Fabric Watch

Today I ventured out to sunny Dalston - yes it was actually a beautiful sunny day! (it's been grey and dismal lately). I've been living in London for about 30 years now and have never been along to the famous Ridley Road market until now! I'd been hearing about a fabric shop called Dalston Mill for yonks so decided to visit as I needed to get some fabric for my next project. I wasn't disappointed, the place is jam packed with fabrics from floor to ceiling in the main ground floor room. The staff there are very helpful and it wasn't long before I was directed to another room crammed and heaving with wools and suiting....my studio mate later told me that there's another room upstairs filled with silks! They also sell haberdashery and wool. A great shop, I'll definitely will be going back.......

Move Yer Harris!

I received this fabulous Harris Tweed book for Christmas from the Lovely Libby. . a few days later after getting the book I treated myself to a length of real Harris tweed that I bought from Merchant & Mills' new shop in Rye....I can't wait to turn it into tabby cats......watch this space! 

Remains Of The Day

At the beginning of the year I went fabric shopping, something that I haven't done in yonks! It was a great morning, I went to Soho and went into the old shops that I used to go to and I discovered new shops too (new to me that is, ha ha!). I  rekindled my love of finding new fabrics, it was quite thrilling and has inspired me to go on searching for delicious fabrics wherever I find myself. I ventured into the basement of a shop called Misan, which is full of end of roll pieces and remnants - there I found a lovely piece of fabric that was begging to be made into ginger toms the results of which you can see above......here's to fabrics old and new!!!!!!

Denim Dignity

3x1: Making a Jean from 3x1 on Vimeo.


During our trip to New York last year, me and the other half went to a really interesting jeans shop called 3 X 1. Instead of having the cutters, seamsters (I don't know if this is a word, but I like it!)and seamstresses hidden away in a basement or attic or distant village, they are placed in full view on the shop floor within a glass walled room, so you can see bespoke jeans taking shape before your very eyes! You can choose from an incredibly wide selection of 150+ types of denim along with thread, zips, rivets and studs in an array of colours to create your own custom made jeans. Needless to say this service will cost you a pretty penny and will reflect the true price of making garments that have been made by workers who have been paid a living wage in decent working conditions. Don't let the price tag put you off visiting because it is an enjoyable experience with welcoming staff and gorgeous fabrics to stroke and coo over! 

Above is one of 3 x 1 videos that can be found on their website, if you've got a couple of minutes take a look at how a pair of jeans is made at this inshop mini factory......

3 X 1, 15 mercer St, SoHo, NYC.

Manchester News

A while back we went up to Manchester (the other half taking part in a group show - see here). As always I looked out for haberdashery/wool shops and he looked out for vinyl record shops, which we found, incredibly on the same street only a few doors apart from each other!

 My find is on two exciting levels, the place is crammed with all types of fabrics, buttons, trimmings, patterns wool you name it.

In one section the fabric was sold by the kilo as you can see above in a rainbow of colours...

  and in my favourites denim and.....

and corduroy..... a seamstresses delight!

New York, New York!!!

Just back from a week long visit to New York. As always we packed in loads of sight seeing, art exhibitions and caught up with friends. The main reason for the trip was for the other half's show at the Sohotel Art Space which as always was fabulous - well done that man! I will be posting more photos of our adventures in the very near future as I gradually get back into my routine, which is going to involve more walking! We walked across two bridges this visit, the Williamsburgh and the Manhattan added to the Brooklyn Bridge we moseyed across a few years back. Wherever I go on my travels I always try to seek out haberdashery/ wool shops. This time I made a beeline for a shop called Purl Soho which satisfied all of my fabric and wool stroking tendencies as well as bombarding my eyes with a multitude of gorgeous colours and prints - ahhh bliss! I think I better go and lie down now, feeling woosey.......

Floral Tribute

When I was last in Birmingham I went to my favourite Brummy fabric emporium the Fancy Silk Store and bought this cheerful needlecord, the sales assistant tried to convince me that it was 'Jamaican Style' (nice try!), but I think it is from the 1960's as it was way down under the biggest stack of corduroy you've ever seen!

Reely!

We went out for a walk around Knightsbridge today and came across this nifty thread holder in a drycleaners.

Into The Hoods

I only had one day in the studio this week, I had a go at making a snorkel style hoodie as you can see from these samples. I also popped into one of our local haberdashers called Beyond Fabrics, it wasn't until I got back to the studio that I noticed how my threads had been cleverly packaged using a carefully folded page of a magazine, top marks to Beyond Fabrics, check them out here.

International Stock?

Visited the folks and also popped into the local high street to look at the charity shops and such like. I also went to International Stock which is always amusing - check out the bizarre polar bear display. International Stock sells a wide range of fire & flood damaged/ end of line/bankrupt stock. I've visited it for years, when the girls were little i would stock up on stationery that must have been printed up in the 1960's, fuelling hours of imaginative play with old forms/stickers and chits from another era. Today I looked around and on offer was: about 100 child car seats, music sheets, instrument cases and violins, horse saddles, fishing tackle, doors, christmas decorations, tropical fish tanks and stuff that I couldn't recognise! Bliss!

Prick Your Finger

Today I popped into 'Prick Your Finger', even though it's just up the road from my studio I don't visit often enough. Rachael and Louise whose venture it is are two very inspirational ladies, they are usually up to their eyeballs in projects and schemes, and their shop is filled with delights for knitters - I love them! Check out PYF's blog here, it's my favourite.

It's All Clear To Me Now!

I always enjoy going to my favourite wool shop called 'Honor Parry', apart from being filled with loads of knitting yarns and notions, it is run by a fabulous woman (Honor?) who is so friendly and knowledgeable that I always feel uplifted and inspired by the time I leave. As well as buying wool, I also bought this little gizmo that caught my eye, it is a knitting dolly. My dad made me one when I was little but he used a wooden cotton reel and four nails. Thinking about it now I probably learnt how to knit on a dolly before using needles, it's much easier. When I saw this new dolly I thought wow!, this is great because you'll be able to see your knitting as it 'grows' down the centre of the dolly.

If you happen to be in Battersea, pop into Honor Parry, 206 Battersea Park Road, London.