Fabric Frenzy!

… or what I like to call “My Pilgrimage to the Church of Fabricana”.  I’m not in the least obsessive or possessive regarding all things sewing related.  (Ya, right!)  I have even sworn off fabric shopping – PERIOD – for the last year.  Well, except for the couple of purchases I made about a month ago, just some knit fabrics for T-shirts (to be made up “someday”).  But those were purchased with Gift Certificates – Gift Certificates given to me last Christmas!  Considering I didn’t actually buy those, I think they’re exempt from the Fabric Fast.

So I still claim that I have not purchased fabric for a year.. ever since August of 2015 when I last travelled to Vancouver to visit my Enabler/Sister.  She is always more than happy to drive me from store to store in exchange for a treat or a meal or even a fabric purchase for herself (for me to sew, of course!).  So last weekend, off I went again!  

My Pilgrimage started with a lovely sunny day and a not so peaceful ride on an incredibly noisy passenger-packed B.C. Ferry.  At the end of the voyage I was pleased to see the ramp coming for me to set me free in Vancouver!

One of the first places I went to was Fabricland*.  It was packed with fabrics, patterns and supplies, but there were only two fabrics that had my interest.  Since I was unsure. I photographed them and we went on to the next shop.  One of the fabrics was this soft blue “Aristocrat” solid – 88% polyester 12% spandex – suitable for a pair of comfortable, light summer pants.  The colour is more a medium blue.  It didn’t show correctly here.

The other fabric was this “Soleil” black and white paisley made of 100% rayon.  I did end up going back there and purchasing both these fabrics.  I easily found the blue, but for the life of me I could not find the black and white paisley anywhere.  I even showed my cell phone photo to the store staff who helped me search, but all we could find was this black and white paisley below.  So I settled.  This would still make a lovely dress!  

Surprise, surprise … as soon as I got back to the car, I realized that this was the black and white paisley I had originally seen.  Oops!  I thank all the helpful staff for assisting me in my search for the original black and white paisley that was right in front of my nose the whole time!  

Next off to Fabricana.  I found this blue “Dramatic ITY” print made of 96% polyester 4% spandex.  It will be a perfect dress some day!

Then the “Tower” print, 92% polyester 8% spandex, another dress (someday).  I love how occasionally a really white leaf pops out in this print.

This is a fabric I have not seen before.  A “Railroad Knit” 63% cotton 33% rayon 4% spandex.  It would make a fab top.  The white rows are slightly raised as is the blue squiggle.  *Love*

The best for last – 100% Silk Satin print that my sister said was calling to me.  Seriously, the whole time I was in the store I heard a tiny voice saying “Linda”… “Linnda”… and my sister swore that it was not her!  They had a large display of silk – all the weights, solids and prints, and believe me, we felt them all … over and over… until I picked out this one.

Unfortunately, when I pulled the bolt up from the display, it caught on the one beside, and like dominos they all started falling.  My sister and I managed to grab them and since our actions were a bit noticeable, a sales associate came over to fix the problem.  We offered to help her but she just asked “Are you done?”.  We are so sorry!  “You can go now.”  Ok! and we scurried off.  We could hear her sighing and groaning as all the fabric bolts fell to the floor and she had to recreate the display.

We moved on to another, happier to see us, sales associate and eventually made off with all our purchases without any more damage to the store – I think!

Next stop – an “antique” store.  We wandered through the whole two stories seeing things we remembered from our past and things that we had never seen before and couldn’t recognize.

One item I was very very happy to find was this Greist buttonholer.  In my research I found this blog which described the Greist/Singer working relationship.  Apparently Mr. Greist worked for Mr. Singer making sewing machine attachments – including the “Puzzle box”  (I want one!) and this buttonholer.  Mr. Greist also made sewing machine attachments for other sewing machine manufacturers as well.  Mr. Singer liked Mr. Greist’s buttonholer design so well, he copied it for the Singer brand.  I haven’t tried this one yet on my Vintage Sewing Machine, a Singer 15-88, but I’m very curious to see how well it works after all these years.

At the second “antique” store we visited we were quite surprised to find how opposite it was from the first.  So neat, clean and tidy – everything on display and prices for each item properly marked.  That’s were I found a real surprise… a true Singer buttonholer!  Now I will definitely be able to compare my Greist and my Singer buttonholers!

I also found some grab bags of sewing parts, feet and supplies.  I have yet to check if any of these are duplicates of what I already have at home, but if I do find duplicates I am just going to have to have a “Giveaway” again!

Now I know I don’t have an original Singer attachments box, so I was pleased to find this one.  Look what I found inside!  Wait, is that a fishing weight I see in there too… on the left top?

More toys.  These must be for a more modern machine, being plastic and all.

These are definitely more modern and I think I have quite a few of them already.

Now there’s a mix, some old and some new.  I’ll have to check if any of it is good for any of my sewing machines.

Do you recognize some of these sewing toys?  Do you have any of them?

That was certainly a fun trip!  Thank you, Enabler/Sister!  I found some lovely fabrics and more sewing toys.  Now my promise – no more shopping until next August when I can make the Pilgrimage again, I promise to work on my stash in the meantime!

Happy Sewing!