Fabric Shopping in France

I am back! I am happy/sad to be home. I loved my week with my girls!

I'm wearing another swing tee dress (2nd from the left, of course)

While in Paris, we of course visited Sacre Coeur and the surrounding park and shops. This area is also home to a number of wonderful fabric shops! So fun. But I had to be careful with my time, as my traveling companions are not into fabric at all.

We visited Sacre Couer and even climbed to the top for fantastic views of Paris below. We also briefly visited the church nave, but a service was underway so we were quiet and quick.

Then my sweet companions visited the souvenir shops while I power shopped for fabric.

Luckily I had already decided on one shopping goal - to buy some Liberty of London cotton lawn. One particular shop in this Montmartre area (Coupon) carries a huge variety of these cottons, more than I've ever seen anywhere in the states. And the price was not quite as high as I had anticipated - 26 Euro per meter.

I purchased a Liberty of London piece a zillion years ago at a gorgeous fabric shop in Asheville NC - Waechter's. I am pretty sure it cost $39 per yard! The shop has since closed, sadly. The piece was lovely to sew and I enjoy the blouse quite a lot.

In Paris I purchased two Liberty pieces, each of the same print but different colors - one red and white, one navy and white. I had a difficult time deciding but I think I made the right choice for my palette and taste. Some of the prints are too fussy for me. I also purchased a wonderful soft piece of gray linen for 10 Euro per meter.

The week in Paris was followed by a week with husband, son and family in Chamonix, part of the French Alps. I had no expectations of fabric shopping. The last day we were there, we visited Annecy which is a beautiful old city that sits on a large mountain lake, Annecy Lak. The city is quite large, but has a distinctive old town full of canals and restaurants and parks and tourists.

As we were wandering the old town, I happened to glance up at a building and see a sign: Tissus Couture. I said to DH, I'll be right back, (yea, right) and speed-walked to the spot.

It was a smallish store after the shops in Paris, but it had some lovely fabric. Again, I had to work fast. I found a pre-cut 1.5 meter of viscose jersey that I just love.

After a day on Annecy Lak, I was a bit worn looking but happy here!

I have just finished making a summer dress with it. This is, once again, TSW's swing tee revised into a dress. I drafted short cap sleeves and had enough fabric to add one (!) inseam pocket.

In order to hem without making it too short, I used a 2" bias strip of light weight cotton shirting as a hem facing. I like the effect. The dress feels light and yet has some hem weight.

My only regret is that I had too little fabric to place the darker portions more strategically. It was the last they had of this. And I just had to have it. It makes me smile. So light, so cheerful, so French.

It seems to be hot everywhere I go this summer, even in the Alps, so I'm still into summer sewing in a big way. And I am having a big time.

I hope your summer (or winter) includes some satisfying makes.

The back looks just like the front!

Not Sewing

Mulberry Silks and Fine Fabrics

Carrboro, NC

Gorgeous store, much temptation, not cheap.

Vogue 1414 Day 1

Today I finally cut into a piece of men's shirting I purchased when I visited Rome last fall. Pretty fabric and great travel memories - I love that combination.

Finding and shopping in a fabric store was quite an adventure. As it happened, one of the fabric stores I had found on the Internet, Fratelli Bassetti, was a short walk from the Pantheon. And it was very easy to find, except that the storefront was so unassuming. You climb stairs to the level above the street level. And then, oh, my.

Street Level

One room was full of men's shirting. One was full of men's suiting while another focused on women's suiting. And there was an entire room of silk. My son took this picture of his wife, Laura, and me discussing my interests (and budget!) with this charming salesman.

It was a little nerve-wracking to shop there because they spoke just a little English and I speak no Italian. Nevertheless, they were gracious and helpful.

I purchased two pieces in the end - black and white cotton shirting and a piece of the silk charmeuse you can see in the above photo.

Here is the shirting for Vogue 1414.

I understand that this week's Project Runway features the final contestants visiting Rome for inspiration. I hope they visit this wonderful shop!

Sewing in New England

Now home from another fun visit to NH to visit my son and his family. These trips always include some sewing. I am, therefore I stitch.

A regular stop for me when I visit .- Sawyer Brook Fabrics show room in MA.

Next time, I'm going to ask if I can take pictures inside their show room. Wish I had thought of that. I think I just get so focused on the gorgeous fabric and what will fit in my suitcase. I'm single threaded. Ha!

Here is a highlight - got to see Dixie of With Needle and Brush, who had just returned from Hawaii. Always great to see her and her creations. This time I got to see her Marcy Tilton coat in person. Fab.U.Lous. You can see it better on Marcy's blog but I captured a picture from that post. Can't find where Dixie blogged about it.

This coat is both artful and wearable (very). Wool flannel base with kimono remnants and pieces Dixie silk-screened. Dixie lined the collar with some lovely silk. It must be great to wear.

Lastly, here are a few pix of actual sewing done in New England, as opposed to shopping for sewing in New England:

Tunic for granddaughter, tennis dress for her BFF

A little RTW to DIY

Friends I Haven't Met (Yet)

One phenomenon of the Internet is that we sewers get acquainted with like-minded souls, some of whom live thousands of miles away. In fact, if you are reading this, you *might* be one of those friends.

Recently I had a happy experience with just such a friend. I had admired a particular T shirt she made and blogged about here. I just fell head over heels in love with the fabric (and the pattern she chose and the way it looks on her).

So...

She offered to buy some fabric for me since I live about 1000 miles from the store. Seriously, what a friend in need, and friend in deed.

Initially I just could not see taking her up on that kind offer. I called the store where she bought the divine fabric, and encountered customer-no-service. Evidently they specialize in that, as well as divine fabric.

I even tried email to the store, sending them a picture of the needed fabric. Luddites.

So...

I took ArtAttack up on her selfless offer(*). And the fabric arrived recently. I haven't cut into it yet, but I have it out in my sewing studio where it can be properly admired.

Aren't Internet friends just amazing?

* Oh, and I take full responsibility for her additional purchase the day she bought my fabric. She has already made something luscious with it. So now, maybe I need some of that fabric too...