True Up

Interview: Joel Dewberry on Deer Valley

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Deer Valley: Persimmon colorway

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the parallels between the fabric and music businesses. Designers = musicians, fabric collections = albums, individual prints = songs, fabric companies = record labels, shops = well, shops. (Then what is True Up? You be the judge!) I bring this up now because Joel Dewberry’s new collection, Deer Valley, illustrates the metaphor so perfectly. This collection tells such a tight story, like a concept album — a great concept album, where the whole is better than the parts, though the parts can stand alone wonderfully as well.

The modern mountain gothic feel imparted by the deer heads, Columbine flowers, and church architecture motifs is edgy, wistful, a little haunting, and so beautiful. It reminds me of something in the alt-country genre — Neko Case, maybe, or The Handsome Family, or M.Ward. What do you think? What music does this collection bring to mind for you?

Joel Dewberry has built up his fabric rock star reputation through his previous quilting- and home-decor-weight collections Chestnut Hill, Manzanita, Aviary, and Ginseng, and now Deer Valley, but I didn’t know much else about him. I’m so glad he consented to this email interview about his background and creative process. Cue music …

Continue reading this post »

Tags: 2009, fabric collections, freespirit, interviews, joel dewberry, westminster

Posted on July 1, 2009 | Best of ..., Fabric People, Q & A | 7 Comments

Daily Swatch: Dogs

Tammis Keefe dog themed silk scarf — this has just gone over my spending limit, but if I can’t have it, a True Up reader should. Less than two hours left on this auction, so hurry!

Tags: dogs, tammis keefe, vintage

Posted on July 1, 2009 | The Daily Swatch | No Comments

Daily Swatch: Dogs

Vintage poodle apron, £10.00 from Country Cottage Chic (U.K.) The red eyes are kind of freaky, but I like the intimidation factor it adds.

Tags: dogs, vintage

Posted on June 30, 2009 | The Daily Swatch | 2 Comments

Linky Tuesday

The best links from the past week posted on Twitter — follow me for more!

Good pattern design education from More Cloth Talk: “The cartouche, the scatter print, and the decorated skull”

Diane continues her series on starting and running her fabric shop: Getting the Business on Paper

I can’t imagine that any of you read True Up and not the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog, but in case you missed it: All About Sergers

Blue Nickel Studios fat quarter giveaway

Oliver + S continues their “principles of fabric selection” series: go for supporting fabrics, not necessarily the central prints

The Rickrack Rag’s Feedsack Friday – Roses in Blue

Cicada Daydream shares Tricks Of The Trade (Pt 2): Twill Plaids In Photoshop

Posted on June 30, 2009 | Scraps | No Comments

How Much Fabric? Series from After the Dress

Don’t you hate it when someone beats you to the punch on an idea? I had always planned on doing something like Gwen (After the Dress … )’s “How Much Fabric?” Series. But in this case, I’m not beating myself up too much — she did it much more systematically and comprehensively than I would have ever dreamed!

You know how it is. You’re out and about, you see a fabric, and it screams “skirt!” to you. However, you don’t have any particular skirt in mind, or you don’t have access to your pattern library. Print out and stow these charts in your bag, and you’ll never again have to guess at how much of the fabric to purchase. Gwen crunched a mountain of numbers from hundreds of different patterns by various manufacturers to figure out the minimum, maximum, average amount of fabric needed for dresses, skirts, jackets, and pants. (Look for tops in future installments.) There are separate charts for 45″ (114cm) wide and 60″ (140cm) wide fabric.

Here is an update that lists larger sizes for jackets, pants, and skirts, up to size 50 (larger sizes were incorporated into the dresses“>original dress post).

In each post Gwen provides guidelines on how to know when to buy more or less than the average (e.g. a miniskirt requires less, a circle skirt requires more.)

Via J&O Fabrics on Twitter

Tags: fabric buying, measuring, sewing

Posted on June 29, 2009 | Fabric Study | 4 Comments

Textile Stew: 6/29/09

katy elliott on Henry Moore

Birds of Ohio on Jacqueline Groag

Enormous screen for a new Prints Charming design

UrbanOutfitters.com > Bouquet Wall Art by Alexander Girard

more Pablo Picasso vintage fabric on Retro Age Vintage Fabrics

Vintage David Whitehead Ad from Vintage Fabric Addict (FabricDeli’s blog)

Tags: advertisements, alexander girard, david whitehead, henry moore, jacqueline groag, picasso, prints charming, vintage

Posted on June 29, 2009 | Scraps | No Comments

Daily Swatch: Dogs

Dog and flower checks, from the collection of mame* on Flickr.

