Fabriologist~ No Longer Fabriholics!

[gem]

Cilean, those silks are DELICIOUS. Want!! Must see photos of the finished cotes.

***
Huzzah!! Thanks to a birthday gift from my SIL and awesome coupons from JoAnn, I have just become the proud owner of some obscenely expensive fabric I have been coveting for more than two years!! It seems kind of silly--it's just a fairly basic black tapestry--but it's over $30/yard for a reason, because it is just gorgeous. And it looks amazing with everything.

It's a medium-weight cotton blend, and it is destined to be a forepart and sleeves for a portrait gown project (which is what that trim is for)... and possibly a standalone bodice. (Did I mention there were coupons?  ) It was in the discontinued bin (!!), so I bought everything they had.

With & without flash:

 

And further testament to its amazing prowess, here it is with the otherwise un-photographable green damask tablecloths! For whatever reason, they look grey in every other photograph I've taken:



The embroidery floss is for my embroidered smock project (and, strangely, the precise shade of green of the tablecloths). I think it's destiny. 

***
Here's another shot of that embroidered cotton that's going to be a chemise of some kind (I'm thinking high-necked, with the black tapestry bodice...):



It's a stash smorgasbord!

[Butch]

Gem, I can't wait to see how you use that black tapestry!

[Wickedvox]

Gem, it's *GORGEOUS!* I can't wait to see what you do with it!!

[Cori]

Good evening,

I found this material at Joann's in special order home decor and was thinking about making a bodice out of it.  It is a rayon/poly blend woven fabric.  Would this be appropriate?  Thanks.

[gem]

Waves to Cori!

Is this it?



Other than the fact that it's $54/yard (OMG! ), I think it's beautiful. It's reminiscent of fabrics like the beautiful cut velvet in Bronzino's portrait of Eleanora di Toledo:



The rayon content probably makes it very soft, and although it's technically synthetic, it shares many properties of natural cellulose fibers, like linen.

But, thank goodness you'll only need about a yard!

[Cori]

That's it.  The fabric is really more blue/black with a grey background whereas the picture online looks more blue/tan/green.  I figured I could wear it with either a blue or a black skirt.

Since there was an issue this weekend at my local Joann's they will honor this past weekend's sales so I'll be able to get it at 60% off.  As much as I would fall in love with a fabric, I would never pay that price.  Not when there are so many coupons.   

You just made me feel so much better about my selection choice.  I had spent a lot of time this weekend (as well as today) searching through the gallery of finished projects, through ebay and any smugmug pictures for modern usage of front-laced bodices.    Now that I know I'm on the right track I'll spend the next month attempting to make the muslin/bodice and most likely a new skirt.  I'm at Joann's a lot at their sewing circles/quilting bee trend sessions.   

[Cilean]

Cori? Why not make a Jacket instead of a bodice? That fabric looks like it would do so well looking like these pictures are from the
Attack Laurel or Extreme Costuming site just to show what can be done~




Here is a pattern from Tudor Tailor it is called a Waistcoat!

http://www.tudortailor.com/patternshop.shtml

Cilean

[Wickedvox]

So I have a friend with a relative who just went into an assisted living. The woman was a seamstress and had a half a basement full of all kinds of sewing stuff! Check out what I got:

assorted trims and an entire tin of bias tapes, flat lace trim, etc, but mostly bias tape *happy dance!*


all kinds of dressmaker's rulers! I know what the french curve is for, but maybe someone can shed light on how to use the small silver hem ruler?


about a yard of green velvet, red costume satin, and about 4 yds of white cotton.


I think I'll use these for something Victorian. The lighter one is actually kind of shimmery and the stripes are a really pretty pink and green. It's really soft too.


Some plaids and checks.


Linen blends.


a couple twills, but I'm not sure what to call the darker blue--it has flowers woven into it.


These are the twills and wools (?) and the one that matches the couch is like a tan/green and is really soft, but I have no idea what it is. It's destined to become part of the Roma outfit though.


What I'm most excited about--pattern weights! lol!


The cream with cherry on top:


I also got a full bolt of white cotton, a full bolt of unbleached muslin, and a 36" self-healing cutting mat, but I forgot them at the house  I was scatter-brained from sheer joy lol!
I'm almost loathe to tell you what I paid for all this because it's nowhere *near* enough...$45.00...sick, right?

The only down fall is most of it is 2yds or less, but I figure bodices, jackets, sleeves, etc.
All I can say is Joann can kiss my booty for at least a few months lol!

[gem]

YAY!!!!!  What a haul!

1. That dark green velvet needs to become the sleeves in your Roma garb (you have plenty).

2. The blue looks like a cotton (?) damask, and I think it wants to play with your red & yellow MA bodice.

3. Could the "really soft couchlike fabric" be a brushed twill?

4. The silver hem gauge can be put *inside* the hem when you press it, so you don't have to do all that pinning & marking. You can kind of see how to use it in this ridiculously huge photo.

[Lady Kett]

That is awesome, Wickedvox!

[Wickedvox]

YAY!!!!!  What a haul!

1. That dark green velvet needs to become the sleeves in your Roma garb (you have plenty).

2. The blue looks like a cotton (?) damask, and I think it wants to play with your red & yellow MA bodice.

3. Could the "really soft couchlike fabric" be a brushed twill?

4. The silver hem gauge can be put *inside* the hem when you press it, so you don't have to do all that pinning & marking. You can kind of see how to use it in this ridiculously huge photo.

I love my people!!! Thank you gem! You are correct on all accounts! Thank you thank you thank you!! See? *This* is why I adore you!

Thank you Lady Kett! Good to see you around!

[Ser Niall]

 

I've had my eye on that same fabric, I'm going to use it for part of my next project.  I believe it's on sale this week for 50% off, so I'm going to pick some up.

[Ser Niall]

Took advantage of the Joann's sale to stock up for my next project.  This will be a fancy noble court doublet to match my girlfriend's dress.  Her dress has the same color scheme of blacks, taupes, and gold.



The solid black fabric has a nice viney, floral pattern woven into it.  Very soft to the touch.

The gold silk I purchased off of ebay.  It is a cotton/silk blend that looks just like silk, but is a bit thicker and easier to sew.  Very nice to work with, I made another mini-project using the same material.

[Wickedvox]

Good stuff Ser Niall! I love the color scheme! If that black-on-black is like the blue I just acquired, it could be damask as Gem suggests. Can't wait to see the end result! Also, don't forget to post pics in the "finished projects" gallery when your green outfit is complete!

[Ser Niall]

Good stuff Ser Niall! I love the color scheme! If that black-on-black is like the blue I just acquired, it could be damask as Gem suggests. Can't wait to see the end result! Also, don't forget to post pics in the "finished projects" gallery when your green outfit is complete!

I will.  Making all those individual panes for the slops is taking up a lot of time, I thought it would be going quicker.  I'm trying to juggle my time between a bunch of different things, so I haven't been able to get to it much lately.  We aren't going to be able to get to the MI ren fest until towards the end of it's run, so I should have it done in time to wear.