Gearing up for spring sports

Gearing up for spring sports

Spring is right around the corner and that means the commencement of spring sports! We have tons of different Sport Meshes over at Fabric and Sewing, perfect for making your own jersey, athletic bag, or any other sport related project you could think of!

Football Mesh

As the name suggests, Football Mesh is the material that those big football jerseys are made of! Whether you’re looking to create your own unique jersey, or you simply don’t want to shell out the big bucks for an official one, we offer a variety of colors to fulfill your creative needs.

Micro Mesh

A much finer hole, micro mesh is perfect for crafting those team jerseys like you would find at store. If you’ve ever held a basketball jersey, this is the same material.

Mesh Knit

A less sporty (less slick) version of the micro mesh is our Mesh Knit which comes with our without silicon.

Mock Mesh

We have a TON of different types of Mock Mesh. Here they are from lightest to heaviest:

Dimple: 6.5oz

It's what Sara over at Pinklily Doggie Designs used to craft fantastic dog sports jersey!

We also offer Mock Mesh in:

Regular Weight: 7.5 oz

Shiny Regular Weight: 7.5 oz

60% Nylon / 40% Micro Polyester: 7.5 oz

Heavy: 9.5oz

Micro Pointelle

Walking the line between mesh and fabric, Micro Pointelle is a soft textile with minuscule holes to allow better breathability. This is more of a baseball jersey material.

King Mesh

King mesh is named for the largeness of its hole. It’s less of a jersey material, but would be perfect for sewing pockets into an athletic bag or even adding a fun accent to a jersey - I'm thinking sleeves, a pocket, or even a sexy open back look!

Don't forget to check out our Team Anti-Pill Polar Fleece and Cotton Sheeting Fabric as well! Perfect for snuggly blankets, warm jackets, quilts, and more!

Hot Fabrics at Fabric & Sewing

We sell all sorts of fabric here at Fabric and Sewing, but sometimes we notice that we’re seeing more and more of certain fabrics coming across our desks. Lately we’ve noticed four types of fabric in particular:

Charmeuse: Burgundy & Ivory

Maybe it’s because Valentine’s Day is fast approaching but our charmeuse satins have been flying off the shelves recently. Burgundy and Ivory have been particularly popular.

Fishnets & Spider Mesh

Fishnets have also been hugely popular. The most ordered style is our Medium Hole Fishnet in Nylon, but another crowd favorite is our funky Spider Mesh!

Our Most Popular Fishnet!

Lace

While one particular variety of lace hasn’t caught our attention, lace in general is being bought with increasing regularity. Some of our favorites are the Flower With Leaf Stretch Lace and Small Daisy Flower Stretch Lace.

 

Sport Meshes

We’re not sure if it was the Super Bowl that sparked an increase of interest in our Sport Meshes, or if it’s the impending commencement of spring sports. Regardless, we’ve seen a large variety of colors and styles passing through our doors recently, making us wonder at all the wonderfully colorful jerseys that must be out there around the country.

Headband Ear-Warmer

Don’t know what to do with that extra fleece from your holiday presents? Fear not, we’ve got a great project that’ll help you use some of those leftovers, and keep you warm at the same time! The best part? Since fleece doesn’t fray, these are totally do-able even if you don’t have a sewing machine (or if you just don’t feel like pulling it out)!

Firstly, you’re going to want to decide how wide you want your headband to be. I like it nice and wide so that my ears are fully covered. You can also taper the cut so that it’s wider around your ears and thinner elsewhere. You can use the templates that the girls over at Six Sisters were kind enough to provide, or make your own.

You can sew the edges for a more finished look, but it is not necessary and I, for one, chose not to. To complete the wrap, you can either sew on a button and cut a hole at the desired spot (or spots if you want it to be adjustable), or you can glue the ends together, which is what I did. Just wrap the fabric around your head where you would like it to lie, and then mark or make a note of where to attach the two sides. I'm weird and wear my ear warmers with the small part at the crown of my head (it covers my ears better) but most prefer the opposite. If you're going for a button, it definitely looks somewhat silly with the button on the top of your head, though you could potentially hide it with a bow or something.