Tags: blue, checks, dogs, floral, vintage

Posted on June 29, 2009 | The Daily Swatch | No Comments

Giveaway: Pattern Pack From The Quilted Fish

Mary Beth met the wonderful Amanda Herring, aka The Quilted Fish, at the Spring Quilt Market. She gave us a pack of 10 patterns to give away — an $84 retail value! Pictured here are my three favorites — Year at-a-Glance, that shows a tree in its changing states throughout the year; Pincushion Flowers, which uses jumbo rick-rack ingeniously; and Whoopsy Daisy, with big, bold appliqued flowers on a monotone pieced background. Also included in the pack are:

Posh Pennants – a girly take on bunting
Sassy Squares No. 2 – a versatile fat quarter or layer cake quilt that will take on the character of the fabrics you use
Love Letters – a nod to Victorian crazy quilts
Flowers for my Friend – a quilt with appliqued flowers and simple strip piecing
Giddy Bloomers – quilt with a harlequin diamond center and corners embellished with yo-yo flowers
Bewitching – quilt with a cauldron surrounded by witch hats and a broom border
I Wub Eve – sweet nursery quilt with appliqued Minky lambs

You can see more on Flickr. The patterns range in difficulty from easy to moderate.

Except for the children’s activity book pattern Piece Quiet (not included in this giveaway), you can’t buy Quilted Fish patterns directly from Amanda, but look for them in your favorite independent quilt and fabric shops.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post letting us know which fabrics you’ve been enjoying lately. A winner will be chosen next Monday, July 6. This giveaway is open to anyone in the world. Thanks for playing!

Tags: giveaway, quilted fish, quilting, sewing

Posted on June 29, 2009 | Giveaways | 112 Comments

Daily Swatch: Dogs

The Daily Swatch shows a piece of vintage fabric (almost) every day. Themes change periodically. Please add your own examples of the theme to the True Up and/or Vintage Fabric Flickr Pools!

Vintage rayon with poodles, c.1920s-1950s, at Revival Fabrics. $95 for 40″x22″ piece.

Tags: dogs, rayon, vintage

Posted on June 28, 2009 | The Daily Swatch | No Comments

Sale Alert Sunday: International Edition

Sales around the world, for non-U.S. readers looking for local options, and U.S. readers looking for international fabrics … please note I use the U.S. date format of month/day/year for the sake of consistency!

Blue Meadow Designs (Canada): All remaining fabric $5/yard. (while supplies last)

Fabric Deli (Australia): 10% off storewide, vintage and new (end date unknown)

Flair for Fabric (Canada): Amy Butler Belle and Lotus discontinued collections on sale for $7.15 US. (through 6/30/09) 15% off all designer sewing patterns. (through 7/15/09)

I Heart Felt (Canada): Felting fibre & tools 20% off; all cotton fabric 35% off. (end date unknown)

Kelani Fabric Obsession: Alexander Henry home dec Ringo print, Amy Butler happy dots, Oliver + S sewing patterns, and more on sale.

Kind Supplier (South Korea): select fabrics 10% off in the weekly sales section.

Modern Retro Textiles (Australia): is celebrating the launch of their new blog with an Amy Butler fabric sale: all $20AU per metre includes Midwest Modern 1 & 2 and Daisy Chain. (through 6/30/09, 12 noon, or while supplies last). Free postage in Australia.

Pink Panda Fabrics (Canada) is celebrating the grand opening of the .com shop! Free fat quarter with every order no matter how big or small (our choice, but it will be a good one – through 6/30/09). Canadians shop at par through 7/5/09!

