it’s one of my favourite tops.
@Clare: You’re right, it is fairly muted in colour! It’s greyish and tan-ish at the same time. Really pretty and subtle. I can see it becoming a favourite of mine too!
the fabrics are great! i wish you would offer the pendrell blouse with long sleeves! the pattern is so cute….
@esther: Thank you! It’s designed to be sleeveless the way the armholes are cut, but I appreciate the feedback! It can always be layered over a long sleeve top although it’s more casual. I’ll have to design a blouse with sleeves one day then! :)
Two words: Gel – us! lol. Great fabric and fantastic color palette.
@Susan – Knitters Delight: Thanks! I love autumn colours for autumn. Makes it a little better when it’s raining and cold if I’m wearing cute Fall clothes :)
JEALOOOOUS!!! Such fantastic choices, and I’m so excited to see what you have planned for the knits!!
@Ashlee: Thanks!! I am excited to make them up and turn pretty fabrics into pretty things. Will definitely share more on the knits, too!
This is very yummy! I have a sweater in the same leopard print! Love the fabrics!
@Brandy Layton: Thank you!
Oh i’m so jealous! Fabricana has so many amazing fabrics right now! I almost bought that same lace last week but wasn’t sure what I would make with it and what colour I wanted, so I thought i’d think about it for a while. I don’t remember the stretch wool, I guess i’ll have to go back!
I love sewing with knits, once you start sewing them you’ll love it, I love that I can make a great top quickly (and sometimes) completely on my serger. Knits are easy, just a bit of a pain to cut sometimes.
@Holly: I debated over the cream, the tan and the brown.. and decided the cream would be like my version of the ‘classic white shirt!’ Except with lace and ruffles. :) There was still some there on Monday!
The stretch wool was at the very front when you first walk in, near the mirror. It’s crazy expensive. But – stretch wool! In gorgeous caramel! That’s the wonderful part about presents, you are treated to things you might not buy on your own. Luckily the Beignet skirt doesn’t use too much fabric! ;)
I’ve sewn with knits but it’s getting that professional look that bugs me. I want my knits to look nice not home-sewn – but it sure is great to be able to whip something knit up in a couple of hours or less!
I think we’re all coveting your purchases!
Did you try dyeing your table cloth pendrell?
@Jane Elise: I suppose I could try that! Right now it’s buried in my storage locker, in a bin of ‘things I’m not bothering to take to the office…’ It’s a mystery synthetic so I’m not sure how well it will take to dye. But it’s still there, maybe I’ll dig it out in the future and give that a try!
Your fabric haul looks divine! I am so excited to be visiting Portland, Oregon in less than two weeks to do just what you did :) Oh, to touch and feel lovely fashion fabrics. Have fun making up your mini-wardrobe. You’ve really gotten some lovelies. I just made your Pendrell blouse last week and love it! The princess seams fit me perfectly. I am planning to try your Londsdale dress next!