Fabric or pattern? That is the question.... Which one do you buy first?
Are you also tortured every time you pass by a fabric store or browse the Net, and see a fabric/pattern you like but doesn't really suit to the pattern/fabric you already own? In most cases I buy fabric & patterns because I like them. But if I don't change my attitude I'll end up with a wardrobe full of useless fabric!
Heres is a "chicken or egg" example. I bought these three beautiful fabrics in the picture below right (silk and chiffon) in India on a business trip two years ago. In the fabric shop, I was so overwhelmed by gorgeous silks, cottons and eyelets that I bought random yardage hoping that one day I will use it for a nice project. Two years later, the fabrics are still here. Only yesterday I started a jumpsuit from the black polka dot silk, based on the pattern from this
Japanese sewing book. But then - OH GOD! I did not have enough fabric for the jumpsuit but only for pants :(
Angry, I left home for more fabric shopping in the hope of finding similar silk to finish the jumpsuit. But of course, they had everything but black polka dot silk. Still, I did not come home empty-handed, but with all these lovely colors in my Yuzawaya bag!!!!!!!!!
The God of sewing gave me reasons to add more fabrics to my stash!
Reason #1: "The yellow woolen blend will work for this pants pattern; 2.30m!"
Reason #2: "The fuchsia fabric will make pretty shorts: only 1.30m !"
By the way, those colors are such a perfect match for my
Spring&Summer 2012 palette challenge.
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Both patterns are from the May edition of Burda Style magazine. Not available online :( Sorry! |
A little accident happened though... I saw
Nani Iro! How could I resist? The God of sewing helped me again.
And it IS actually transforming into the summer dress! I've cut all of the pieces & serged the edges. It will be ready tomorrow ;) The color is not at all like something I would usually wear, but I decided to give it a try.
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April Burda Style magazine. Not available online ;( |
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Listening to the voice of reason, I will try to use my stash more effectively and stop buying fabric for the sake of it.
So what do you buy first: pattern or fabric? Do you choose fabric to match your pattern? How do you manage your fabric stash? Do you also make a "I-stop-buying-tons-of-fabric"resolution?