Monday 17 February 2014

The Great British Sewing Bee


Tommorrow night sees the start of The Great British Sewing Bee on BBC2.
Series 2 with a new bunch of contestants.
You can swot up before 8pm tomorrow, by visiting The Sewing Directory, where Fiona has put together a who's who for you!

Although I still wish they would include quilting in the format (I do think technically it should be called The Great British Dressmaking Bee!), I am really looking forward to the show. I am sad that the shop isn't open and I am going to miss out on my lovely customers coming in to discuss the previous nights show....

And if you fancy taking part yourself the production company are currently taking applications for series 3.

But hold that inspiration and enthusiasm because it won't be long until we are back!!
I am just back from a trade show where I made enquiries and placed orders for some new stock. 

Including this dressmaking fabric.
This is 100% cotton lawn and will retail (I think, to be confirmed) at £8 per metre.

I love them! 

The 'new' shop will be stocking dressmaking patterns again. Back when we first opened we had a small stock of Vogue and mccalls patterns! They went well but not holding the full stock held us back a bit...but I am still asked ALL the time for dressmaking patterns! This time I have ordered the full Simplicity range after the success of the Lisette patterns in the shop.

(watch out later this week for a special offer on Colette patterns...)

The full Simplicty range of patterns (which is fab and includes some great craft patterns too)  will be available in the shop only, that is I won't be listing them all individually in the webshop. But obviously we can send patterns out to you if you order over the phone or by email.

In other news, the drying out company have finished their work and we are now waiting for the builders to go in and start the rebuilding. I am still quietly confident that we will be open by the end of March.  

Dont forget our fabric sale this week - 

Claire xx


Wednesday 12 February 2014

Pixelated Quilts

https://www.youpatch.com/
 
Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey blogged last week about a new website that had just launched. Slightly late to the party, I went over tonight and wow! I have been waiting my whole life since August for this site.
 
I love pixelated quilts, at Festival last August I saw the most amazing Dr Who quilt and since then I have put making one myself at the quite near the top of my to make list.
 
You can see that quilt here and read Kristys story of its creation. Its amazing. I *whispers* don't even like David Tenant and I love it!
 
But, even though I have purchased books on pixel quilting, I hadn't got round to working out how I was actually going to make my quilt.
Enter YouPatch .
It does all that work that I couldn't get my head round for me.
The website is so easy to use.
You upload an image, this can be a family photo, movie star, anything/anybody you want to immortalise in fabric.
I chose Morrissey. Because ...well just because I love him lol!
 
I uploaded my image, I chose the difficulty level of the quilt (I chose hard because I am stupid hardcore*)
 I was able to change colours and edit pixels. Seriously easy.
 
*joking aside I personally preferred the look of the quilt pattern generated when I changed it to hard.
I decided I wanted to purchase my pattern, so I registered, which took no time at all and paid via paypal.
The cost is $9.50, which on paypal tonight converted to £5.50 approx. This is comparable with other craft patterns I have purchased as downloads.
But it costs nothing to play. You can upload your pictures and play around with no obligation to buy. Although when you see that making something so amazing is achievable I wasn't able to resist!
 
Mozza was then emailed to me, and he is printed out ready for me to start gathering fabrics.
 

 
look at him all young and gorgeous
 
Everything - apart from cutting and sewing - is done for you. The patterns are generated using Kona cottons as the colour but with a little effort I am sure you could adapt this for your solid fabric of choice.
 
I am very excited to get going on this - perhaps before we reopen????
 
 I am now going to tweet Andi at YouPatch to tell her that her website is a delight and try to make Morrissey before I pixelate anything else!!
 
 
 

Friday 7 February 2014

Grand Re-Opening Sale

The end is in sight!
I found out this week that the drying company need just one more week at the shop and then the builders can start work rebuilding us.
This makes me very very happy indeed!!

It's been a trying couple of months to say the least.....it's not been easy trading from a storage unit! In fact impossible - we had a really successful pop up shop in Barclays Bank last month and it was lovely to catch up with our fabulous and patient customers, but we have loads and loads more sale fabrics to clear before opening day.
So we have arranged another 2 sale days in town:

                                  


At the bank we took cut pieces of fabric due to the space we had, this time we have yardage on the bolt.
We have lots of bargain haberdashery, ribbon bundles and full rolls, knitting yarn and fabric from just £3 a metre.
We shall also take the bias binding, wadding and calico (not in the sale) with us for those of you who are running low.

If anybody would like us to take along something specific or if you have any questions please contact us by email: claire@patchfabrics.co.uk or by calling 01502 588778.

See you there??
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