Giselle

Three new designs now being stocked in the Patch Fabric Shop
These are from the Giselle collection by Red Rooster
Designed by artist Jessica Gonacha, Giselle is pink and flowery yet bold and graphic.
Red Rooster suggest that the prints are strong enough to make table covers, pillows or shower curtains, aswell as for dressmaking. The strong designs make them ideal for a simple dress or skirt pattern.

New Fabric ....

....now available at Patch.

We have increased our range of fabrics....we have designs by Tanya Whelan.....

 

Heather Bailey

 

                                                                          Amy Butler

 

                                                                       Kaffe Fasset

 

Anna Maria Horner 

All these new additions, plus the existing designs can be found in the fabric shop by clicking here

Patch in Print

Patch is in Sew Magazine this month.....
I jumped the gun a bit as I am saying I have fabric by Amy butler etc....they should have been here last Monday, but the company had a restructure just as I ordered as a new customer and I got a little lost..anyway I chased it up last week and its in transit now - expected tomorrow..so on the site for sale by Wednesday evening.
I also had an advert in Cloth magazine last month, I am a new fan of this magazine, there is a pair of trousers I want to make in the summer issue (its a quarterly magazine) and lots of refashioning of clothes ideas. There is also a large sewing basics sections with colour photos, so makes it an ideal beginners magazine. I really enjoyed it...if you subscribe now you can save money off the regular cover price and also receive a mini patchwork bundle (wrapped up in Patch ribbon) - while stocks last.

I am eagerly awaiting my new fabrics, as well as the FreeSpirit designs that are newly ordered...I have several others on the coming in June list...Red Rooster's Giselle,  Christmas fabrics..including some of this collection...and this...and this...

We spent the weekend sorting out the room where I work..previously the spare room..but now overtaken with fabric and stuff! Still not totally sure where most of the next influx of stock will go but I'll find a space somewhere!! I am quite pleased with the space I am working in now..after more shelf buying at the weekend, I have a better system going on and everything feels in order, I'm not sure how long the spare room will continue being big enough for Patch though!!!

Inspiration Competition Winner

The winner of the Patch and The Sewing Directory Competition has been announced.....
we had lots and lots of fab ideas from everyone, but we had to choose just 2...click here to go see if it was you.....
If you weren't a winner this time then The Sewing Directory has another competition this week with Coats Crafts ..where you can win lots of lovely thread. Check out this page for details how to enter.

Gingham Bias Binding

Just listed at Patch..gorgeous gingham bias binding
25mm wide (thats an inch in old money!!)
It is produced in a family run factory in Suffolk and really is great quality binding..it feels great..and gives me the urge to bind stuff!!
Its available here and in 5 lovely colours...my favourite is the yellow.........

Boys Pyjamas

I had a productive half term, getting new stock listed on the website and some sewing at last!!
I wanted to make some pyjama bottoms for the small chaps in my life from the book Making Childrens Clothes by Emma Hardy.
Tracing and cutting out the pattern in the different sizes took the most time ( the pattern is in 3 sizes 2-3, 3-4 and 5-6 ).

They were the first thing I have ever made that somebody can really wear...and I used Michael Miller fabric for all of them....

I chose Kids Zoo for R's (age 2) jarmies...my favourite print.
I made C (age 5) his from Dino Dudes and couldn't leave out my niece(age 18m) hers were made from Whats the Scoop....

I didn't make tops - they all have a Tesco plain white tshirt!!! I'm not ready for buttonholes or sleeves just yet!!!
The pattern was very easy to follow, I highly recommend the book if you are, like me, a dressmaking novice. To be honest, like most things I find, it is more geared to those of you who have pink flavour children, the book has lots of gorgeous tops and dresses. But there are several pairs of trousers and shorts that although photographed in girlie fabrics, could easily be made boyish!
Next stop a dress for my niece and then I may be brave enough to make a top for me...I have some gorgeous voiles coming into stock soon  (beginning of next week all being well) by Anna Maria Horner that will be perfect for summer tops for me.......

Inspiration Competition

This week The Sewing Directory are running a competition where you can win Patch prizes!

There are 2 prizes of a fabric inspiration pack , to win simply tell us which pack you would like to win and what you would like to make with it?
Our 2 favourite ideas will each win their chosen pack. 
Some of the packs are pictured here but there are many more on the website  to inspire you.........

How to enter

You can enter in a variety of ways, you can post a comment on Patch Fabrics Facebook page or The Sewing Directory’s Facebook page, you can Tweet your response (@Patchfabrics or @sewingdirectory), you can post it on our blog or Patch’s blog or finally use the entry form on The Sewing Directory Site.   

Only 1 entry per person.

Terms & Conditions

Friends/family/employees of The Sewing Directory and Patch Fabrics are excluded. 
Only 1 entry per person.  
There will be 2 separate winners. 
Prizes will only be posted within the UK.   
Should the winner’s chosen pack be out of stock we will contact you to select an alternative pack.  
All entries must be received by 6pm on Tuesday 15^th June 2010.

 

  

Lamifix

Patch is now stocking other haberdashery items aswell as fabric and ribbons.
We have Bondaweb....crucial for applique....
and Lamifix...crucial if you want to make your fabric wipeable...... (both available here)
I have had a little experiment with the lamifix as I felt the literally translated from german to english instructions were very fuzzy.
(and I was right...I made the errors so you don't need too!!)

Lamifix enables you to make your own oilcloth type fabric..it is not washable and cannot be submerged in water, however it can be wiped clean and is splashproof.
It is 44cm wide and is sold by the half metre.

In order to attach it to your fabric you simply need an iron.

First of all make sure your fabric is smooth.
Set the iron to the wool (2 dot setting) - I did actually use a higher setting once I had fused it, but I popped a cloth over.

Place the lamifix on your fabric with the shiny side facing you...using the iron smooth the lamifix over your fabric.
**You don't neeed to use a cloth but if you are not confident you have the right side facing up (can be ambiguous in the wrong light!!) then test a corner.**

Gently iron across.
Next turn the iron up to cotton setting and use a cloth over the fabric and lamifix while you use more pressure and leave for up to 5 secs in each spot to ensure fused.
Et Voila...oilcloth!!
(I used the glossy lamifix, matt will be available too)
Make whatever your heart desires....
But how about......
Use it on the wrong side of fabric to make sponge bags with a wipe clean lining.
Book Bags
Make place mats for your garden table.
Pencil Cases
Swim Bags
Coasters
Bunting

I don't enjoy sewing oilcloth..but fabric fused to lamifix doesn't need a teflon foot on your machine, and the ordinary machine needle went through effortlessly, so I will definately be making more 'oilcloth'.
Placemats for the boys will be my first project.....
It was quite tricky to get a picture to demonstrate!!

Patch Gallery

Made by the super talented Elaine aka Bloomin Myrtle...with P&B Wild Thyme Fabrics (cream bird and cream stripe)
I heard a rumour she is putting these gorgeous birdhouses into her blogshop very soon...as the owner of one of Elaines previous batch of  houses, I highly recommend queueing for one.........
**UPDATED TO SAY THEY ARE LISTED - Check out the detail Elaine has added- Fabulous!!** 

(These P&B designs are selling fast....a couple of designs I only have just over a metre left.....)