a new addition to our eco-fabric selection - tencel fabric

Welcome to a new addition to our eco-fabrics line. Tencel is a natural man-made fibre that is hitting the fashion runways because of its soft, luxurious breathable drape as well as its environmentally conscious production.

This fibre starts as wood pulp from sustainably harvested eucalyptus trees farms. The wood pulp is broken down chemically into a soupy sludge that is squirted out a showerhead spinneret and reformed as fibres. This cellulosic fibre is generically called lyocell. Tencel is a brand name owned by Lenzing Fibres of Austria. The production of this fibre uses an advanced 'closed loop' solvent spinning process resulting in a minimal impact on the environment and economical use of energy and water. This closed loop system means that the solvent and water is reclaimed and reused for the continued production of fibre.

Here is a video clip from Lenzing Fibres describing the manufacturing process.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_oq6I_7Khg&feature=player_embedded

Available in both knits and wovens, Tencel has become a popular choice for any ecologically minded sewer. Come down to the stores to see what colours we currently carry.

fall fashion 2011

Alright, I know it's still summer, but it's feeling more and more like fall. I guess, we on the West Coast can be thankful we are not getting the 40' + heat in the East, but a week straight of sunshine and 20' heat would be nice :) For you eager beavers who like to start your next season's wardrobe early, here is the fall 2011 forecast.

Big surprise! Black is back. (Did it leave?) Textured, lacy, quilted even transparent. Dig it out from the bottom of the stash and wear it with panache.

Don't want the all black look? Throw in some bright royal blue, pink (esp. nice mixed with grey), red or your typical fall greens and reddish browns. Beeswax yellow is a new highlight for a pop of something different.

Leather is showing strong in anything from tops, skirts, pants or jackets.

The ever classic polka dot and a typical fall favorite, plaid, is also showing strong. And for those of you who like shiny - bring on the metallics! Everything from gold to silver to copper to bluish or pinkish hues.

Skirt lengths are getting longer, either just below the knee or the maxi length. Thank goodness for that! Nothing like freezing your legs/butt off with a short skirt in 0' weather.


Duster coats are long as well. Channel your Matrix vibe. This is the season of fitted and tailored jackets, especially double breasted jackets. Don't want to be so formal? The poncho is also a popular fall favorite - easy to sew too!

During those too many rainy days the West coast is getting, start those sewing machines humming with your new fall wardrobe. Afterall, we are coming to the end of July!

pacific design academy grad fashion show

Some pictures from the Pacific Design Academy's 2011 graduating class fashion show. Held at Market Square in the evening, it was quite cool so i missed the tail end of the show. Too bad!

abbotsford quilt guild show

Attended the Abbotsford Quilter's Guild show at Tradex in Abbotsford June 10 & 11, 2011. Over 400 quilts were on display with a heavy emphasis on traditional quilts. Here are some of my favorites.

This quilt was made by using old T-shirts. Because T-shirts are stretchy, the fabric must be interfaced so the blocks don't stretch out of shape. A light weight fusible pellon is fine for this. A great idea for a guy's quilt. Those old rock concert/high school gym/vacation spot t-shirts he doesn't wear but can't bear to part with .....

These two plaid fabric quilts had quite a touching story attached to them. The hanging quilt with big and small triangles was the first in this series. This quilt was made in 2002 for the quilter's son's Tour of Duty in Afghanistan. She made the quilt out of used men's plaid shirts because her son loves to wear them. The quilter chose this particular design because it symbolizes her feelings about the war and her son being there. The strife being the thunder and lightning
and the flying geese bringing him safely home back to Canada.

This second quilt on the bed was made for her son's second Tour of Duty to Afghanistan in 2010/2011. She chose used men's plaid shirts again but used a string pieced method to symbolize her feelings of worry for his safety. The cream background fabric had words of the Canadian national anthem on it which is fitting for a man serving his country. The son is now safely back home and will receive this quilt after the quilt show. I was attracted to this quilt because of the bright colours and the fact it is made from linen. Apparently linen has a bit of stretch to it as the quilter found it tricky to try to match all the angles.

I have tried my hand at quilting. Must admit I like the choosing and piecing of the fabric but the quilting part I could do without. Oh well, to each their own!

tackling the negroni shirt from Colette patterns

Tackeled the Negroni shirt pattern by Colette patterns.

Great details like the narrower collar and cuffs for a younger, fresher look. Also a slightly tailored fit yet without the use of darts or yoke.

Some issues you may have to consider if you take on this man's shirt.

• may have to adjust the shoulders unless the guy has VERY squared shoulders. Current design can create shoulder blade drags and deep wrinkles.


• instructions are easy to follow but some of the construction choices make this pattern more difficult to build than it should be, such as attaching the collar before the yoke gets "flipped". This makes for a wrestling match with the fabric - especially if you use a heavier shirt fabric like flannel.

Overall review: not bad.

A general query to all pattern making companies ..... why do we need a full 5/8" seam allowance? Most of the time the seam allowance gets trimmed (placket construction, collar attachment etc) also when using a serger. For more discussion re the topic, check out

http://fashion-incubator.com/archive/the-rules-on-seam-allowances/

For a quickie pattern to update your summer wardrobe, try the FREE sorbetto top by Colette found on her May 26, 2011 blog.

http://colettepatterns.com/blog

June issue Threads magazine

Check out the June edition of Threads sewing magazine. Vancouver BC is mentioned as a sewing destination listing various fashion fabric stores in the area. Gala Fabrics got first mention in a thoughtful article by Kathleen Cheetham - designer and owner of Petite Plus patterns.

If you haven't been in our stores, come down and find out what Kathleen is talking about!

Haven't heard about Petite Plus patterns? Kathleen designs classic clothing patterns for the 5'2" full figured woman (narrow shoulders, D-cup bra, rounded tummy and full curves everywhere.) If you think you see yourself in this description, have a look at her pattern catalog at either Gala location or at her website:

http://www.petitepluspatterns.com/

tribute to mums and mothers of mums

A tribute to mums and mothers of mums ...

Remember when your mum or grandmother wore an apron?

The principle use of the apron was to protect the clothes underneath because the apron was easier to wash.
But it was also handy to wipe away children's tears or clean up dirty faces. Or dusting off furniture before company came, or grabbing hot pans from the oven. Just imagine all the possible germs on that apron! But I don't think anyone caught anything from the apron but love.

Here is the original Grandma's Apron poem penned by Tina Trivett.

The strings were tied, it was freshly washed and maybe even pressed.

For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.

The simple apron that it was, you would never think about; the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.

She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she'd found.

Or to hide a crying child's face when a stranger came around.

Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.

Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.

She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.

To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.

When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.

You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.

She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.

Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.

When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.

I'm sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.

Happy Mother's Day!!