The Goods

After the buttonholes were finished, I spent the rest of the day in the trim, button and notions shops. I also went to the more expensive fabric shops (where I would be broadening my fabric horizons more than acquiring). On the second day, I would return and do the rest of the fabric stores. My reasoning for this plan was that I was meeting the Preacher for a play on Broadway that evening and didn't want to be loaded down with bulky bags of fabric. Buttons and trim are easier to stash away.

So, let's get to the good stuff...

Clockwise from top left: striped ribbons in two different colorways, likely will become hairbows for my girls; flower printed webbing for a tote bag for older daughter; D-rings and latches for tote bags, wristlets, or purses; brown ribbon, likely for me but I have no specific intention for it right now (it looks like denim up close).

Picot-edged and fold-over elastics

I find the elastic selection at my local fabric store very bleak. I was tempted to buy so much elastic, but also felt like getting the proper elastic is rather project-specific. These few seemed both safe enough to be used up easily and also interesting to me.

These are all shirting fabrics from various stores. Most of this is just to add to the stash - I have no imminent projects planned for them. The chambray, however, is the exception. I have several projects "planned" for that chambray (dress, shirt, shorts, skirt, etc) - so hard to decide which to do! All of them would probably be overkill and I don't have enough yardage, but I love chambray and I particularly love the shade of this one.

These are the knits I purchased. The white piece is already cut up into two different summer tops. Strange to go all the way to NYC for white jersey, but this was less than a third of what I'd pay for it here. I'm not sure exactly what I'll do with the navy stripe (I know it looks black here, but it's navy) and the green print will be a dress, but I'm not sure what season it will be for.

Here we have the only bottomweights I bought. The white piece is a heavy stretch denim so I can try Jalie 2908. The plaid is a stretch woven that I'd like to turn into a summer skirt.

I purchased the orange necktie silk in a fit of inspiration when I went in Beckenstein. That store is incredible. And so far out of my league. But, the silk was a good deal and I thought making a necktie for the Preacher would be a good challenge. The gray fabric is from another shop and is for the lining.

I fell hard for this gray and yellow patchwork fabric. It seemed so summery to me and so different from anything else in my closet. It will likely become a skirt as well, but I haven't decided on a pattern. The gray knit is bamboo and beautifully soft. It will become a top to wear with the skirt.

And that's it. I didn't last nearly as long as I was hoping to on the second day. Fabric is heavy and my shoulders were not willing to carry any more. But, I saw all the stores I wanted to see and am very happy with my purchases. Nearly all the fabric is washed, dried, and moved into the fabric closet.

Now I find myself in a bit of a holding pattern. My iron stopped working last week. I ordered a new one, but  its ETA is a little uncertain. Any sewing time that I've had available has been used to cut things out. I've got quite a few projects ready to go whenever it arrives!