On Friday I met up with a couple of sewing mad friends at the NEC in Birmingham for some much needed retail therapy and stash rebuilding! I’ve used so much stash without buying much at all that I’m really down to small pieces, or pieces that aren’t “me”. Time to fix that!
Apart from lots of fabric suppliers there was a lovely exhibition of kimonos. The details and embroidery were exquisite. It was really hard to obey the “do not touch” posted on the walls everywhere!
I was pretty good with my purchases, not just buying metres and metres. I couldn’t, prices have gone up!! From Rosenberg and Son, I bought a black and white linen and cotton blend to make some summer trousers, grey Swiss dot cotton for a Japanese inspired top, and two floral print cotton and viscose blends, also fitted tops. I love the large print of the navy and white, its quite dramatic for me!
Fabrics Galore was where I got these beauties, black and white stripe viscose jersey for a tee (either a Lark or Birgitte) grey and black stripe ponte for a cardigan or sweater, grey and pale blue cotton for a top, black and white gingham for a top and that beautiful turquoise washed linen for cropped trousers. I love that colour!
The embroidery on this wedding kimono was something else!
Navy and ecru stripe modal jersey for a tee or two from Montreux Fabrics and sand washed linen from Bombay Fabric for more trousers!
I got some practical stuff too, stocking up on overlocker thread in white and black.
I also visited my favourite lady, Gill Arnold to stock up on her fabulous interfacing and more shoulder pads for all those coats and jackets I’m supposed to be making!
Last, but not least, of the fabric buying. Two gorgeous handprinted Indian cottons from Maven Patterns. The grey and white will be a top and the mustard and cream will line my navy Tosti! I must get that pattern traced now, the Merchant and Mills oilskin had been waiting in the stash since September last year.
So now that all needs to be washed and suitable patterns sourced. I think my summer wardrobe has made itself known!
THE COMPULSIVE SEAMSTRESS 
Beautiful fabrics all round but that mustard and cream is the cats meow for me :-). The kimonos are stunning and I’d have struggled with the no touching rule too (maybe they should have a handwashing station so people can definitely have clean hands)!
I agree, that mustard and cream fabric has me salivsting. In true pattern twin style I also have the Tosti waiting – though I haven’t advanced to the fabric stage yet.
We should compare our projects, if we’re going to insist on making the same patterns! 🙂 I haven’t even traced my Tosti yet, nevermind toiled it. Not sure just how quickly I’ll be getting started, but I definitely have no more excuses…
I has ordered a white softshell for the Tosti, but it turned out very light, so rhe project has stalled until warmer temperatures might tell me whether it just too light or not.
That would have been good, or maybe they needed just one that you could touch!
great fabrics, i love them all.
Thanks, got to decide where to start!
Gorgeous selection. Can’t wait to see them made up.
Me too! 🙂 I ust can’t decide which to start with, it might be that gingham…