2006 Projects?

True, but a lot of what they're selling in this area is panels (with huge white space between the panels) or large prints that might work well as a quilt back, but are a bit too overwhelming for clothing. I bought the most DARLING 12 days of Kitty Christmas fat quarter for a pillow, but I can't imagine *wearing* it. (I can imagine TiaMary wearing it, but that's TiaMary....)

Tiny calico patterns have been almost forgotten with the focus on large picture prints. At least in the quilt shop I went to this fall.

Which brings us back to the original point of this tangent ... if you want to make your own clothes, the place to buy clothing fabric is the same WalMart you're boycotting by not buying your clothes there. Fabric stores selling clothing fabric don't exist in my city.

I'm afraid they don't exist here either. The only places that sell fabric, other than quilt shops, that are within an hour's drive are Wal-Mart, JoAnn's and Rag Shop, all of which are large chains.

You know my taste well Jere :) I actually have a few of the holiday ones done (St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day). I have all the little bird charts waiting in my stash, I just need to find time to do them. Thank you so much for the suggestion- you really hit it on the head as far as stuff that I like! Have a happy holiday!

Chris Howard

Ironically, the last time I was in a Wal*Mart, it was to buy fabric. After having someone call three separate times for someone to come cut the lengths off the bolt for me, I walked out without purchasing anything and have not been back to one for shopping since.

I guess I'm lucky, as I have several other options for buying clothing fabric here where I live and my local quilt shop carries lovely small print calico as well. At this point in my life, if I want to make my own clothing, I will draw on the extensive stash I have of very nice fabrics purchased in a former life before I found ready made tall sizes.

Elizabeth

Yes, that's what I like. I actually prefer rayon to cotton for summer dresses. They drape nicer and I wear mostly dresses living in a warm climate. It's going to be 78 today, which doesn't make it feel much like Christmas!

Most of my dresses are falling off of me now since I just lost 50 pounds on Weight Watchers.

It's a good thing we didn't move to New Orleans. We had a house picked out in Slidell, with a bulkhead for the boat, and it was magnificent. It's gone now.

I love New Orleans, but from everything I'm reading and from the environmentalists I know, NOLA will be a toxic city for many years to come. I've been to Magazine many times, as well as Prytania and I adore NOLA, but I won't be visiting for many years.

Anyway, we're fed up with the country and its politics, not the city we live in. Austin is a lot like NOLA in that we are fortunate to have tons of wonderful local shops and great selection of notions, fabrics, etc...only one needlework shop, but I manage never to step foot in there quite nicely!

Hmmm, I found tons:

I was stupid and when I moved I gave away all the stuff I had stashed away. Now that I have time to sew, I don't have a place to get any really nice fabrics, except for mostly flower printed cottons that aren't for a short, skinny person like me.

Lucille

That's a function of the shop owner and the quilters who frequent it. Many, maybe even most, quilt shops these days carry large quantities of batiks and assorted blender fabrics for those of us who are not fans of Laura Ashley or Mary Quant type prints. Now I've dated myself, haven't I??

emerald

Actually, I've been shopping the quilt shops on sales and finding some wonderful fabrics for clothing! I prefer 100% cotton, anyway, and their fabric certainly has a good "hand"...feels good, drapes well. Much better than the cottons available at JoAnn's (which *used* to be JoAnn Fabrics, but I'd hesitate to call it a fabric store any more).

The best fabric store in my area is an independent store run by a family that's done it for years and years, where the 30-ish grandson works alongside his grandmother. Wonderful fabric, but very pricey. I go there once in awhile to "treat" myself to some really top-quality cotton ($9-11/yd) or for the odd piece of satin or velvet for needlework project lining/backing (it might cost $25-$75/yd, but I only need a tiny piece) , but it's worth the investment because it works up beautifully and wears well. But I wonder how long these stores can continue. It's a delightful experience to shop there, but I can't afford it as a staple.

Sue

-- Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen The Magazine of Folk and World Music

Calico Corner in my area is about 99% upholstery weight, even in cotton and living in a hot climate that's not an option.

As to the others, I have no idea of quality, but I wouldn't buy fabric without being touchy, feely.

Lucille

I always consider the best customer service to be that which serves the customer. In the case of not carrying a particular brand, it might be special-ordering it. But I also appreciate when a business person tells me "we don't have/do that but I know someone who does" and steers me to another business. Then I *know* that person has integrity and my interest at heart. And I will give them more custom in the long run, because they've shown themselves to be honest. And I'll sing their praises to everyone I know.

Nobody can be all things to all people. And smart business people know that. They often limit what they do to what they can do well.

Sue

But what it doesn't tell you is that about half of the stores listed are upholstery fabric only.

My current city is not San Diego. San Diego is 800 miles from here.

I always loved Laura Ashley's victorian style, pure light cotton nighties though. They don't do them anymore.

I remember her makeup, loved it. Those chubbies crayon eye shadow etc. marvellous.

lol! my crocheted vest is getting out of hand!! i'm working on the back-and its ENORMOUS!!!

i'm just gonna continue until i use up all my homespun yarn........so the back will be cream and the front will be 2 shades of blue.

the pattern comes from Lion's denm look-only it's not gonna be deni blue.....

anyhoo, i got the chance to watch my "white Christmas dvd" today-which i just love.

tomorrow i get to watch my old alistair sims Christmas Carol dvd-if i can get my DH to watch his beloved bears football in the den,so i get the kitchen tv to myself.....

;-))

Which means the other half sell ordinary fabrics? You said there were none, and I was just trying to say there are some.