What can I make with these fabrics?

I've been trying to declutter my house and I came across two boxes of fabric that I had bought probably 10 years ago and never used. I'm still loving it and I'm hoping to be able to make some clothes, handbags, belt or scarves from it. Can you guys give me some ideas of what I can make with it for myself.

I'm going to need things that are fairly quick and easy. I'm a SAHM with four girls under 5, so it can't be things that are going to take a lot of time, 'cause it just won't get done. I used to have OK sewing skills, but I'm definitely out of practice. My mom is quite good at it though, so if I needed help, I can always count on her.

Here's what I've got. Sorry for all the pictures but I'm not even sure what the fabrics are. They are all pretty much the same expect the obvious lace, cord and ones with stretch. Its like a polyester maybe. Some even feel like a crepe polyester maybe. They remind me of what a blouse would be made of and they drape nicely.

A great mauve, light blue pattern with black background - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....948844782/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

Mauve/light pink - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

I love these two together. Maybe a high wasted skirt in the patterned and a wide band on top in the pink? Any other ideas?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

This one is a slightly sheer purple mauve - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

A burnt orange. Has a slightly soft feel to it (a little like suede, but its the same as the others) - 1.85 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

Beige corduroy. How hard would tight pants be? Like a skinny jean? Would they even work with no stretch? What about a waistcoat? - 2 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

LOVE this pattern. Multi-colourd check with black. If I can't think of anything else to do, I may just make a handbag - 2 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

Bright red - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

And they work well together
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

Black lace. I defintiely want to do something with this... I love lace - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....hotostream

Dark charcoal with a slight stretch. Maybe a sleeveless flowy cardigan - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

A gauzy ivory with some stretch - 4 yards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

I'd also love to find something to do with this lace. It has a greenish trim all the way around - 2 yards
Maybe cut it into strips to make a layered ruffle skirt?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

15 years ago

Crystal

Active Member

Oh and these are some of the patterns I have. They're a little outdated though.

Not much to choose from. I think I'd be better off finding a tutorial online for something easy I can make my own pattern for or I can go out and see what cheap patterns I can find that aren't so outdated.

Elly

Veteran

Crystal, I agree the patterns are dated.

I hate to tell you this, but slinky polyester jerseys (the fabric you have the most of) are one of the harder fabrics to sew imo, rivaled only by silk/satins and chiffons and stiff fabrics. They not only stretch, but they are slippery. You also have to be very careful with your stitch tension. The ones with a bit of a texture will be slightly easier, but you may want to start with something else. It really depends on your skill level.

It is also one of the clingiest fabrics. You would need to find a drapey or ruched pattern to be able to made a top out of it-- otherwise it is going to show all the tummy bits and bulges. Draping tends to be an advanced skill, even with a pattern because it often needs to be adjusted to lay right.

I also find lace not the easiest to sew. Pants and jackets are two of the hardest pieces to tailor-- especially if they have a proper waistband and fly and pockets. Side zip are easier to make, but more a dress pant style. I think you could probably make a lovely vest out of the fine wale cord though.

The geometric color block pattern looks dated to me.

I also have the book "Weekend Sewing" by Heather Ross

http://www.purlbee.com/the-pur.....chwor.html

I'm thinking I like the idea of using these two fabrics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

To make this skirt (the patterned for the skirt and the pink for the belt)
http://www.purlbee.com/the-pur.....skirt.html

I'd even still have 1 yard left for a bag. Maybe this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3.....otostream/

Elly- I don't think its a jersey. Its actually pretty stiff and has no cling, but it does have a nice drape to it. My mom thought I should start with the patterned one with the dots, the checked one, red, orange or pink mauve. She thought they'd be failry easy to sew. I really wish I new what the fabric was.

Ok-- thanks for the info, must be the shine throwing me off-- of course, fabric is so hard to photograph because of the flash or overhead lights. I am wracking my brain trying to figure out what that material would be like-- and getting nowhere. Perhaps someone that is not on crack will come along.

Dusty

(website)

I think the charcoal stretch would do the shirt dress fti
Weekend Sewing quite well. I'll have to think some more on the rest.

The camera definitely didn't take very nice pics. There isn't a shine and the colours are darker. The close up pictures of the edges of the fabrics is cloese to what they really look like.

I found this about crepe polyester and it definitely sounds like a lot of the fabrics, though some are smooth, without the crepe feel.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5883.....bric_.html

Anonymous

Hi, I wish I was able to sew but both my mom and grandma were seamstresses, so I like to think that some of it rubbed on me. As far as the dotted print / mauve solid, I would venture into creating a very simple tunic and use the mauve/purple as piping/detailing.... Something like this just much longer...

http://www.fehrtrade.com/galle.....pink-tunic

As far as the corduroy, do you have enough for a high wasted pencil skirt cutting the fabric so the corduroy lines are vertical? that could be interesting...

I love the new feature of adding photos to our posts and I thought it would be beneficial here. Ì<code>m sure I</code>d get a few more responses if everyone could access the pictures easier. Thanks!

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