Showing posts with label Apparel fabrics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Apparel fabrics. Show all posts

Inspiration: Outdoor Music Festivals

Since Summerfest is still going on here in Milwaukee and the ethnic fests don't start up again until next week, this week's festival inspiration is based on what to wear to outdoor festivals!


Outfit Number One: Rock concert, inspiration outfit from Urban Outfitters.


Do-it-yourself:


Vogue V8393 Halter Top Pattern, which is out of print but available at Vogue Fabrics, paired with Michael Miller's Polka Dots in Black & White, which is the fabric featured on the V8393 pattern. Also found at Vogue Fabrics.



McCalls M3341 A-line skirt pattern paired with denim. I looked high and low for washed-out denim but couldn't find any. Looks like you'd have to fade out the denim yourself for the Urban Outfitters look. Black denim fabric found at The Fabric Fairy.


Wouldn't this outfit look cute with the Curvy Clutch/Wristlet (sewing pattern) from Keyka Lou? I like the wood grain fabric from Joel Dewberry, maybe in sage (found at Contemporary Cloth).



Outfit Number Two: Jazz In The Park, inspiration outfit is the Selma dress by Christopher Deane as interpreted by Weekend Designer (tutorial). Also, red dress in this photo found on Atlanta Bartlett.



Do-it-yourself with the tutorial from Weekend Designer and:



Hawaiian Hibiscus fabric, white on navy, found at Harts Fabric.



A big bag is in order for Jazz in the Park for you will need to tote your picnic blanket and supplies! Amy Butler's Field Bag and Tote would be perfect. Maybe paired with this Strippy Stripe Cotton fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics?



postedThursday, July 02, 2009 0 comments
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Inspiration: Music Stars (photo sessions)

This week's festival is Summerfest, a huge outdoor music festival. The bands are mostly rock with some country, blues and pop as well. I used photographs from stylized photo shoots to serve as inspiration for this week's post. There are many ways to go about using music stars as inspiration for sewing projects - especially for clothing as they are often on the cutting edge! But when scanning through photos of the various bands performing at Summerfest, I found much more visual interest in the color palettes of the posed photographs (often used for album art, I believe) than in their clothing.



Bon Jovi is the big, headlining act this year. I love the combination of slate, teal, black and light brown in this photo. I think this combination would look great for an apparel palette. Here's what I found:


Clockwise from top left: Midweight rayon jersey in slate from Gorgeous Fabrics; Kona Cotton in Teal Blue from Vogue Fabrics; White House Grid Polyester Abstract Print from Vogue Fabrics; Midweight denim medium wash from Gorgeous Fabrics.



This is country singer Emily West. I'm not familiar with her music, but I loved the style of this photograph (and, HELLO, ric rac trim!) Red, white and blue are one of my very favorite color combinations for quilts.


Clockwise from top left: Marine Stripes on White cotton/linen blend Japanese fabric from Crafty Japan; New Traditions Echinacea (or Coneflower) blossoms by Michael Sparks for Robert Kaufman from Jinny's Treasures; Lacey Petals from the Picket Fence collection by Chloe's Closet for Moda from Josie Mart; Red Dots on White from the Olivia by Ian Falconer collection by Andover from Lucky Kaeru Fabrics.



The iconic Bob Dylan. I don't know anything about this photo except that I love the soft, old Florida feel of the palette. A nice combination for a home decor project - maybe a sun room or patio? Even a bedroom...



Clockwise from top left: Floral Diamond in Blue from the Olive Rose Home Dec Collection by Valori Wells for Free Spirit from Sweet Dreams and Co; Apple Butter Flannel in Cameo Pink by Benartex from eQuilter; Tulip Glass from For Your Home Home Dec Collection by Vicki Payne for Free Spirit from Fabritopia; Love Letters by Sentimental Studios for Moda from Kathryn Rose Designs.


postedWednesday, June 24, 2009 0 comments
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Inspiration: Poland

(photo: Folk Market in Krakow, Poland courtesy of Flickr user ilvic)

I live in the beautiful city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin which is located on the shores of the Great Lakes. We have a long, cold winter here so when the weather becomes mild we spend much of our time outdoors. Milwaukee is known as a city of outdoor festivals and during the summer there is a major festival every week celebrating the different cultures which have settled the area (with a break in between for SummerFest, one of the largest outdoor music festivals in the world). I thought it would be fun to play along with the festivals and look at each one as an inspiration for fabric and sewing projects. This series will not be a study in history or a culture's specific contributions to sewing crafts, but a simple, fun way to be inspired by the cultures among us! (I'll be using traditional culture, rather than modern, as inspiration)

We start the summer with PolishFest.

Fabric:

(photo: Shawly you'll buy one... courtesy of Flickr user eWah)

Brightly colored florals in true hues are our fabric inspiration from Poland, as evidenced by the above two photos. Found in online fabric shops:


Top left: So Hot Charmeuse! from Gorgeous Fabrics (would look great as a short summer dress, such as Vogue 1103 directly below). Top right: Amavel Poplin in Blue by Hilco from Bunte Fabrics (maybe as oh-so-in patterned skirt, such as Simplicity 2698 directly below)

Ribbon Trim:

(photo: skirt of many colors courtesy of Flickr user Jo Peattie)

I think the use of ribbon trim on this colorful folk costume is what makes it so delightful! Here's a sampling of some of the trim you can find in online shops:


Clockwise from top left: Pretty Green & Pink Floral ribbon from Etsy seller Hey Chica, Colorful Woven Wide ribbon from The Fabric Fairy, Vintage Floral Jacquard red on white ribbon from Etsy seller Trim Goddess, selection of ribbons by Jessica Jones and Patty Young from J Caroline Creative

Pottery:

(photo: Pottery Pitcher Boleslawiec Polish Pottery by Flickr user Le Petit Poulailler)

Poland is well-known for distinctive pottery and patterns. Mark Lipinski based his fabric collection for Northcott, Krakow, on his Polish pottery collection.

(photos courtesy of Etsy shop Fabrics By The Sea)


Here it is "in action":



Scrappy Krakow Circles Quilt by Etsy seller Carolina Patchworks



InsulBUFF Insulated Coffee Cup Cozie by Etsy seller Fab Essentials.


postedTuesday, June 16, 2009 0 comments
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Where To Find - Gingham

There are many, many online sources of gingham, here are just a few and what they have to offer:



Gingham shirtings - from Gorgeous Fabrics



100% linen gingham - from Denver Fabrics



Quilting weight gingham - Above left, Darla collection by Tanya Whelan, from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics. Above right, Sweet Pea by Moe3 from Down Shadow Lane.



Gingham seersucker - from Fashion Fabrics Club, 97% cotton, 3% lycra,



Organic gingham - from NearSea Naturals. Above left, blue and white organic cotton jersey. Above right, rich brown organic 60" cotton woven.



Gingham flannel - Above left, 60" French Gingham heavy cotton flannel, ideal for blankets and bedding (among other projects) found at Vogue Fabrics. Above right, 44" cotton quilter's flannel from Michael Miller found at Sara's Place.



Gingham oilcloth - from Oilcloth Addict



postedThursday, May 28, 2009 0 comments
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