What are your favorite fabrics? (Inspired by the Romeo & Juliette movie/Olivia H)

[electric_blue68]

I was was thinking how gorgeous that red & gold gown was! Suddenly I thot ...fabrics! 😄
So fabrics, w a few interesting facts tossed in. 👍

When I was a teen my mom got a year, or two of Frabic of the Month club. I kept a couple of the samplers which were so fun. I still have at least 1. About ? 15 - 20 1 1/2" squares on a sheet.

Well, who doesn't love silk! Regular, or raw. Soooo gorgeous, feels so good. And oh, the color dyes it can take!

There someone on FB who shows their woven silk fabrics, and omg they are sooo incredible! I love their various color combinations.

Some day I'm going get some silk varn again! Once had some small skeins of silk yarn: the color combos! I made bracelets.
Raw silk is less processed, uses shorter fibers, and broken cocoon resulting in a nubbier fabric.

I remember wearing Velveteen; which I think is made w cotton. It's pretty good, but nothing really compares to velvet silk.
I gad a pair of purple velveteen pants. Not too long later, I got a velveteen vest. It was very close to the same color, so it made a nice outfit.

Top level cotton feels extra nice.

Luckily I can wear wool. Course I'd want the high quality, soft ones - like Merino if it was a top, and not a sweater. My friend gave me a lovely, from Ireland, new wool, beautifully knitted dark green sweater (not so soft, but ok, cause wearing over tops). So warm!
She gave it to me bc she, unfortunately is allergic to wool. It was a gift to her, and she didn't want to just keep it in a draw, but would have felt bad giving it back to the nice couple who gave it to her.

I haven't worn rayon in decades! So I don't remember how it feels. Just looked it up: soft, and breathable. Strong, but water weakens it, like silk. Very carefully washed, preferably by hand.

I've hardly even worn linen. It was a long time ago.
Fun linen fact. Our money/greenbacks are made from a combination of cotton & linen bc of It's durability!

Once, temping at a ?Bond company I handled some (very expensive, maybe 1 Million dollars, or more each!) bonds. They were a stiffish paper (the linen factor) with the kind of scrolling, and fancy designs seen on our paper money. Only instead of green, and white; they were blue, and white!

I wear polyester, but prefer natural fabrics if I can get/afford, depending. Plush polyester is kind of fun, though.

Never worn alpaca, cashmere, or angora.

I think that covers all the natural fibers/fabrics, and most of the synthetic ones.

Let's have some fun! 🧵 🪡 🧶 Please share.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

1. I'm sewing a top right now. from a thrifted vintage dress... the fabric is like a lightweight cotton, zero stretch

I picked it for the pattern.

there is a vintage thrift shop near me... interesting to walk through and see all the colorful, thick fabrics from the 50s through 80s.

[electric_blue68]

6. Very cool. Should be pretty! TY.

Fun going to a store like that! I've gone to fabric stores on occasion. Usually waaaaay back to buy fabric that my mom would sew up sonething for me. Of course, in NYC... they're like flowers- all over! Which is great fun.

There was a fabric store that also had yarn and supplies when I learned yarn craft later in life. I'd go in the back which was like 2/3rds of the store, and take a look!
Michael's hadn't arrived yet in our city . I'd also go to dedicated yarn shops, too.

My mom graduated post HS from a Dressmaker's school. She designed a few things before she got married. She was an incredible sewer! Our clothes often looked like they came from Sak's Fifth Ave. Beautifully crafted!

My sis told me recently that she wished our mom made more "regular" clothes. Looking more like what other kids, tweens were wearing. Glad I didn't feel that way in general. Onem a rare occasion I felt a bit "eh" about some things, but I usually liked to loved what she made me.

Have fun w your new piece of clothing! 👍

[fierywoman]

2. Silk velvet.

[electric_blue68]

7. Ahhhhh, yes! 😄 🥰 So lush! TY

Maaaaybe someday I can afford some small silk item again! Though I'd most likely, and have been eyeing some sari ribbon yarn that's made from excess sari remanents. Lovely stuff.

Then I make what I call decorative scarves. They're skinny things going down to near the waist once wrapped around the neck, and tied. Usually an open window pane crochet, or a strand of shell stitches.👍

[fierywoman]

23. I can't even imagine buying it!

My great uncle (a true Character) found some glorious dresses thrown somewhere like in the bushes in NYC -- it seemed they had been stolen for the jewels that were on them but then tossed (for my great-uncle to find!) I had enough fabric (1970s, I think) to cut out YSL ballerina jacket (Vogue pattern) in deep blue silk velvet. It was square cut, like a Chanel jacket, and trimmed around the edges with black braid and I don't know what the more complicated stuff is called .. I did make the "ballerina dress" (long) and used to wear it to play orchestra concerts (to the consternation of the concertmaster, who had a thing for me, and vice-versa...) Oh, silk velvet! (Oh, Brahms ...)
This is the store I bought the trimming from in the 70s!:

&t=11s

[electric_blue68]

24. Yes, right, you were an orchestral musician! Violinist? What a great video!..

Your orchestral clothes sound so wonderful!

