Les Fabriques and Swimsuit Fabric

Would you believe (I couldn't!) that I found swimsuit fabric not long after finding the swimsuit pattern in my last post?  I was fortunate enough to travel to Charlottesville, VA, recently to Les Fabriques.  A great fabric store which specializes in fashion sewing fabrics although they do carry quite a variety, including some for kids and some quilting cottons.  There were some very nifty handbag patterns created by a local lady.  They also have a LOT of classes, even quite a few for kids.

Anyway, I found not one but two swimsuit fabrics that the girls liked (isn't sending a picture using your phone very useful?).  They were even on clearance!  I figured that I would have to wait until more spring/summer fabrics came out.  I remember that http://www.fabric.com/ had some beautiful swimsuit fabric last year, so I had been waiting to see what they would have this year.

I need to find a girl's swimsuit pattern I like and get it before I start on this.  I also need to check my supplies and make sure I have elastic for this project, but I think it will be fun and one of the few ways to save money when you sew!  Here's what I found:

The top fabric is the real fabric and I got the solid to use as an accent.  This was my favorite!

Really bright PINK!  This was youngest dd's pick because she is on a pink kick right now.  I don't think the girls realized how very bright it is based on the picture I sent to them.  Oh well!  I still think it will make a cute suit.

McCall 3566
Here's the pattern I'll probably use for oldest dd.

More on other sewing later.  I've been hard at work on a project which I'll share later.

Sewing Patterns

Who can resist buying patterns for $0.50 each?  Even when they are majorily crammed into the pattern drawers?  Despite the fact that there are hoards of empty drawers so they could be spread out just a little more? 

Our local Joann's is closing and relocating into a bigger space later this year so they have stopped getting new patterns and are clearing out all their old ones.  The rest of the store is very picked over and so are the patterns, but I still managed to get quite a few!

Men's Patterns:




Butterick 3101

  

McCall 2149



 I wish I'd looked more carefully at the line drawings for these since neither one of them has a back yoke.

Patterns for the girls:






McCAll 3586

 We seriously considered making oldest dd a swimsuit (and, of course, a matching one for the youngest!) last year because http://www.fabric.com/ had some beautiful swimsuit fabric AND it's probably one of the few ways you can save money when you sew. Just in case they have it again, we will be prepared!
 


McCall 5573

I thought this just looked like a cute girl's pattern for summer.  And for fifty cents, who could pass it up?

Patterns for me:

McCall 2874
I liked the short bias cut skirt, the jackets and the slim trousers.



McCall 3830

I needed/wanted a basic skirt pattern and I think this one will do very well!



McCall 5050
A peasant top--not sure about this one, but it looks cool for summer!

McCall 5138
Looks like a nice classic blouse.

McCall 5859
I liked the short sleeved jacket on this!

McCall 5879
A comfortable summer dress using the wide strap options?

McCall 5974
Obsessed with wrap dresses!

McCall 6031
A LOT shorter and this might make a cute knit top!

McCall 6032
Nice neck line details and a possible comfy knit summer dress?



McCall MP308
Not sure entirely why I got this, but I did like the jacket at the lower right corner!



Vogue 7906
You can never have too many blouse patterns!



Intermission and a Little Bit of Sewing

We had a small family intermission.  Here's a peek at a small project our family worked on prior to our annual family vacation to Walt Disney World:

In the sink and ready for the big reveal!



My shirt - back



My shirt - front





DH Shirt

 

Youngest DD's shirt





Oldest DD's shirt


 

DS's shirt














Notice all the clever hidden Mickey Mouse outlines on the shirts.  That was DH's work--he tied them all and was able to get the Mickeys on them all in various places.  I thought they were neat!  We have a front loading washing machine and I don't think the dye is as crisp as I used to get when we had a top loading machine. 


The only sewing involved was shortening the top I bought for oldest dd.  It was nearly dress length!  Her comment once I'd rehemmed it was that hem looked just like it did before--well, yeah!

Many thanks to the input on my last post.  I have definitely decided to make the pique into the Butterick pattern.  I've been working on that since we got home.  We have some changes for youngest dd, but more on that later!

Here I thought that blogger had made it easier to upload photos only to realize that it all looks wacky when you preview it!  I sure hope I have it fixed or this is going to look strange!  Sorry!