moushka
 
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Date: 6/28/12 2:32 PM My sewing friend would like to recreate this outfit to wear to a formal wedding in mid-September and then to a fancy Christmas party. She wants to make it in one of her 'autumn' colours,
Monique L'Huillier cocktail ensemble
in bronze, brown, copper, olive or periwinkle blue. I'm helping her find the fabrics. We were thinking 4ply silk crepe or a silk/linen blend (perhaps underlined in silk organza) for the dress and a matching colored lace for the jacket. Her sewing skills are top-notch, so construction details aren't a problem. I've ordered a few swatches from Mood. Anyone have any other ideas? Paron and Thai silks both came up empty. She's had lots of experience at dyeing so that's also a possibility. TIA. |
Courtney Ostaff
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Date: 6/28/12 11:59 PM I got some hand-dyed silk fairly reasonable from Etsy, but that might take a little too much time. Silk twill might be good (silk/cotton blend?). Silk poplin? http://www.fabric.com/apparel-fashion-fabric-silk-fabric-radiance-cotton-silk-poplin-fabric-radiance-cotton-silk-poplin-gold.aspx
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Sauvage
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MA USA
Member since 7/22/09
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 1 member likes this. If your friend can dye maybe she'd take one on one of Dharma's hemp/silk blends:hemp/silk.
Those amusing people (NAYY) at Dharma say "If this fabric were human, you'd want to marry it." I look to the day when my sewing skills merit a hemp/silk project....
Hemp Traders also has a blend in a few colors including brown: hemp/silk/cotton (NAYY with them, neither). That might not be shiny enough if she goes for bronze or copper (hubba hubba!). ------
Jeanne
"Let me live in a world of image and I will never complain." --Louise Bourgeois |
ConnieBJ
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Date: 6/29/12 8:55 AM How about Lacestar ? I haven't been there, but I have heard the fabric is gorgeous, albeit the prices steep. It doesn't look like they have a usable website, but a call might work. The dress is beautiful by the way! ------
Connie Bontje
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ConnieBJ
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Date: 6/29/12 9:00 AM Or have you tried LA Fabric on Queen St in Toronto? It's my go to local(ish) store for top notch bridal type fabric. Or Leo's across the street. I got some beautiful lace there for a dress once, and matching stretch silk charmeuse from LA. Just a thought! ------
Connie Bontje
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Desperately trying to keep ahead of my pattern, fabric and dressform collection! |
moushka
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Date: 6/30/12 4:34 AM Courtney, Sauvage, ConnieBJ,
Thank you for your recommendations, all of which I will check out.
ConnieBJ, thank you for reminding me of LA Fabrics. I haven't been there in years and had forgotten the name until you mentioned it. We will make a visit to the Queen Street/Spadina area of TO and start there. Great suggestion. I remember looking at LAF for the silk for my daughter's wedding dress. I honestly can't remember where we bought it, but it was nearly a decade ago and I haven't been back to the area since. I know you are well-versed in wedding and special occasion sewing from PR reviews of your beautiful daughters' weddings.
Thanks for the thumbs' up on the ensemble.
Sue |
Nancy K
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Date: 6/30/12 6:22 AM Try Banksville Designer Fabrics. They have a website but it's more a list of of fabrics. You either email them with what you are looking for ore you can call them and get samples. B&J Fabrics has a website now and they have gorgeous, top quality laces and fabrics. Expensive, but the highest quality. If they don't have it online give them a call or an email and they will send samples. They are lovely to work with.
There is also Lace Star in NYC that has incredible things. They do not have a website but I would think that they would send you samples. They were reviewed recently on Shop The Garment District. She also reviewed other high end fabric shops in the garment district. ------
www.nancyksews.blogspot.com |
schmammy
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Date: 6/30/12 10:11 AM Oh my! I REALLY want to try the hemp/silk from Dharma's. Have you used it? How hard is it to dye fabric? Is there a cheap fabric you can practice on? Thanks so much for the link! ------
Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet
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solosmocker
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Date: 7/1/12 7:52 AM I would also recommend Banksville. You call and speak to the most helpful people who know their stock inside out. Tell them what you want and they will send you a raft of generously sized samples. You then place your order with them. These folks are really good and are driven by the challenge to find just what you need.
That is one gorgeous ensemble! ------
http://lasewist.blogspot.com/ |
Sauvage
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Member since 7/22/09
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Date: 7/1/12 4:42 PM Dyeing is not too hard unless you're trying to dye polyester or you are trying to get specific, repeatable results. It's actually quite fun to scrunch dye or tie-dye stuff like silk scarves, T-shirts, canvas laundry bags, cotton batiste. The main worry is not whether you could do it but....if you get hooked, do you have time and room for another hobby?
You could practice on cotton, rayon, bamboo--they all take the same kind of dye as hemp (fiber reactive--silk takes that or so-called acid dyes). Don't want to hijack this thread, though, so PM if you want more information. Or we could go to the Fabric board.... ------
Jeanne
"Let me live in a world of image and I will never complain." --Louise Bourgeois |
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