Fabric Time Traveler destination: Today! A great read for Indie Desingers

September 4, 2007

Indie designers, check out this book!

Bend-the-Rules Sewing : the essential guide to a while new way to sew
by Amy Karol

(fresh patterns, 30 cute designs, great for beginners, learn the basics, have fun, sew with abandon, it's easy!)


I found out about this book because Revival Fabrics was listed in the back as one of the resources for vintage fabrics.

As I flipped through the pages, I realized that it was my kind of book and was happy to be listed as a vintage fabric source.

My mother was a professional seamstress for 40 years and had a knack for following sewing patterns to the letter. She measured twice, cut once, and her garments turned just as they should. She also could take two different sewing patterns and sew up a beautiful combo. For my wedding dress I picked two different bridal gown sewing patterns; I liked the quarter length sleeves from one pattern, and just had to have the full Cinderella ballroom skirt on the other. Whiz-bang, just like that, my mom put the two together, and I had my dream wedding dress. Ok, so not so whiz-bang for my sweet mom, she also made the bridesmaids dresses as well as her own mother-of-the bride outfit.

On the other-hand, I'm not as three-dimensionally blessed as my mom was with directions. I'd rather look at a sewing pattern, turn it this way and that, and then create my own patterns from scratch. I can't recall a single project that I followed the directions of a sewing pattern down to the letter. Let's just say that I'm inspired by instructions and directions.

And that is why I adore this book! Colorful photos, humorous chat from the author, and non-fussy instructions. Now, if you are the straight-and-narrow-follow-the-directions type of sewer, this book may not be for you. But if your mind wanders to the fork in the road and you ponder which way to go and realize that each way could be an adventure, read the book. The author notes on the cover that it is a great book for beginners, but more advanced sewers will have enjoyment from it as well.

To check out this book & read reviews, you can find it on Amazon:

Bend-the-Rules Sewing

I'm in the News!

August 29, 2007

Fabric Time Traveler destination: 1930s and 1940s

Revival Fabrics has been in other publications, and I've been interviewed for Oregon's largest newspaper in the past about my love of vintage printed tablecloths ---- and now I'm really feeling like a smarty pants! Tomorrow I may drop my drawers on accident, but for today, Smarty Pants!

For the Fall 2007 issue of Creative Home magazine I was interviewed for the article that starts on page 94, "Nostalgic Notions: Find out How to Buy, Decorate With, and Care for Vintage Fabrics." The author Ann Wilson did a fabulous job writing the article about what to look for in 1930s and 1940s fabric. The magazine is on the stands now and until the beginning of October.

The more I research the history of fabric and the proper care of old textiles, the more I realize that there are volumes of knowledge to learn. That is half the fun of vintage fabric, discovering the unusual, and learning something new all the time.