Readers, I need your help yet again. Remember this top from Burda 2.2010?
I downloaded the pattern from Burda, graded it down to my size, cut it all out, and then promptly never got around to making it. I’ve recently become fixated on the idea of making it out of black and white striped stretch jersey, perhaps a fabric sort of like this:
And for the life of me, I can’t seem to find a source for black and white striped jersey! Seems so basic, doesn’t it? I am a *little* bit picky here– I would ideally like cotton with a little lycra in it, something not too flimsy or drapey. The stripes don’t have to be that exact width either- I could go narrower or wider. I’d consider a baby rib knit; I’d prefer not to go the nylon route. And yarn dyed stripes would be ideal.
I did spot some black and white striped knit at my local fabric store, but the stripes were printed rather than yarn dyed and the printing was so sadly off grain that I didn’t even consider it. I’m not keen on spending hours of my time for something that I know can never look better than a cheap factory second, no matter how carefully I stitch!
So readers, a.k.a. Human Collective Google, have you got any ideas for where I could pick up a yard of black and white striped stretch jersey? If you point me to what I’m looking for and I end up acquiring it based on your tip, I will immortalize you in a glowing tribute post in which I laud your brilliance and resourcefulness!
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April 7, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Katie
While I cannot lead you in the direction of your holy stripe grail, I can say that I made the mistake of making this very top in a printed jersey that was just a smidgen off grain and the stripe matching made me seriously want to swear. Now that it is done, I love it, but I did NOT love sewing it. Definitely do not compromise on the yarn dyed stripe!
April 7, 2010 at 5:32 pm
amber
My guess is all of the stores have bought it out because I swear, I’ve seen a similar stripe all over the RTW stuff lately. Don’t know where to point you online, but if you haven’t found it by next week, I have to take a trip out to fabric mecca (aka Mood) and wouldn’t mind taking a peek there for you. Let me know.
April 7, 2010 at 5:39 pm
yammeringon
Here’s one on etsy, for your inner hippie:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41956167
April 7, 2010 at 5:44 pm
CGCouture
Try contacting Anne of Needle Nook. She’s got a bit of everything! You can find her contact info here: http://ndlnookfab.blogspot.com/ She’s fabulous, you’ll love her. :-)
Speaking of contact info, I haven’t found any for you, Elizabeth, or any of the other WordPress users to see if ya’ll are having trouble posting on Blogger too….or if any of you know the solution to the problem.
April 7, 2010 at 5:46 pm
juebejue
wow! I had looked for that a few month ago with no luck. I hope someone here would point you and me the right way, and hopefully I can snatch it before you get to it, muahahaha!
:)
April 7, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Megan
I have been through this lately, looking for navy and white stripes for a “Petit Bateau” style sailor T. I had no luck either. There is some truly awful stuff out there. Why do they make this garbage instead of classic basics and who do they think is going to buy it??? Anyhow, nothing here matches exactly, but try:
http://www.trimfabric.com/stripe.html
or
http://www.thefabricfairy.com/index.php/retail/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=stripes&limit=60&p=2
And *why* would anyone want a vertically striped knit?
April 7, 2010 at 6:27 pm
2muchfabric
Marcy Tilton has some wonderful striped knits! Be sure to scroll through all three pages in her knit fabric section, as the striped fabrics are scattered throughout each page.
http://www.marcytilton.com/index.php?cid=905
April 7, 2010 at 6:43 pm
beangirl
I have at least four pieces of this fabric (in various colors) in my stash. I’m pretty sure at least two of them came from Fashion Fabric Club (.com). Another source for the routine carrying of stripey fabric (my second favorite kind, next to paisley) is, of all places, Chez Ami. Yes, they make kids clothes. Yes, they use a LOT of ringstripe jersey and yes, they sell it by the yard. Can’t say for sure they have black and white for sale, but I can say that it’s very good quality.
April 7, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Emily
You may want to try marcytilton.com. I have never ordered from them but I do like the fabric selection and I have seen stripes there. Good luck on your search.
April 7, 2010 at 7:05 pm
kathleen
Gorgeous fabrics has some stripe-y choices: http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=3155
http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=8404
http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=6079
http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=2560
None are black and white, but all are yarn dyed :)
April 8, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Constance
I second the Gorgeous Fabrics plug, Everything from there is always so GORGEOUS I sometimes just leave it out to admire it… the DH who doesn’t notice if his shirt is inside out has been known to stop and say, Where’d you get that, its nice… High praise.
Ann always has top notch selections.
this is the one I thought would be great http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=8404 I love it when stripes are gathered a la http://www.stylehive.com/bookmark/ballroom-blitz-dressmod-retro-indie-clothing-vintage-clothes-560962
Good Luck!