Volksfaden (Germany): Select Stenzo, Anna Maria Horner, Amy Butler, and more on sale. (while supplies last)

Tags: international, Sale Alerts

Posted on June 28, 2009 | Sale Alerts | No Comments

Sale Alert Sunday: U.S. Edition

Bee Square Fabrics is shutting down (nooooooo!) — 50% off everything with coupon code “goodbye50off.” (through 7/15/09)

Contemporary Cloth: Amy Butler Nigella Home Dec $7.00/yard; will be adding Joel Dewberry Ginseng, Valori Wells Sole and Olive Rose and Denyse Schmidt County Fair soon. Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner and Jane Sassaman 20-25% off in the clearance section. (while supplies last)

Denver Fabrics: Fall preview sale with 1000s of fabrics on sale, including 100% wool suiting for $6.95/yard, wool coating and silk or cotton velvet for $9.95/yard. (through 7/1/09)

eQuilter: 45% off all clearance categories (through 7/5/09).

Fabric.com: 30% off all quilting cotton prints with coupon code summer609 (through tomorrow, 6/29/09 midnight EST). Free shipping on orders $35+.

Fabric Depot: In-store: 25% off everything (through 6/23/09); 20% off fabric/25% off notions (through 6/30/09). Home dec sale: 40% off home dec fabrics, 30% off pillow inserts and drapery/home dec notions (6/26-6/30). Online: 40% off Amy Butler and Waverly home dec fabrics, also burlap, drapery linings and sheers, minky, oilcloth and chalkcloth, and more. (through tomorrow, 6/29/09 only).

The Fabric Fairy: Moving sale! 15% off everything. Discounts have already been taken, no coupon code needed. (through 6/23/09)

Fabric Mart: 30% off overstock fabrics. New customers get a 20% discount — details here. (end date unknown)

The Fabric Shack: select florals and coordinates 20% off. (end date unknown)

The Fabric Shoppe: has a weekly customer appreciation sale — $1 fat quarters! This week it’s Michael Miller’s Grass Menagerie in aqua. (end date unknown)

Fabric Supplies: $6.50/yard and under sale section includes Joel Dewberry’s earlier lines, Alexander Henry, Michael Miller, and others.

Fabric Worm: Huge home dec fabric sale on (through the .com and Etsy) right now, includes Joel Dewberry’s Ginseng and Denyse Schmidt’s County Fair (end date unknown)

Fabritopia: Vicki Payne’s For Your Home 20% off, all Jennifer Paganelli 15% off, Tanya Whelan’s French Hatbox 15% off. (through 7/7/09)

Fat Quarter Shop: 30-50% off Oh Cherry Oh by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda. (end date unknown)

Glorious Color: Jay McCarroll’s fabrics $7/yard; Amy Butler only $5/yard. (while supplies last)

Gorgeous Fabrics: all woolens and coating fabrics (what a gorgeous blue above!) 20% off. (through tonight only, 6/28/09)

Hancock’s of Paducah: Summer stashbuilder sale, fabrics $3.98-$5.98/yard. (while supplies last)

Harts Fabric: 10% off all batting and stuffing, and free shipping on U.S. orders $75+. (through 6/30/09)

jcaroline creative!: is having a “heat wave sale” starting tomorrow, 6/29/09. Virtually everything is going to be on sale – old fabrics, new fabrics, Jessica Jones fabrics, canvases, ribbons, craft papers … you name it. (through 7/10/09)

Pickled Pear Lane: Discontinued fabrics including Heather Bailey Freshcut, Anna Maria Horner Chocolate Lollipop, Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope, Dena Designs Sun Drop, and Joel Dewberry Aviary, and more on sale (while supplies last)

Pink Chalk Fabrics: Joel Dewberry, Anna Griffin’s Fiona (”Garden Plan” fabric pictured above), Alexander Henry Granville, Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope and County Fair, Heather Ross Mendocino, and more on sale. (while supplies last)

Pink Panda Fabrics: Grand opening special! Free fat quarter with every order no matter how big or small (our choice, but it will be a good one – through Tuesday, 6/30/09). Canadians shop at par through 7/5/09.