Time for the fun part - adornments. You can make flowers, bows, or leave your headband plain – the choice is yours!

To make a bow, cut out two strips of fabric (roughly looking like two vases stacked on top of each other), one slightly larger than the other. Six sisters includes templates for bows, and Delia Creates  has instructions on how to make both bows and flowers (!).

I went with a bow because it’s at my (very low) skill level. You just glue the end each piece together, stack the smaller piece on the larger one, and wrap the rectangular piece around the middle of both of them. Then simple glue your bow onto your wrap. Most like it slightly off center, around your temple, but the choice is yours.

No-Sew Pumpkin Decorations

A chill is in the air and though Halloween has come and gone, pumpkins are still the gourd of choice for this holiday season. That’s why we here at Fabric and Sewing wanted to make something pumpkin-y to use as home or table decorations for those holiday parties. Not a strong sewer, I thought it best to stick to a project that I could do without a sewing machine – which means this project is both beginner and kid friendly!

Here's what you'll need for this project:

• Fabric - You can buy fabric, use scraps, or even upcycle an old shirt.
• Twine, String, or something similar
• Rubber Bands (2 per pumpkin)
• Stuffing Material
• Adhesive – Fabric glue, hot glue, anything that will hold two ends of the fabric together

Your fabric can be any size, but for reference we used a 13.5" x 20" piece to make the plaid flannel which is 7" tall, and a 8" x 9" piece to make the orange fleece which is a wee 3.5" tall. 

1. The first step is to make a tube out of your fabric. If you’re using an old shirt, just cutting the sleeve will suffice. To do this, turn the material inside-out and glue (or sew if you want) two parallel sides together.
   
2. Next cut six pieces (minimum, you may want more if you’re making a big pumpkin) of your string material so that they’re a bit longer than your fabric tube. Tie together all the strands with a big knot and thread them through the tube.
   
3. Gather up the end of the sleeve that’s closest to the knot and tie it off with a rubber band so that the knot is hanging out.
   
4. Turn the tube right side out and stuff with filling. Stuff it as full as possible, trust me on this. Leave enough room so that you can tie up the other end and still have a little bit of fabric left over at the top.
   
5. Gather up the other end of the tube and secure the fabric and strings with another rubber band. Try to space the stings out evenly around the fabric when you rubber band them.
   
6. Adjust the strings, tightening them to create sections like you would find on a pumpkin. You can also tug on the fabric to smooth out your sections. When you get two strings appropriately taut, tie them together in a knot around the rubber band. Repeat until your creation is looking appropriately pumpkinesque. 
   
7. Take another piece of string (length varies) and tie it to the rubber band leaving several inches hanging at the end (if you want a leaf AND tendrils). Start to wrap the string around and up the excess fabric, creating a stem. When you’ve reached the top, wind the string back down and tie a knot at the base of the stem. If you want to add a leaf or tendrils, leave a couple of inches of string before you cut.
   

Leaves

Cut a different color fabric in the rough shape of a leaf. Then simply glue the leaf to one of the stings hanging off the stem and admire your beautiful pumpkin!

Tendrils

If you’re working with a thick, wound sting, you can unravel the string a bit and either leave them as is or curl the threads. To make a permanent curl, you can coat the strings in mod podge, wrap them around a pencil or other cylindrical object, and then pull the pencil out once the modge podge gets tacky.

Fun Football Fleeces!

Football season is gearing up and our fun, cozy football fleeces provide the perfect way to show support for your team while still staying warm and comfy. They obviously could easily be turned into blankets, but they’re also perfect for scarves, gloves, hats, they’d even make great pajamas! We’ll be sharing some great (and easy!) projects later on in the season, so look forward to those.

We’ve got a few different types of team fleeces available so you can choose the design that best suits your needs, mix patterns, or gear up the whole family without being too matchy-matchy.

Firstly we have our regularly patterned fleeces such the ones shown here for the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots.

Our team printed plaids offer a more subtle way to show your team pride. Here we see plaids for the Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers.

Lastly, we are proud to offer checkered patterns for a number of teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Giants.