April 7, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Kris
Maybe you could try Needle Nook in Wichita? No internet store, but I’ve called and gotten excellent service before. http://ndlnookfab.blogspot.com/
April 7, 2010 at 7:14 pm
sue
Here are a couple of suggestions. Just happened to be looking for the same thing for and am glad to share what I have found. Neither are exactly what I wanted so I have held off on pulling the trigger (though I am leaning toward the Emmaonesock version)…maybe they will fit your need.Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Black-White-Stripe-Poly-Lacoste-Knit-Fabric_W0QQitemZ170463928526QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Fabric?hash=item27b07120ce
It is polyester and has no lycra but it is black and white striped!
Emmaonesock also has some Italian Rayon(?)/lycra in a black, gray, and cream stripe. The gray stripe is much thinner than the black and cream.
April 7, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Noile
This has been driving me nuts. I LOVE nautical stripes (just a little friendly perversion), and they are all over the place in RTW this year. Not so much — not at all much! — in fabric-land. What gives? This is the year when I should have been able to buy all the black-and-white, navy-and-white, and red-and-white my little heart craves.
I do have a stash of brown-and-white and a bluish-pink-and-white I scarfed up at JoMar two years ago, but that’s it. And yes, it HAS to have a bit of Lycra in it.
Can you imagine? I was actually forced to buy a top at Forever 21 to indulge my stripe passion this spring. It made me so ill, I nearly died. Where is the justice?
April 7, 2010 at 7:48 pm
lorrwill
Does it have to be white?
http://store.sawyerbrook.com/Charter_p_50-1679.html
April 7, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Susannah
I was going to suggest Marcy Tilton as well (as Emily has done). I have bought fabric from her website in the past, and the quality has been good. If it is easy to do this from the end of the earth (Tasmania – look it up on google earth and, no, I don’t mean Tanzania in Africa), then it should be a piece of cake for you (at least you are on the same continent as Marcy!). The website is pretty easy to navigate, and an email or phone call could clarify anything not immediately obvious.
But why am i telling you this?!?!
April 7, 2010 at 8:02 pm
LynnR
http://www.marcytilton.com/item.php?pid=2728&cid=903
April 7, 2010 at 8:04 pm
LynnR
And a softer, “washed out” version;
http://www.marcytilton.com/item.php?pid=2552&cid=903
April 7, 2010 at 8:06 pm
LynnR
Navy & White
http://www.marcytilton.com/item.php?pid=2339&cid=903
April 7, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Brooke
Try MacCullough-Wallace (links follow) – they have:
– A lightweight viscose jersey here: http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/StretchFabrics!2535
– A mercerized cotton jersey in black and white here: http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/StretchFabrics!2602
– And a red stretch breton here: http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/StretchFabrics!2281
Or if none of those catch your fancy, you could try ordering something from hartsfabric.com–they often have speciality fabrics that you can’t get elsewhere. Or try Mood in NYC.
– Brooke at http:www.dailyskirt.blogspot.com
April 7, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Brooke
Oooh, Marcy Tilton does indeed have a fabulous striped knit–it’s a little more French-sailor than I think you’re going for, but one of the girls on ANTM was rocking a knit t-neck dress last week out of fabric last week, so I thought I’d pop a link in here for you: http://marcytilton.com/item.php?pid=2380&cid=905
Also I totally fubared my link in the last post. Doh. Here it is, now linkably linked: http://www.dailyskirt.blogspot.com: your rarely updated sewing blog from the left coast. Carry on.
April 7, 2010 at 10:49 pm
maremelade
If your not afraid of ordering fabrics in Europe, here is a great British jersey supplier:
http://cgi.ebay.fr/Stripe-navy-cream-viscose-cotton-stretch-Q45-NYCRM_W0QQitemZ280477073686QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Crafts_Fabric_Textiles_SM?hash=item414dbc8116#ht_1414wt_930
April 7, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Jana
Funny, I found a TON of striped cotton knits with varying weights and blends at the only decent fabric store in PHX today. Decided on purple/black and white/nautical blue. Hopefully you’re search is fruitful, I’d love to see a striped garment from you for inspiration :)
April 7, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Peppertoast
I bought the PERFECT cotton/lycra black and white stripe fabric from Emma One Sock. In fact I bought 3 yards of it and have already done my muslin of that very pattern for that fabric…. but I see it is sold out. SORRY.
PS hope you muslin that pattern, the neck is very wide and low cut.
April 8, 2010 at 1:23 am
Sue
I read your post/plea earlier and happened to come across this while at Nature’s Fabrics:
http://www.naturesfabrics.com/new-arrivals/black-and-white-stripes-on-cotton.html
I am supposed to be sewing but seem to be daydreaming instead and looking for new fabrics for myself!
