Newbie with a question

I have bought from them in the past and their fabrics are really nice. Once you order from them one time, you're part of their "club" for at least a year, which means once a month you get an envelope with 2" fabric swatches of whatever is on sale, along with a swatch book page where you can glue the swatches for reference if you're so inclined. It's pretty cool.

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Thanks Lisa and Jenn! That's what I was hoping. I can only wear cotton or cotton blends if it touches my skin and they seem to have a wealth of options! Besides, the fabric stores in my area seem to have no customer service, and I am lazy by nature, so clicking the mouse beats walking the aisles any day!

Thank you ladies. I look forward to soaking up more knowledge as I get my "sew legs" back after 20 years.

Wanda

Another site you can't miss is

And yet another responsible online fabric shop is

Much of their fabric is 100% cotton and I have been very pleased with it's quality every time I order, and I do not quilt. Not affiliated with them, except I am a happy customer. Emily

Thanks! I don't quilt either. I'm having a bit of trouble navigating that website, but I'll find my way around.

Another question: where do I find flannel that it suitable for children's pajamas? Everything I look at in stores and online says that it is flammable and not to be used for children's sleepwear.

Can ya tell I've been out of the loop for 20 years? LOL!

TIA Wanda

I believe those disclaimers are for liability purposes. If you use 100% cotton, it's better than using polyester.

That's a result of today's sue-happy mentality.

If a cotton garment catches fire it will flare quickly, then it will burn out leaving fine ash.

If a synthetic garment catches fire it will burn and melt more slowly but will leave a sticky molten goo that will drip and stick to skin and burn it. There's a suggestion that this is worse than the quick flare of cotton.

There's more chance of a garment catching fire if it's loose, so minimise the risk by making pyjamas rather than flowing nighties and, of course, keep children away from naked flames. Life is full of risks: you have to decide which ones are sufficiently minimal that you're prepared to accept them.

BTW, cotton flannel shrinks badly. Buy about 10% extra and wash it on hot and tumble dry it up to three times before you cut it out.

Sally Holmes Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Look at eQuilter again; since the couple who owns the store recently adopted a little girl from China, no less, they probably sell flannel for kiddos. Emily

Thanks Melinda and Sally! I understand now (used to work for a personal injury attorney!). I have made several things for the little grandgirls and I'm looking forward to making some cozy PJs soon. Y'all are a great help!

Wanda

How wonderful! Yes, I bet they do. Armed with my new knowledge of what to look for in a flannel, I'll definitely take another look. Thanks!

Wanda

Wanda, I made flannel PJs for DGD. We looked on the web together and I let her choose the print (with a little help from me talking about how it would look for real). She likes choosing cloth in a store; this was the first time we had done the web thing. She loved the PJs since they were a 'joint' project. I used the KwikSew Sewing for Children pattern. BTW, together we later made a matching pillow from the leftovers; that was another real hit. (Fabric came from fabric.com and was quality flannel)

Jean M.

Oh a matching pillow is brilliant! I'll have to do that one. My little ones live 700 miles away, so we can't do this together, but they do love opening the packages from Grammy to see what she has come up with next!

I need to start making some things for myself too! I have a beautiful piece of lilac fleece that I want to make a "spring" coat with. I never knew there was such a thing as a "spring" coat. Back where I come from (Atlanta), if it is Spring, you don't need no stinkin' coat! LOL But here in Chicago it's a whole different world.

Wanda

"CypSew" wrote in news:WG%Of.514125$ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.ne t:

yes, they do. i bought some Animal Alphabet flannel from them last fall. on the upper right of the home page is a little drop down that says 'browse'. choose flannel & hit go. lots of catagories to chose from, everything from bugs to hand dyes :) lee

Every time I visit DGD who lives in SC,(I live in Houston), I take my laptop so we can e-shop together. Then when I return home, I order and make the projects to send her. She is always thrilled. They are living in a small cabin on the ranch while their home is built, so I can't visit right now, move-in date is around the end of May. Since she has been riding her pony in shows since she was 3, I am making her a couple tote bags and hand bags with horses embroidered on them to send her. Emily