I’m not the biggest or most extreme stasher, but if you’ve been following along, you know that I can hold my own in fabric and pattern acquisition. But despite having plenty of both around the house, I often find myself running up against a bottleneck because I’m low on something else. For example, I’m forever running out of lining and interfacing and I never seem to have the right type, length, and color of zipper in the house. Frustrating, and yet I find it hard to stock up on these things strategically.
So this past weekend, I made a little trip to my local fabric store to take advantage of the 50% off sale, and came back with some of my favorites:
Covered button sets in different sizes (I love these things! I already broke into one pack for the plaid pants hat), denim needles, hook and bar sets for pants, and just because I figured I would eventually need it (and learn to use it,) clear elastic. Interfacing, lining, and zippers were also 50% off, and I picked up a few yards of lightweight fusible interfacing, but once again I stood in front of the linings and zippers with no idea of what I’d have a need for down the line. (Doesn’t help that the linings at my local store are pretty weak and that 50% off still leaves them at $8/yard.)
Oh, and teeny tiny confession- although it had been my plan not to purchase any more fabric, I was seduced. By a charmeuse of all things, and you know I generally have no love for slippery, silky things, either for sewing or wearing:
But ohhh the color, somewhere hovering between grass green, moss green, and olive, with a muted, subtle shine. I was sucked in by it and by the quality of it. It feels and looks like silk, but I’m pretty sure it’s not given the general caliber of my fabric store, so perhaps it’s rayon? It doesn’t look, feel, or move like polyester, but perhaps they’ve really improved the technology for making poly charmeuse. All I know is that I’m rediscovering how little I enjoy sewing with slippy fabrics, as I make up yet another Burda blouse 119 from the February 2008 issue (still in progress):
Fortunately it requires no lining or zippers! How about you? What notions or materials do you find yourself unable to keep in stock? What strategies do you have for making sure you’ve got a healthy supply of basic sewing necessities without having piles of stuff you’re never going to get around to using?
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August 4, 2010 at 8:02 am
Rachel
I buy notions impulsively. Usually, I buy what I need, plus an extra one to keep around. Then I leave the extra one in the shopping bag and eventually misplace it somewhere in the basement.
Perhaps it’s not the best strategy.
August 4, 2010 at 8:02 am
Kelly
I found some invisible zippers on clearance at my JoAnn a month ago – 25 cents! They were weird colors (some pinks, a bright turquoise), but since invisible zippers are, by nature, not seen, I figured it would be OK if I used them in a garment even if they didn’t match the fabric exactly.
If I’m buying clothing fabric at a store (not a website), I usually know generally what I’m going to make out of it, and buy a zipper that probably fits the bill. Zippers are right around the corner from thread at my local store, so it works well to pick up matching thread and then a zipper that will most likely work. And, if it doesn’t work, well, there’s a zipper for the stash!
And I buy interfacing 10 yards at a time when it’s on sale – if you buy enough they’ll wrap it on a cardboard thingy for easy storage. I almost never use lining, so… I have no stash of that.
That green is fab! I bought some linen in this color and made a dress last month. Bummer that it didn’t work for me and I had to give it away, because now I still want a green linen dress…. :(
August 4, 2010 at 8:15 am
Melanie
I have no strategy. I cut out a tunic on Monday and started to start to sew when I realized I had no interfacing (unless you count those odd little leftover shapes from previous garments) and no bias tape for the armhole facings. I thought the pattern would use standard armhole facings, but it called for bias tape instead. Off to Jo-Ann I went and of course wound up buying some remnants and fabric for a fall skirt, even though I haven’t made my “summer wardrobe” yet!
August 4, 2010 at 8:33 am
Ann
Ah! I totally get the thing with the zippers. I thought I had solved the problem when I bought two gallon-size bags full of vintage zippers, but I was sooo wrong. For some reason, I STILL need to make zipper runs to Joann’s.
August 4, 2010 at 8:37 am
magdamagda
i could have swore i left a comment yesterday:) i seem unable to find it… help!
