Online Suppliers of Natural Fabrics

I wrote a post like this for my old blog, String and Scissor, and thought I'd do an updated list for natural fabrics (cotton, wool, linen, bamboo, etc.) along with a list of stores where you can buy organic fabrics.  I've also noted if the shop is PayPal friendly for all of you with Etsy shops who have a balance burning holes in your pockets.

I will continuously update this list.  If you have any suggestions or additions, please let me know by commenting.

LINEN: 

Linnet  (PayPal) $29 per half-yard for most linen.  This is a Japanese business;  I've linked to the English website.  I LOVE to look, but its a bit too pricey for me.  They have a beautiful selection of every kind of linen fabric, trim, and notions I can think of.  Fabrics in a variety of weights.  I love the simplicity of this site and its fabrics.

fabrics-store.com (PayPal) $5-$9 per yard.  Solids and yarn-dyed.  Pure linen, linen/cotton blends in a number of thicknesses.  

trimfabric.com  (PayPal) $5-$20 per yard.  The ~$5 per yard linen is a blend of Linen/Rayon/Polyester; $10 per yard for pure linen; Above 

$10 for Italian or Import Linen.  They even have cotton/linen jersey.

SIMPLY DESIGNED COTTONS (you have to check these out):

Nani Iro  from Kokko Fabrics:

Photo:  Nani Iro 2008 Collection

Japanese double gauze cottons, Linen canvas, cotton double-knits, among others in the most interesting prints.   Also look under the "sewing" header to find the best free patterns I've ever seen.  You may have to get Google to translate the page.  

(too) Easily found at:  PurlSoho  SuperBuzzy   Reprodepot.com 

Tana Lawn Collection from Liberty of London 

Photo:  Purl Soho Liberty of London Tana Lawn Collection

From England, some of the finest cotton available in beautifully stunning prints.  I don't know of many places in the states that carry it, but you can get it both in the brick and mortor store and online at Purl Soho.

Shinzi Katoh  

Photo:  Shinzi Katoh

A Japanese zakka designer, he has the cutest line of cotton fabrics (and almost everything else from table wear to aluminum bottles) bearing his illustrations.  His designs come in cotton cloth, laminated, knit, canvas, and quilted yardage.  He also has a line of fabric tape.  Some fabrics and a good selection of linen tape available  SuperBuzzy.   You can also check various sellers on Etsy by typing in Shinzi Katoh as a key word. 

ORGANICS:

Near Sea Naturals  (PayPal) $11-$114 per yard.  This is another store I wish I could afford.  They've got a wide selection of cotton, wool, and natural blends in knits and wovens and in several weights.  They also have organic elastic banding, trims, lace, and yarn.

Harmony Arts  Wholesalers of organic woven and knit cotton.  Great patterns and matching solids.

Wholesale and Discount Buying:

Trimfabric.com

Near Sea Naturals

Pants

My three-and-a-half year old decided to dress himself today.  He's never shown any interest in self-dressing before, so I haven't made him do it.  He had no problem with the shirt, but the pants...  

This afternoon, in his room by himself, he took every pair of pants he had out of the closet, made a pile in the living room and tried on each on very methodically.  Most were backwards at first, then the waist band scrunched up around his belly.  And then all at once, he got it.  He has hit a milestone:  learning to put on one's own pants.

I've been wanting to come up with a few designs for the store that I can reproduce in several sizes.  So far I've had no luck finding a template for pants.  By template I mean that I like to find a pattern I can use just for sizing, but alter it until its sufficiently different.  

So far, I've failed miserably.  The monologue in my head is decidedly negative.  Etsy sales are miserably slow and I don't have any "signature" items I offer consistently in the shop.  Everything is a unique item that I don't feel like making again.  I see other shops selling the cutest kids clothes - at least a few items a day - everyday and it really gets me that I haven't been able to do it myself.

But today, like my son, I hit a milestone.  Finally, a pair of pants I like that I don't mind reproducing.  I am finally confident that I can reliably and consistently reproduce a design that actually appeals to me.   Although I used a pattern for a template, it was altered to make a new size and slightly new style.  

Even better, I have corrected my sizing problem.  The first time I make something, I always shoot for a 2T because I can try it out on Liv.  Lately though everything I make has been turning out too big.   OK, I don't really measure my seam allowances and err on the side of too big so she can grow into things.  This time I "eye-balled" it and then decreased it to what I thought was too small *POOF*  it fits.

Also on the pants front, Liv learned to take off her own pants.  Something I really don't want her to do, but a milestone for her none the less.

Craft and Landscape Architecture in Portland

On my recent trip to Portland, I felt just like this rock sitting in a Japanese garden.  Alone and the center of my own universe, but still longing for those in the distance.  I felt this way even on the plane ride, having just left my children and husband for a little adventure with my Mom and Sister in Portland, OR.    I love my kids more than anything in the world, but I've only had one other "vacation" in almost 4 years. 

I'd never been to Portland, but couldn't have been more ready for a long weekend with very little responsibility in what has to be one of the craftiest and naturally beautiful cities in the States.  I had a long list of places to visit the first day.  