(And, ahhh, orchestral intrigue! 😄 )

Those ribbons looked so lovely!

Here's some quik personal fashion history.
So I mentioned my mom went to dressmaking school. And later made clothed for us, her family.
She even made my dad a shirt!

So while she was in that school, and later for us - her usual place for the occasional ribbon, probably some rick rack, but way more so for buttons was M & J Trimming.
I, then, would also go there occasionally...ribbon, buttons for just collecting, a couple of other items. I think I bought a feather boa once!
I was recently thinking of going there, but to my horror they just went out of business earlier this year! 😔

I didn't have too many buttons. Then I bought a specific bunch in basically mostly bright rainbow colors and B & W, and knitted a olive band (long skinny piece, w thin yarn). Then I attached the buttons to this band to display. I still have it. I have to hang it up bc I don't have many flat surfaces to put it on.

[fierywoman]

25. Oh, to be able to make patterns !!!

(Yeah, orchestra intrigue -- "civilians" don't know the half of it!)
(I'm a violist, no offense taken )

Isn't sewing wonderful? The freedom of expressing yourself with the clothing you want -- OR -- a political statement of not supporting the badly treated workers who make all the cheap clothes -- OR -- the ability to clothe yourself simply or rather interestingly when you don't have a ton of money (which is why I loved those Vogue designer patterns -- but I didn't have a mom who could make patterns, lucky you.)

[electric_blue68]

27. I think my mom Rarely made patterns once out of school....What she Did do...

was to tweak them if she wanted to quite expertly!

I never learned to sew, other than hemming sewing and patches on jeans. I avoided what are considered "woman's skills" cooking (till early 20's), and sewing in particular. Was not interested in house wifey skilks. Later on I could see how
sewing might be useful.
But not sure I could ever sew straight seams!.

Unfortunately a very sweet neighbor was holding my mom's sewing machine for me after I had a move, thingsxwent blooey. I was thinking of maybe trying to learn to use it if it still worked after like several years. Well, I had a good idea of how to use it - since I watched her a lot. But he got terribly ill, moved back to his parents States away. The landlord tossed his roommate, and my sewing machine got tossed, as well.

My biggest sewing project, well, cutting the pattern which my mom then sewed; was a long medieval dress!
For a long time with a break of several years in front of and around The Cloisters (Fort Tryon Park, waaaay upper Manhattan, became part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art) was held ?two days pm the weekend a Medieval Festival.

My sis was Site Manager. I went w her one time to survey the area around the Cloisters. It was a great festival!

And it was a beautiful Singer machine with a wonderful Art Deco design.
I have looked for it (a photo) on line, but haven't found it. Other deco ones, but not that one.

The fun thing was the little oil can with the long, skinny spout, that made a cute little noise when she pumped the oil in. I was fascinated by the little colored holes were the oil was to be placed. 😄👍

[fierywoman]

30. I've noticed that if your mother sews, you generally don't sew. In my case,

my mother could (reluctantly) sew, but her sister, my aunt, was totally brilliant at sewing -- of course her daughter (my cousin) didn't sew at all. So my aunt lavished all her formidable knowledge on me (how to sew on patent leather! how to sew leather, fur! how to make bound buttonholes!) She even slipped me fabric when I wanted to sew something and my mother didn't want to buy the fabric because she didn't trust me not to ruin it. (I'm thinking of a lovely piece of royal blue wool to make a Mary Quant coat out of. ) Dear Aunt Irene!

[electric_blue68]

33. Yay for Aunt Irene! What cool things she taught you!

In my case it was possibly at least partly more of a expected gendered cultural activity rejection at the time.

[electric_blue68]

28. Ah, the Viola. I played that for a year in our giffed 5th, and 6th grade.

Of the stringed instruments I really wanted the violin bc I love very high notes. I love music in general.
I had "shot up" as a 11 yr old, so they gave the violins to the smaller girls.

What I wanted most if all, i think, was clarinet. Bc if I wanted the viola again I probably would have gotten it.

The one terrible thing we did was run around the hallway balancing the bows on our opened palms.

[fierywoman]

29. I started on violin but switched to viola when I was 17 because I really didn't like

the high notes -- and I liked playing the part in the middle of things, the guts. Violinists tend to be "A" type personalities, violists tend to be "B" types. (If you liked the high notes, you should definitely play violin.)

[electric_blue68]

31. I get it. I love listening to the violinists on the subway. Most musicians on the subway platforms....

One of the coolest was a guy playing the digeridoo on the mezzanine!