August 4, 2010 at 8:56 am
Julie
When I buy fabric, I usually have a good idea of what I want to make from the fabric (shirt vs dress, etc.). This makes it easy for me to estimate zipper length, number of spools of thread, etc. I wait for the 50% off sales to buy all my notions. I keep an envelope full of swatches from recent fabric purchases; also with brief notes about needed notions for each fabric. When the sale comes around, I buy thread, zippers and tapes. I try to plan a few garments when a button sale comes around too. When pins and needles are on sale, I buy several of everything. I have a pretty healthy supply of threads, zippers, buttons, pins, needles, and so on. I buy interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply (Sew Exciting) whenever she has a sale so I probably have 6-10 yards of every type that I might ever use. Linings and buttons are usually what slows me down. I change my mind about what to make from the fabric so I don’t buy those until I’m very sure what I’m making. Stash or no stash, I think we all probably end up running to the store for something to finish a project.
August 4, 2010 at 9:18 am
Marie-Christine
I try to always have a few types of interfacing on hand – very light for silk, horsehair, something intermediate. But I’ve been known to change my mind radically about interfacings, and to abandon the previous favorite, so I can’t see myself getting bolts, if you see what I mean.
And imho one can always use a good amount of black Ambience lining. Can’t go too wrong with that, even if you could get a bit bored in the long term.
One thing that’s totally useless for me to stock is zippers. Color, length, type, there are too many variables and I never have the right kind on hand.
But I think in the end the amount of stocks you need depends on how far you are from the nearest store.. If you’re going to waste a half-day of sewing every time you need a button, it bites.
August 4, 2010 at 9:45 am
KayY
Every time I’m in Montreal I hit up my favorite notions store (west side of St. Hubert St., the one with the feather boas in the window & 6 steps up to the door; can never recall its name) for invisible zippers. I buy likely colours in long lengths as they can always be shortened. For interfacing, I buy fusible in wide widths when I see it at a good price (in Montreal, usually) and have also purchased from Pam Erny (http://www.sewexciting.blogspot.com/). I buy 5 metres of it at a time and have bags of different types at home as a result. If you ever get to Vancouver I highly recommend Dressew (on East Hastings I think) which has a basement full of excitingly cheap but great notions.
August 4, 2010 at 9:45 am
Emmy
I inherited a bag of vintage zips from my grandmother, but have hardly used them and usually end up down at the fabric shop buying what I need. I buy lining and interfacing in bulk in the sales and have a humungous rainbow stash of thread that was a free gift with my overlocker. I can’t remember the last time I bought thread, actually.
What I am most likely to lack is halves of things that come in pairs: hooks but no eyes, only one side of poppers, that sort of thing. I have no idea where they go, I think I must have contrary Borrowers.
August 4, 2010 at 9:57 am
San Antonio Sue
NOTHING is more aggravating than having to go to the fabric store for zippers, buttons, thread because I need them for whatever I’m working on. So when I find notions on sale, I stock up. And if it’s in the Clearance bin, stay out of my way! This sometimes gets a little extreme (I’m sure I’ll use all those yellow pearl snaps I bought at Hobby Lobby when the mfgr switched from packs of 12 to packs of 4. I always pick up black and navy zippers in pants lengths. And my husband buys zippers in package at garage sales when he can pay 25 cents each. Wish I had a good way to anticipate what color thread I need, though I do buy Gutermann on sale in black and white.
August 4, 2010 at 10:37 am
Trudy Callan
I like to keep stocked up, too. Hate to have to stop mid-project because I don’t have what I need. Your blouse is looking great. I love the color and drape of the fabric.
http://sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com/2010/08/photo-shoot-of-retro-skirt.html
August 4, 2010 at 11:53 am
Bratling
I stock up on things I know I’m going to use… like buttons. I have a tin full of them. I buy them on 50% sales in bulk and save them. Occasionally I buy special ones, but for the most part, I use cheap plastic Favorite Findings buttons. I have several zippers… mostly white. And fabric, well, fabric and patterns are my weakness. I have lots of it. And I buy it on sale frequently.