Sew Love: Denyse Schmidt, Alexander Henry, Sandi Henderson, Felicity Miller, Amy Butler, Mary Englebright, Tina Givens and more in the sale section. (while supplies last)

SomeArt Fabric: Bolt end sale – 40-70% off! (through 7/5/09)

Uberstitch: huge sale section with fabrics $5-6.99/yard includes Floragraphix by Jason Yenter, Tina Givens, and more; and a new $2.50-5 yard clearance section includes great destash fabrics. (end date unknown)

Whipstitch: Take 10% off with code GRAND OPENING in honor of the launch of our Atlanta sewing lounge! Put code in the notes to seller box on checkout. (through tonight only, 6/28/09)

Z&S Fabrics: 15% off sitewide (including clearance). Everyone ordering will be placed in a drawing for daily giveaway. (through 7/7/09)

Tags: Sale Alerts

Posted on June 28, 2009 | Sale Alerts | No Comments

Textile Stew: 06/27/09

Design*Sponge on the Vera Neumann exhibition at Anthropologie in NYC … if you’re anywhere nearby, don’t miss it

How About Orange looks at The Perfect Apron and other new craft books

Doveflight by Mark Hearld for St. Jude’s, on this is love forever

From the new Orla Kiely lookbook via Saídos da Concha

moopy & me: Hello there…

Tags: mark hearld, orla kiely, st. jude's, umbrella prints, vera neumann

Posted on June 27, 2009 | Scraps | No Comments

Daily Swatch: Space and Sky

I was going to save this one for weird week II but it’s a perfect closer for the Space and Sky theme. The brown colorway is from the collection of Miss Retro Modern (Etsy shop) on Flickr; the blue is from the collection of a crafty vegan (blog) on Flickr. It looks like a knockoff of every popular space themed show or movie from the 70s-80s but then again not any one in particular. Except for that R2-D2-like creature. It also reminds me of Tracy Morgan’s Astronaut Jones skits from SNL [warning: bad word ahoy], and anything that does that gets my thanks.

Tags: knockoff, space and sky, vintage, weird

Posted on June 27, 2009 | The Daily Swatch | 2 Comments

Swimsuit Fabrics or: the Spandex Superpost

Well, it’s 105 degrees Fahrenheit here today. Texas is in for a long, hot summer. A morning spent at the shady neighborhood wading pool today got me thinking about sewing my own swimsuit. I probably won’t this year, but it’s fun to think about. Are there any good fabrics available? The answer is oh, yes.

Girls’ and women’s swimsuit patterns typically call for two-way stretch fabrics. Check your pattern — it will specify the percentage of stretch you need. The most common fabric to use is spandex (Lycra is a trademarked brand of spandex). Denver Fabrics implies here that Lycra-content fabrics are not sold directly to the retail fabric market, but are bought from garment manufacturers. So if you’re searching online, it’s probably best to use the generic term “spandex.” I’m not certain, but it looks like nylon spandex is the way to go for swimwear, not cotton spandex. But correct me if I’m wrong.

While we’re there, let’s start with Denver Fabrics‘ selection. They have a nice variety of prints and solids, all $6.95/yard.

The following two shops specialize in spandex and other stretch fabrics. Spandex House has an enormous selection of spandex prints. You might remember them from Project Runway Season 4’s professional wrestler costume challenge. They’re in New York City’s Fashion District. I almost skipped over their online shop because it looked wholesale-only, but carry on, they’re definitely retail. Prices range from $6-10.

Spandex World is another brick-and-mortar in New York City’s fashion district. They also have an online shop where you have your pick of prints and solids. Their website is the easiest to navigate and prices range from $8-12/yard.

…

Some further notes:

You should also know that Fabric on Demand is introducing Lycra as an option for custom digital printing. Oh, the possibilities!

Sew Sassy is a one-stop shop if you’re sewing a solid suit: in addition to the fabric and lining they also have the bra cups, swimwear elastic, and sewing patterns.

I glanced at pre-spandex-era vintage swimsuit sewing patterns to see what kind of fabric they call for, but didn’t get very far. Does anyone know?

I’m not forgetting the boys. Sorry, True Up cannot endorse spandex Speedo-type swimsuits for the boys (unless they’re in competition!), but I’ll find out about making swim trunks. Windbreaker nylon, I’m thinking.

Kwik Sew seems to offer the most variety of swimsuit patterns. Check patternreview’s swimwear section for people’s reviews of Kwik-Sew and other patterns, including lots of real-life pictures.

Creative Chicks shares swimsuit sewing tips: Parts 1 and 2.

Sew Forth Now podcast’s fifth episode is about sewing swimsuits.

Sewing a swimsuit on eHow.

Tags: apparel fabrics, lycra, nylon, online shopping, spandex, stretch fabrics, swimsuit fabrics, swimwear fabrics, synthetics

Posted on June 26, 2009 | Best of True Up, Fabric Study | 5 Comments