Dotted Fabric from JoAnn Hunt (was: Never mind; I FOUND IT!!)

[gem]

UPDATE! (was "Need JoAnn fabric hunt help")

HUZZAH!  Our other area JoAnn store had a whole roll of the stuff, which Milord spotted instantly. I scored another 4 yards, so I should have plenty to work with.

So now I'm not sure if it's the Robert Allen fabric or not (which is irrelevant now, since I have all I need), because the RA fabric is a cotton/poly blend, but according to the bolt info JoAnn had, my fabric is 100% cotton (yay!).

I also picked up a 12-yard bolt of 60" wide muslin for 40% off. They had a bunch in for the sale that starts tomorrow (they usually sell out the first day), but the coupon price was actually better than the sale price ($24 vs $30). I've never had mockup fabric big enough for skirt panels before. Plus they had cotton twill tape, which I have never seen in a store in my life. I bought a whole spool, just on principle. :b I'm so set for projects now, I'll probably never get anything done! Ha!!

***

Anyone game? 

I am looking for 3+ yards more of the clearance home dec fabric pictured below. It's a 54" cotton blend (feels like nice polished cotton to the touch), medium weight in a deep red color, with tiny tone-on-tone squares woven in a grid pattern. It comes rolled on a long tube. Unfortunately, it was completely unmarked with any identifying tags or data at my store, so they couldn't look up anything besides the price! It was on clearance for $6/yard.



The clerk at my store thought it was a Robert Allen fabric, and she thought the name was "Spotlight" or "Sundot." But I poked around yesterday online, and my best guess is that it's actually called "Spheres" (but I'm not sure of the color name; it might be Brick, Burgundy, or Ruby. It's very similar to DMC embroidery floss #816.)

I won't be able to hit my other local JoAnn stores until Saturday/the 22d. If anyone on the boards was *already* planning a shopping trip today or tomorrow, would you mind checking for this for me? I think I can buy it online somewhere else, but it runs about $18/yard full price. I'd much rather have it for $6!

If you do happen to find some in your local store, could you jot down all the fabric info you can, plus the store info? My local shop told me that they can order fabric in from other stores if there's none in the warehouse.

Gramercy!!!

[gem]

I am bumping this thread up for Irma, who is actually looking for more of her very similar apple-green fabric.

[Irma]

Thanks, GEM.  That sure does look the same, but the page accessed by your link doesn't list my color.  This is very helpful, and will keep searching.

[gem]

I'm shocked that link still works, 4 years later!! I don't see the colors I thought were close to mine, either--and a hunt on the RA website for greens didn't bring it up, either (altho' I only went through one shade of green.  You may feel more motivated! LOL).

Still hunting, though! Would you call your color "apple green," or is it more of an olive, or...? (Guessing from the photo.)

This probably doesn't help you, but I'm throwing it out anyway:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/APPLE-GREEN-EMBROIDERY-PEARL-BEADS-100-SILK-DUPIONI-FABRIC-54-WIDE-1-YARD-/321376327017?pt=US_Fabric&hash=item4ad3859569

[gem]

...It looks like another possibility might be Robert Allen's Rainshower (also not seeing it in your green):

http://www.insidefabric.com/Search.aspx?SearchTerm=rain%20shower

[Irma]

Thanks for all the effort.  Maybe apple green, although the color willow sticks in my head.  I am keeping my fingers crossed I do have enough for a bodice, if I don't make the sleeves too poofy, use smaller seam allowances, etc.  And I don't think I have to be concerned about matching a pattern cutting out pieces "head to tail."

[gem]

Have you seen this: http://www.renaissancetailor.com/errata_gallery4.htm It's the Renaissance Tailor's 3.5 yard Elizabethan gown. Excellent "tutorial" on economical cutting! (The site is very slow to load today & I was worried--but the link still works.) She gives a cutting diagram that's very helpful, and her different use of fabrics and placement is good for ideas when you just have a smidge too little to go around. Do your sleeves absolutely have to match? You can easily get more of the viney green fabric, too.

Another way I've been able to work around smaller bits of fabric is by adding seams or openings--cutting the back bodice with a CB seam can help, and if you give yourself side seams and a front opening, you're really only cutting four pretty small pieces. Hide the seams with trim, and nobody will ever know the difference. 

... And when, by the way, can we get a peek of what this dress is going to be?!

[Irma]

GEM, thanks for the link to the tutorial.  That is very helpful.  There aren't any examples of what this will be; it's still in my head, but will share in the ongoing projects thread just as soon as there is something to show.  I already have a skirt made from the viney green, but want to redo the waistband.  It was made quite a while ago, with an elastic waist.  First I pleated the panels, then added a waistband, then inserted the elastic.  It was sort of an experiment.  I want to redo it with just a smooth waistband, fastened with skirt hooks and eyes.  It was pretty bulky.  I'm pretty sure I have enough of the lighter dotty fabric if I cut the bodice with no seam allowance at front opening and along the neckline, and finish that with bias.  I've been playing with a really full sleeve, and could scale that down if necessary.  There is also the trim that would go beside the bias.  I am wanting to put "skirts" on the bodice.  I have some nice linen that is almost the exact same color.  There is plenty of that to do the lining of the bodice, and probably the undersides of the skirts, and another square-necked shift.  It could probably be used for the bias, too.  Whenever I buy fabric, I usually get extra in case there's an unfortunate incident.  At times like this, I wish I could just withdraw to my sewing area for uninterrupted experimentation.