I love orchestral music, some classics, modern orchestral, too. Have gone in the past to Central Park for their symphony concerts.

I also went to Lenard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts at Lincoln Center.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. Velvet! I'm sure they weren't genuine silk velvet but I loved the velvet blazers I used to own years ago.

I also love velveteen.

And the clothing in R&J was absolutely to die for and IMO Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were the perfect Romeo and Juliet.

[electric_blue68]

10. They were a perfect Remeo & Juliette!

I had a rare silk velvet item, or two.

Velveteen blazers would be nice looking!

[CTyankee]

4. Satin. Like in wedding dresses of old.

[electric_blue68]

5. Cool! Oh, my....I forgot satin! Yeah, my mom's wedding dress might have bern partly that. Ty

[JoseBalow]

8. What is that, velvet?

[electric_blue68]

11. Ha!

[sinkingfeeling]

9. I miss some of the older fabrics like taffeta, organza, and dotted swiss.

[electric_blue68]

12. I know the names. Going to look them up since they're very vague in my memory. I'll be back to comment

Well, that was fun!

Lovely stuff!

I think depending on when more synthetic fabrics were made; some fancy event I went to as a youbg tern - the dress my mom made for me...
It was a magenta sort of sheath with spaghetti straps, with about as long an over ?jacket out of a floral printed pattern, background vivid royal-blue . So possibly silk organza.

[applegrove]

13. My mom borrowed her wedding dress when she married.

It was made out of white velvet. Gorgeous for a fall wedding, reception at their farm. The owner of the dress turned it into covering for a chair after the fact.

Here is the dress. Stunning view. https://flic.kr/p/2qCKLNs

[electric_blue68]

14. Wow! That sounds absolutely splendid! TY

A chair covering?! I dunno about that!

Well, each to their own. 👍

I'm thinking if they afforded a sofa maybe pillows with small tassels, but you remove them, or don't lean on them when you sit on the couch, so they last!

[3catwoman3]

15. Simple and elegant.

[3catwoman3]

16. The feel of velvet is delightful, provided the nap is running the right way.

I almost never buy anything made from velvet because the manufacturers of clothing these days do not seem to know that velvet has a nap, and that it matters which way patterns are put on the fabric.

I can't stand it when the nap feels "backwards" - yuck! It's like stroking sandpaper.

[LeftInTX]

17. It depends on the usage. When I was a teen, I sewed alot with broadcloth.

Recently, I specifically found a site that still makes broadcloth curtains. Not light blocking, but not sheer. No heavy either. I ordered them and have been pleased. So I ordered more. They're on tension rods.

Broadcloth isn't exactly elegant, but it sure seems to hold up well. I made a lot of pants and dresses with it. Note: This is not the wikipedia version of broadcloth, but this stuff here: https://fabricwholesaledirect.com/blogs/sewing-diy-tutorials/fabric-dictionary-what-is-broadcloth-fabric

[electric_blue68]

20. Interesting (read it)...

The slight stiffness isn't uncomfortable re: pants?

[LeftInTX]

21. Yes, I used to make pants. Jeans are much stiffer.

[electric_blue68]

22. Ah, ok then. 👍

[mdmc]

18. I once purchased a pair of cashmere sweatpants by polo

I was working at an outlet boutique in LV and saw these cashmere sweatpants for a couple hundred dollars at Last Call.
They went on sale and I bought them.
I was in love.
I ended up buying three pair.
cashmere

[electric_blue68]

19. Wow! Who knew. Ty

Luxurious!

[mdmc]

36. there was nothing like them electic_blue68

I would chill my apartment to 67 degrees
Throw on a cashmere sweatshirt and sweatpants
Watch some chilly Northern Exposure
Yank some tubes
pet my kitty cat
life
oh
life

[WheelWalker]

26. Merino wool

[electric_blue68]

32. Ah yes! Gogeous yarn!

[yellowdogintexas]

34. I am very sensitive to polyester so I stick to cotton.

I can wear polyester if it does not touch my skin, such as a lined skirt or pants with pantyhose under.

I can wear wool but do not need it here in Texas

My mother was a great seamstress! She made all our clothes (including her own) until my youngest sister married and moved out of the house I do not think she ever touched her machine again.
I of course suck at sewing; I am pretty good with yarn and a crochet hook.
Neither of my sisters took it up either; however my youngest sister's neice loved it. Go figure

Mom was in demand for special projects such as bridesmaids dresses and cheerleader skirts and vests. She made my first wedding dress and my middle sister's as well. I have always wished I had the knack

[electric_blue68]

35. Cool story! Lots of talent there! TY

Heh, maybe if my mom hadn't had her life often interrupted by bad asthma, (though improved later) she could have made some money sewing.

Although I don't think anyone asked me about if some of my clothes were handmade, so the subject didn't come.

Good on you for the crochet! I've stayed mostly on the beginners side. But I like what I do.