April 8, 2010 at 4:27 am
Bron
Another one if you’re not averse to ordering from Europe, Alfatex often stock the fabrics used in the Burda magazines, how about these: http://www.alfatex.de/epages/alfatex.sf/sec2VcvbH748IA/?ViewAction=ViewSearchResults&ObjectID=4470 ?
April 8, 2010 at 4:28 am
Bron
Oops, sorry something went wrong with that link, but typing “ringel jersey” into the search box gave me five different stripy jersey fabrics.
April 8, 2010 at 4:57 am
Mikhaela Reid
Maybe I can help! I muslined that top in a solid but like you wanted to make a striped version. I found (and bought) the following possibilities:
* A dark gray and white striped cotton lycra knit from Spandex House… not black & white, but pretty close. They don’t have a picture of all their fabrics on their site, but it’s $6/yard, and if you called them or emailed them the picture I’m sure you could order it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/4284977403/in/set-72157622993363881/
* But I’ll probably use the above for a skirt instead, as I found this striped rayon-lycra knit for $8/yard at the Paron 50% Off Annex–they still have it in stock, though I have no clue if they do any mail order at alll… http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikhaela/4310294021/in/set-72157622993363881/
* I found some true black & white striped jersey for $1/yard at some random Garment District store, but it didn’t have lycra and I don’t have a photo… I could try to remember which store if you still need help or are interested!
April 8, 2010 at 5:20 am
inkstain
The new Burdas are up on the Russian site. It’s like clockwork…back to the safari again, which is my style, but I can imagine, you’re going to be grouchy and share with us your acid comments?
Please?
April 8, 2010 at 5:32 am
elcomitanrealestate
Wow! I am going to have to check out every post on this subject. I have been looking for woven strips like that.
Plain bold color on white. what sasy “summer” more than clean crisp stripes and whiet bottoms?
And I live where it is always summer!
Please check out my new sewing blog http://www.susansewsdaily.blogspot.com
April 8, 2010 at 5:39 am
Anonymous
Wow all those interesting links in the comments. I can spend all day checking them out!
I have been searching for woven stripes, Clean, crisp color on white.
Nothing speaks summer to me more than crisp striped tops over white bottoms.
Please visit my new sewing site: http://www.susansewsdaily.blogspot.com
April 8, 2010 at 8:42 am
Karen
I share your pain. Apparently, the RTW market decimated the supply of black and white striped jersey (perhaps they were being a bit selfish!)
I went to Textile Fabrics in Nashville (which has a good bit of the good stuff!) certain that they would have it, but to no avail!
However, the unselfish nature of your followers with their various links have ensured that I have found stripes that capture the essence of what I want even while I traveled into slightly different colors schemes than I originally planned. I wish you well with your forays into stripe shopping surrounded by scarcity!
April 8, 2010 at 10:14 am
Kennis
Ah. Thanks for posting this question! Look at the power of your readership! I have been searching high and low for a stripe white and navy fabric after seeing “Coco Before Chanel”. Now I have more than enough sources! Thanks :-)
April 8, 2010 at 11:09 am
Kris
Now that we have fabric options, does anyone know the pattern for the finished striped top from this post? I daren’t ask the Selfish One.
April 8, 2010 at 11:48 am
Shelley
Can I second (or third?) Marcy Tilton? She had a booth at the Sew Expo in Seattle, and so I saw her knits in person – they’re gorgeous. And, according to her, she’s always on the hunt for the perfect stripes, so it’s a great place to look.
April 8, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Brooke
Mikhaela Reid’s right about Spandex House – go to the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page: http://www.spandexhouse.com/products.asp?id=101&pname=Stripes
What the hell? What kind of volunteery gas are you pumping through the Interwebs to harness me for the duration?
April 13, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Brooke
Hey, I don’t know if you’re still looking for this, but Denver Fabrics is having a sale on striped jersey where the strips look about an inch in width. Here it is in navy (tres nautical): http://www.denverfabrics.com/catalog_itemdetail.aspx?ItmID=RR166
I did not see it in black, though.
April 17, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Jamie
It is 100% cotton, but the stripes are about right…
http://www.nyfashioncenterfabrics.com/100-cotton-stripes.html
April 28, 2010 at 11:44 am
No regrets for the one that got away « The Selfish Seamstress
[…] by readers), I discovered a black and white striped knit, and as you may remember, I’ve been trying to find one for a while and still haven’t quite found what I’m looking for. This one wasn’t […]
June 17, 2010 at 9:18 pm
lorrwill
She stole your fabric
http://asewnwardrobe.blogspot.com/2010/06/gathered-back-slouchy-top-vogue-8514.html