August 4, 2010 at 12:03 pm
CarmencitaB
I just finished a dress with really slippery fabric and used spray starch to stabilise the fabric. It worked well on polyester. Then I washed it off.
I do stock up on black, white and red invisible zippers as they are colours I use all the time and cheap fusible is always in stock in black and white, but for special projects, I make a trip.
BTW my
August 4, 2010 at 12:05 pm
CarmencitaB
What was I saying?
Oh yeah! BTW My last post is all about you, I am becoming Selfish
August 4, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Venus de Hilo
I stock up on interfacing and notions when they go on sale, especially zippers and thread in as many colors as I can get, but still never have a great match when I need one. I rarely need lining (I sew for a warm, humid climate), but when I do it is my biggest sewing peeve: I hate to spend more on lining that I did on a fashion fabric find.
Than green charmeuse is STUNNING, BTW, whatever the fiber content.
August 4, 2010 at 12:43 pm
Sherry
Ooh your new blouse is looking gorgeous! I made a very similar one in a silk/metal once, the bow was malleable and you could stick it in any direction!
I think black and ivory lining is good to have in stock – I’m amazed how many colours you can use these for without looking too mismatched. I always have a roll of calico and my favourite-fusing-that-I-use-for-almost-everything on hand, black and white.
I have bulk invisible zips left over from my business, but apart from black and grey they are hard to use up – they always seem to be the wrong colour – so yeah it is probably not worth stocking up on those!
I also have bulk thread leftover – about 100 colours – and everytime I go to make something I seem to have a colour that matches – I haven’t bought new thread in ages, and probably won’t for life!
Mmm thinking about it I also have a massive fabric stash leftover, gradually working my way through it……!
August 4, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Tenshi
I hoard notions. I buy them almost exclusively online, and whenever I need something, I also order something else to make it worth the shipping cost.
I often use endless zippers, of which I have bought 5 meters in black in different strengths, 5m in white, and also in purple, which are the colors I use most. I don’t require zipper colors to match exactly. Invisible zippers I buy in multiples of 5 in black or white, thinking they’re invisible anyway, so I don’t bother color matching. I’m cheap like that.
I buy everything possible not by the yard or by a certain number, but in spools, rolls, or big numbers, like 100 coverable buttons in 15mm width or 25m of black satin ribbon. Those will last me a lifetime.
August 4, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Mary Nanna
I keep a good stash of lining and interfacing but zippers have to be the right colour and length – even invisible ones – so I tend not to stock on those – I also have large spools of grey (in several shades) black, white and navy thread.
I buy a lot of mystery fabric because I like second hand shop and vintage shop purchases. This is the best burns test I’ve found on the net, but I’ve added my own notes to it from other sources. It should tell you what your lovely green fabric is (or do you prefer a bit of mystery?)
http://www.lindrix.com/fabcontent.html
August 4, 2010 at 2:17 pm
paisleyapron
Oh, I second the notion to do a burn test. Nothing quite so exciting as setting a swatch on fire to find out what it is made of. I’ve used the method many times with excellent success.
August 4, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Melody
Muslin! Blasted muslin! I am always trolling the house looking for old sheets or discarded husband’s shirts from which to cobble together enough for a fitting garment. And buttons. I always have to make a special trip and it makes me nuts.
August 4, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Jennifer
I have an unhealthy love for invisible zips, so ecru and black will usually cover whatever I’m making. Since half the time I can’t find one that matches my fabric anyway, these are my two stand-bys. For linings, I love contrast linings. Love them. I can never go wrong if I keep white, black, and pink in my stash, because one of those three will work with just about any color I’m using.
August 4, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Sandi
I run out of the oddest colors of thread at the oddest times. I can usually keep up with black and white, but my last thread emergency involved lime green, aqua, purple, and raspberry pink. Of course, this is mainly because I tend to sew a pretty bright palette for both myself and my three year old DD.
