The Din From My Fabrics

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Vintage fabric talks to me.  Yes it does.  When I come across a three yard piece of vintage 60s daisy covered cotton, it shouts, "Make me into an A-line dress!"  Or a piece of 70s decorator fabric might say, "I want to be a granny chic pillow."  A piece of vintage bonded gold velour recently suggested, "Isn't it time you made your husband that replica of Captain Kirk's uniform - original series, of course?"

And well, you know... once the fabric starts talking to me... I have to buy it.  Thus explains the gajillion yards of vintage fabric in my house (I can no longer limit that statement to just, 'in my sewing room').  It's almost a problem.  My family might say it already is.   But I digress.

Back to the fabric.  It talks to me.

These next pictures represent recent conversations.

This 38" rayon wants to be made into this dress,

but maybe the sleeves will be cut off into a short bell

with a contrasting black yoke and belt.

I call this the "Luck fabric" with it's ladybugs, horseshoes, elephants,

shamrocks, #13, and palm reading.  It's a 40" wide rayon and

told me it wanted to be this little number.

This sweet 28" wide striped cotton wants to be a

waisted 50's dress with an accent belt of... red?

Oh yes I do.  I definitely listen to polyester double knit, too.

I don't discriminate much when it comes to cute vintage fabric.

This quaint flocked gingham print knit fabric

knew it would be perfect for this early 70s Butterick dress.

Maybe with red topstitching.

It was a recent conversation with this feminine 30" wide cotton.

I think it wants a contrasting rose colored collar.

This sheer dotted swiss and early 70s decorator fabric teamed up

and have been thinking about this 1970 dress

but maybe with short sleeves.

This 36" cotton plaid wants to be that 1967

A-line dress but with a lace collar please.

And last for today's conversations, this liquid and fluid

1940s or earlier 40 inch wide rayon with strange Qs on it longs

to be a flowing dress like this one... but maybe a bit shorter.

Yes, everywhere I go vintage fabric talks to me.

Do you agree with my vintage fabric and what it wants?

Fantabulous Knits!

Ok, I admit it.  When double knits rose to meteoric popularity in the early 70s, I was as interested as anyone else.  That was before they conjured up the image of a grandma in a coordinated, belted lavender pantsuit.  

Here's an unusual 70s piece with tags still intact that someone

once snapped up at a "fantastic riot sale" at Minnesota Fabrics... 

...fantabulous.

Yeah, I remember that blue floral "maxi" dress I wore to my brother's 1975 wedding (hi Dave) and it was full fledged polyester double knit.  That's me with the high forehead - my sister Barb on the right (also in double knit - I'm telling you, it was everywhere!).  Oh yes, I admit it.  I must not have been adverse to double knits at first.  After all, it was the new miracle fabric, easy to sew, didn't fray, kind to the figure, easy to wash and never needed ironing.  Double knits were used for everything from women's dresses to men's suits.

Alas, synthetics fell out of favor in the 80s and 90s when we all became fiber snobs and chintz and 100% cotton ruled.  Lately, there's been a return to stretchy, clingy, funky, who care's what it's made of single knits and I think the prejudice against double knits might also fade away.  I've been taking another look at them.  Of course they aren't so easy to find, but patience at the thrift stores will yield a few goodies... and I've got plans... mad, mod clothing plans.

These are a few of my recent thrift finds and all polyester double knit.  

My vision hasn't completely crystallized yet,

but I am seeing mod, London, Twiggy, 1968-1972

skirts and jumpers with contrasting trims and pockets.

Or if some are stretchy enough - leggings will be fun and funky.  

Oh yes, I have ideas.  Stay tuned.