When we left "heaven" (thats what I've dubbed my sisters place since she lives only a few blocks away from many of these places) we hit The Knittin Kitten - a big craft thrift store.  Purchase One:  5 sweater knits at $2 a yard.  Can't beat it.  

Next, Scrap.  I've heard so much about this place.  How people have found oodles of gorgeous vintage fabric for next to nothing.  No such luck this time.  I bought a bag of scrap leather for a dollar and a bag of scrap paper (Purchase Two and Three).  How fitting for a place called "Scrap".

In the afternoon, we took the elevator to the second floor of Heaven and got off at Kinokuniya, a japanese bookstore inside of Uwajimaya, the largest Japanese grocery I've ever seen.  I really had to restrain myself here.  Kinokuniya had at least 3 head to toe bookshelves full of Japanese craft books.  I found at least 10 that I really wanted, but picked just one to take home (Purchase Three).  They also sold the super cute folders, stickers, and notebooks I've seen some sellers offer on Etsy.  

Finally, Powell's Bookstore.  The absolute biggest bookstore I've been to - ever.  The size of a city block and several stories tall, I didn't manage to make it out of section A by the front door (the sewing and craft section).  Final purchase:  used books on creating your own patterns.

In all, I'd rate my shopping day "not too shabby with a whole lot of restraint".  I just wish I could have gotten to more thrift stores.  Next time.

Below are a few photos of places we visited that satisfied the landscape architect in me.  First, the Multnohma Falls and then the Japanese Gardens.  Both fabulous.  I must have taken 100 photos of walkway details (drains, pavement, walls, benches) and trees.  

If you don't know a landscape architect, thats what we do.  We take pictures of the ground, benches, drains, statues, and light poles just in case we might use them in a future project but can't remember where we saw them.  If you're out walking with a landscape architect, don't be surprised if they ask to take a photo of you next to that lovely fence you just passed.  Rest assured, you will almost definitely end up in the lower left hand corner of the photo as you are just being used for scale. 

 

Gadgets on Strike (or why everything at my house is broken)

We have a new family routine at our house thanks to the strike currently staged by my gadgets.  Let me elaborate...

Every morning my kids wake up at 5 am and start playing with their toys.  After I've woken from accidentally falling asleep again on the sofa, they've got half of their rooms dragged out into the family room.  They used to veg in front of a cartoon or two and wake up slowly while I sipped on coffee and read the news.  Why have we changed our routine you ask?  The 42" flat panel TV purchased less than a year ago decided to stop showing us pictures to go with the sound.  If they want to "watch" TV, they now have to gather around the speakers and imagine (which isn't bad at all except for the toy excavation I have to perform later to find my family room floor).

After coming home from driving my husband to work, I run inside to unlock the garage door, manually lift it, hop back in the car, drive it in, and manually close it.  This is my routine every time I leave/arrive at my home.  My garage door stopped working.  It was the first gadget to go.  My biceps will be the size of rump roasts by the time we get that fixed.

Note that this post has no photo and is relatively short.  And although you can't see it, I am typing at the speed of light trying to get my thoughts out before my Apple crashes and burns perhaps for the last time ever.  This is the third thing to self destruct in as many weeks.

We think our gadgets are on strike.  Its either that or we live on a magnet landfill that has been long forgotten.

Nani Iro's Free Patterns

Some time ago, I added Nani Iro to my "places I wish I could shop list" for two reasons.  First, the fabric is gorgeous.  Second, free patterns!  The link takes you to patterns for mainly kid's clothes, adult clothes, and accessories like bags.  

I like to look at patterns to see how the clothes get their shape and how they are sewn together.  It can start to see how a certain shape produces a specific result.  That said, Nani Iro's patterns are generally one page and leave a lot of steps un-illustrated which, unless you can read japanese, means you have to "fill in the blanks" so to speak.  

There are no full sized patterns, so you have to have a lot of time to draw out a full-sized pattern based on take-off points.  You also need knowledge of basic garment construction and be able to follow schematics.  I think I'd brave it for those cute little bloomers, but I'd hardly have the patience for a few of the dresses (maybe since they are really really cute...).  

My Favorite Little Girls Shoes

Livy is so getting a pair of these shoes except for in a chocolate brown.   I love love love them, so classic and plain.  I found these at Tiny McSmall.  

Midge the Pigeon and Merle the Squirrel

The Pigeon and the Squirrel have recently earned their keep.  

I wasn't going to sell them because I love them so much.  They are one-of-a-kinds and an original design.  I figured it was time to part with them as they've only been sitting in the closet.  After our beach vacation in August, I added the crab and jellyfish to the collection (also just sitting in the closet).  So I listed Midge the Pigeon and Merle the Squirrel in my shop and hoped they would be well received.

Over the weekend, shortly after their listing, a fellow Etsy-ian contacted me about including them, along with several other items listed, in her handmade shop in Lexington, Kentucky!  I was shocked (and rather proud).  This is my first request for wholesale.  She said she loved Midge and Merle - and thus they've earned their keep, even if they haven't sold yet.

Other requested items include the Big Girl Bags and the Little Lunchbox Lovenotes!  

My other thoughts about the request?  I've gotta get sewing because that is a lot of work!