August 4, 2010 at 7:13 pm
sisters4saymoreismore
i am not a “planner” just a shopper… when i see pretty things (for a deal) i just buy them with no idea what i will do…
i have a lot of magical luck finding sewing notions at thrift stores! like, i’m talking a GARBAGE bag full of zippers and buttons and thread and yarn and beads for 4 bucks! this magic has happened more than a few times… i can’t even believe it myself!!
i will admit… sheepishly… that i am known to use bed sheets for fabric (thrifted, of course) and i NEVER care if my zipper matches…
maybe that makes me a major novice… or thrifty genious… i’m not sure which
~selina
August 4, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Brenda
I have been sewing for 35 years and have always used Pellon interfacing. I just tried Fashion Sewing Supply (mentioned above) and IT IS THE BEST. It is awesome stuff. I ordered 3 yards the first time around and next time I will by 10. I have lots of thread but never the right zipper. When I run to the fabric store I check the patterns of the next three projects and buy all the supplies I need that aren’t on hand. I run into trouble when I decide to “just make a quick skirt”.
August 4, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Sarah
I buy my notions in bulk, but the one thing I seems to constantly run out of is pins. Strange, I know.
August 5, 2010 at 12:27 am
Nóra
I love this color! I made a green shirt yesterday, like this.
If I sew a new garment I always have to go to store to buy buttons, zipper. Fortunately, the store is near to me. :-)
August 5, 2010 at 12:51 am
Spikklubba
I use a monochrome colour palette for zippers, serger thread, lining and bias tape. White, of-white, grey and black goes with almost everything. To have a set of different of-white, beige and grey threads does help too if you don’t want to buy a new thread for every single project. And learning to hand sew invisible. I still have that unhealthy pile of stuff, but I don’t get stuck very often.
August 5, 2010 at 1:43 am
Ana
Invisible zips! My LFS is so appalling at stocking zips it drives me crazy, and when they sell out, they don’t even realise that getting more stock in will encourage their customers to visit more often. So now investigating the fon’t of all sins, Ebay, to bulk buy.
Love that green by the way.
August 5, 2010 at 5:58 am
valerie
Since I live 30 miles from any real shopping and more than 60 miles from ANY sewing/fabric store, I have amassed masses of notions–buttons, zips, interfacing, lining fabric–and still have to either go online, or take a day-trip (worse in the winter) to get what I need. As for fabric–stash is at critical mass. Must. sew. more.
August 5, 2010 at 8:15 am
Sarah M
I have a good stash of notions, bought on sale or at yard sales. I can never have enough double fold bias tape for small projects, but I make a lot of bias tape by hand. I should probably get a bias tape maker. I have loads of materials for various projects, but never enough good quality cotton quilting weight solid colors. And I stock up on expensive notions like rotary cutting blades only when they’re at least 50% off.
August 5, 2010 at 8:29 am
urbanjill
I buy interfacing, especially Armo-weft, by the bolt and also sewing machine needles. I don’t buy buttons because when I finally get around to using them it seems I will be one button short.
August 5, 2010 at 11:57 am
Slippy green tie-neck blouse finished! « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] 5, 2010 in finished objects | Tags: blouse, Burda Okay, after this weekend’s green slippy fabric impulse buy, here’s something to show for it. Another incarnation Burda 2-2008-119, the tie-neck […]
August 9, 2010 at 2:37 pm
amber
Having a Joanns right down the street and Michael Levine 10 minutes from my office doesn’t do a lot for motivating me want to stock up on notions and such. :/ Now, fabric and patterns, on the other hand… I could just about open a shop at this point. Heh.
August 24, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Tasia
Oh wow, I love the colour! I would have caved, too. But of course I always seem to cave, hence the neverending list of projects to make!
I never seem to have the notions in stock! Also because I change my mind a lot, too… once I’ve actually commited and CUT the fabric, that’s when I pick up any notions I might need to finish it off :)
December 15, 2015 at 11:48 am
Rosmary
Hi
I need the silky fabric between grass green, moss green, and olive, with a muted, subtle shine as your blouse.
Where I could find t o buy this fabric? I need 30 yards ASAP
Thanks,
Rosmary