To Tear or Not To Tear...

...that is the question. 

 buy these gorg fabrics here

Have you ever purchased fabric and been surprised (or alarmed) when they tore the fabric instead of used scissors to cut it?  There's a bit of a debate about whether it is better to cut yardage or tear it...but here are my views after speaking with several different sources. 
The first question you might have is why would you tear it in the first place? 
When you tear a fabric (usually done with cotton) it will tear perfectly straight along the weave of the fabric.  The weave may or may not be perfectly straight with the pattern on the fabric. 

So it depends on what you are sewing.

When you are sewing clothing, it is really more important for the fabric to hang straight than for the pattern to be straight.
If you are using fabric for crafting or quilting it is not as important for the weave to be straight - it's really more important for the pattern on the fabric to be square.

So if you are buying yardage to make clothing, be sure that you tear both cut edges from selvage to selvage (if they didn't do it at the store).  This will give you a perfectly straight piece of fabric no matter how the pattern on the fabric may appear.

If you are making something else - like a pillow - you can cut both non selvage edges so that the pattern looks straight.

**If you are totally confused by what I mean by tearing the fabric, this is how you do it.  Make a small snip in the selvage with scissors (about 1" from the cut edge) and then tear it all the way to the other selvage then snip the other selvage.**

Now you may be thinking - okay...I want my pants to hang nicely, but I don't want the pattern to be wonky either...

Sometimes you can do it half way.  Tear the fabric so you know it's straight, then even the pattern up a little so it's not too off.  Is that confusing?  I hope not. 
Oh and once you get the fabric straight you should use scissors to cut out your pattern pieces.  (Just didn't want you to think you have to tear the fabric the whole time ;)

Happy fabric shopping!
xoxo
jessica

Free Fabric Frenzy!!!!! - a giveaway

Whose Monday just got better?!?!

I don't think I've told you yet, but we're moving in about 3 weeks.

In an attempt to start organizing things...

I went through my fabric stash and found tons of fabric to give to you!!!!!

It's all home decor weight fabric.

I separated it into three groupings - they have about the same amount of fabric each.

The pieces are all different sizes but they are big enough to make something interesting such as:

a pillow, table runner, or bag.

So here's how you enter:

First Entry: 

Comment on this post and tell me which grouping you like best.

Second Entry: 

Become a follower of this blog 

(if you're already a follower you'll get a second entry automatically)

Third Entry:  

Like me on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did :)

Fourth Entry:

Tweet/Facebook/Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know you did :)

This giveaway will be open until Sunday July 17th at midnight eastern time.  I will announce the winner on Monday the 18th to kick off my summer series

"Cure the Summertime Blues".

If you're email isn't in your profile, please leave it in your comment so I can contact the winner - otherwise you won't get your awesome fabric!!!

Good luck!

xoxo

jessica

DIY Anthropologie-inspired Hairbows

These hairbows are easy, sweet, and a great way to use up fabric scraps!

I saw this bow on Anthro:

It's cute, but it is 7" wide and 5" tall.  Pretty big bow.  I wanted to make a few last minute bows to slip into Charlotte's Easter Basket - somehow our bows are always disappearing.  I altered the bows to be about 2" wide and 1 1/2" inches tall.  I made two of each color so she can have one on each side.  If you want to make some for your little one's Easter Basket here's what you'll need:

Fabric scraps (at least 3"x2 1/2")

Sewing machine/thread/scissors

Hair clip

Wire (I used the kind for jewelry making)

Hot glue

Paint chips (optional)

Step 1:  Cut out your fabric scraps 3"x 2 1/2".  Cut two rectangles out for one bow.  Since I made 8 bows, I cut out 16 rectangles.

Step 2:  Lay the fabric right sides together and stitch around 3 sides, leaving one end open (like sewing a tiny pillowcase).

Step 3:  Flip it right sides out and turn the raw edges inside.  Press.  Topstitch the opening closed.

Step 4:  Now twist the rectangle once so that it makes a bow shape.  Wrap the wire around the middle a few times so that it will hold it's shape.

Step 5:  Hot glue the bow to a hairclip. 

Let it dry and that's it!

Step 6:  I had a few paint chips lying around so I made some slits in the cards with an exacto knife

and clipped the bows onto them.

Perfect way to slip them into her little Easter Basket!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

jessica

Fabric or Food...

...guess you know my answer :)  So Charlotte and I were on our way to the grocery store this afternoon - a little rushed because it was already 4:00pm and there were NO groceries in the house for dinner.  As I was zipping down the road I spotted a sign that said this:

"Fabric Store Closing.  Huge Sale."

It was crazy - my car took over and crossed two lanes of traffic - forcing me to pull  into the the parking lot of the Huge Fabric Sale.  All thoughts of hurrying to the store for dinner were gone.  Charlotte and I darted in and these fat quarters jumped right into my cart.  I managed to leave before entire bolts threw themselves at us- and we scurried on to our original destination.  The grocery trip was a bit rushed, but it was totally worth it.  And we did have dinner (although Kroger cooked it :).  

Ahhhh....so many possibilities sitting there, folded neatly - perhaps they will turn into something fun to giveaway to you...

jessica

Woodland Fabric

You'll find lots of super cute woodland fabric online.  

These three are adorable and on sale now at Fabricworm. 

I love them.  I am thinking about using them in Char's room.  

Did I tell you I am redecorating her room - woodland style?  

Since I have so many things made for her party, I decided to use them in her room, 

to transform it into an enchanted woodland.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know about the sale!

jessica