All our team fleeces are anti-pill, 58-60” in width, and a plush 13oz per yard.

Colors of Fall

Autumn is decidedly  upon us. The air is crisp and fall’s colors are dazzling in the height of their glory. Why not incorporate some of those colors into your home or wardrobe this season with color palettes inspired by the rich autumnal pigments around us?

1. Fall Leaves

Nothing is more emblematic of fall than its foliage. Warm yellows, oranges, and reds contrast with the hint of winter cold beginning to invade. Pick up on those dazzling yellows with a Dark Gold Yellow Dernier Interlock.  If you're looking for a more luxurious feel, try this Charmeuse Satin in Light Orange or this TaffetaLining Fabric in Cranberry. Or you can always cozy up on those cool autumn evenings with a Sherpa Fleece like this one in Brown.

2. Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkins enjoy the shine of the spotlight every year during the build up to Halloween.  From the iconic bright orange to various shades of green, and even white, pumpkins are seen adding pops of color to front stoops across the country. For an iconic orange, try this cozy Anti-Pill Polar Sweater Fleece. This Green Upholstery Fabric gets an upgrade with a Diamond Pin Tuck Embroidery. Meanwhile, this Silver Charmeuse looks truly metallic thanks to its satin shine. Lastly, brown doesn’t have to be boring, case-in-point being this Dark Brown Upholstery Fabric with Gold Yellow Ivy Flower Embroidery.

3. Park Bench

What’s fall if not sitting on a bench in your favorite park, sipping a hot coffee? Capture the ambiance of that experience with warm colors such as this Taffeta in Dark Burgundy Red or a Velveteen in Burnt Orange. Let this mocha colored Honey Comb Pique Fabric revive the memory of a warm cappuccino nestled in your palms, while this Upholstery Fabric with a Geometrical Small Diamond Print in Brown, Taupe, and Light Green recalls the cool touch of metal benches and cobblestones.

4. Grapes

Fall is the season of harvesting crops and most nations and/or religions have holidays celebrating that year’s harvest. One of the most iconic fall harvests is the grape, spawning wine festivals across the various wine regions of Europe. Channel your inner wino with deep purples like this Charmeuse Satin in Dark Purple and dark pinks like this Dernier Interlock in Bright Burgundy Red. Or, channel instead the bright greens and rich browns of grape vines with fabrics like this Jersey in Bright Green or this lush Velveteen in Light Brown.

Fall/Winter 2015 Color Breakdown pt 2

It's officially fall! Welcome to Part 2 of the Fall/Winter Color Breakdown
 
In this part of our breakdown, there are a few deep hues to play off of where we left off (see Fall/Winter Breakdown pt.1) but you will also encounter a few bright colors that really bring out the 70's vibe mentioned in Part 1.


6. Biscay Bay

Amidst the colors that exude warmth and coziness and those that are reflective of the weather of the season, this teal hue does something unexpected: it cools the color pallet. This color is in stark contrast to some of the other colors on this list, making the idea of combining them a bold option to explore.

7. Reflecting Pond

Keeping with the cooling trend, this dark blue shade is a stronger stance on keeping the pallet cool. This color sends a powerful statement of certainty and confidence; acting like a set of armor at times  it announces to the world that you are not to be trifled with.

8. Cadmium Orange

Remember when I mentioned that the 70's were big again? Well, here is undeniable proof! This color, much like Oak Buff (see Part 1), is so 70's I can barely stand it. It's playful and daring and just so much fun; just as I imagine the 70's were.

9. Cashmere Rose

This color is a bit more 60's than 70's and slightly more posh. It brings tea parties and games of badminton on expansive lawns with cherubic statues all about to mind. Use it to soften up a look or to have your own posh moment.

10. Amethyst Orchid

I'm pretty sure this is the color of Daphne's dress from Scooby-Doo; it doesn't get anymore 70's than that. This intriguing color can give your wardrobe and air of mystery while still remaining playful; perfect for a night on the town or a cool cocktail party at home.  

 

We hope you enjoyed the second part of the fall/winter color breakdown.  Share with us your favorite colors of the seasons and what you plan on doing this fall!

Happy Sewing!