June 14, 2017 2 Comments on My trip to Southern Africa
I got back from my 2 week trip to Southern Africa less than a week ago! With my mother, and through the company Natural Habitat Adventures, we visited Zambia (Livingston), Botswana (Okavango Delta region in the north), and South Africa (though that was mostly the Jo'burg airport!). I learned an impressive amount of information about the ecosystems, animals, politics, and culture of the areas we visited. Our guide was amazing, and the whole experience was wonderful.
Textile- and craft-wise, I learned about traditional Botswana basket weaving and dying of fibers, and even got to try weaving part of a basket myself. The women (and some men) who work at the lodges weave baskets made from grasses and held together by palm fronds. They dye the fronds with roots, bark, leaves, and fruits of plants that grow in the Delta, and which they gather. They gather dyes, dye the fronds, and weave the baskets during their off-shifts at the lodges. Some of the traditional weaving patterns were "tears of the giraffe", "water lily", "flowing water", and "urine trail of the bull"(!). I also saw so many beautiful wax printed cloths and skirts and dresses when we were in Zambia (not so many once we were in the "bush"/on safari), and I purchased many meters to play with at home. Women wear the cloth tied around their waist for a skirt, or around their backs with a child in it, or on their heads as a type of turban (especially helpful when also carrying baskets or pots on their head). The cloth was also used in more tailored shirts, jackets, and dresses, and I was inspired to see the colors, patterns, and uses of the fabric.
It was a life-changing trip and I am still thinking of it often.
May 19, 2017 2 Comments on Sewing with sheer fabrics
The Greek Island Dress is a great garment to use with sheer flowing fabrics, but these fabrics can be a bit tricky to work with. Here are some tips to help you before you begin to cut into and sew with those wonderful and fun (but maybe intimidating) fabrics.
These tips, plus quite a few more (including tips on sewing with lace) are included in the #266 Greek Island Dress pattern. Happy sewing . . . with sheers!
April 25, 2017 2 Comments on Kimono Fabric Suggestions (and some tips for online fabric shopping)
Sometimes it is hard to find just the right fabric for your sewing project. Especially since local fabric stores carrying a wide selection of garment fabrics are not a reality for many of us. Often, we are left with the option of online fabric shopping.
Shopping for fabric online can be daunting. Is the color going to be right? the weight? the texture? fabric content?
A couple of things I do to make sure (or at least as close to sure as I can be) that I get good fabric that works for the garment I am making are:
So, after all those tips, I am going to leave you with a few fabrics I would love to use to make our Japanese Kimono. We picked these out from some of the fabric stores we trust as online sources., but there are many more out there, so you can see this as just a starting point.
Rifle Paper Co Wonderland Black from Harts Fabric. This is a beautiful and popular fabric. 100% rayon. $14.79/yard.
Japanese Dragons - Blue from Stone Mountain & Daughter Fabrics. 100% cotton. $11.90/yard
Rayon Challis Crane Print - Red from Stone Mountatin & Daughter Fabrics. Rayon challis with a fluid drape and hand. This light fabric and a pretty print would make a beautiful and drape-y kimono. $11/yard.
Bruce Botanical Satin Faced Silk Print from Vogue Fabrics. This is a beautiful print that I think would make a lovely kimono. 100% silk. $12.99/yard.
Sunstone Abstract Cotton Print from Vogue Fabrfics. 100% cotton, medium weight batic. $8.99/yard.
Geishas and Ginkos - Purple from Michael Levin. 100% chambray. $13.75/yard.
Genuine Handwoven Ikat - Raspberry/Gray from Michael Levin. 100% cotton. A traditional eastern look - very beautiful. $18.50/yard.