Malaysian Fabric Heritage

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Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of “Wardrobe Magic,” an ebook that shows women how to transform their unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes. Visit her online at http://www.fashionforrealwomen.com.

It is relatively common to use wool in quilts. These quilts are outstanding for cold weather.

Wool retains heat extremely well. Wool probably retains heat better than cotton, and has the same wicking properties (they draw moisture away from your body and allows it to evaporate.) Wool quilts were very common during the Civil War, and were credited with saving many lives during the harsh winters.

Wool is a little more difficult to work with than cotton. Because it is generally thicker (each thread of wool is thicker than each thread of cotton), the seam allowances don’t finger press well, and will require pins to keep them in place.

Because of the thickness, the quilt will be bulkier, and it may require a stronger sewing machine needle to sew through all of the layers.

Hand quilting is different because of the thickness of the fabric and also the weave. Some wools have fewer threads per inch than cotton, so your quilting stitches should be longer, and you may want to use a thicker thread.

Until recently, wool was mostly “Dry Clean Only.” Each strand of wool has little barbs on it. When they become wet and agitated (as in a washing machine), the barbs join together, never to be separated. This is called “felting,” and creates a piece of fabric or quilt that is about 1/3 its original size. very disappointing if you have spent hours on the project and were hoping to would remain the same size.

New wool is on the market that they say is washable and will not shrink. Using a new biotech process, wool can be treated so it is washable in your home washing machine and will not shrink. This is a great benefit, and will require quilters to know the difference and which wool they have, so a tragic mistake is not made.

Wools tend to be more expensive than cotton, and the variety of colors and patterns available is somewhat limited. As quilters venture into other types of fabric, the selection is increasing, so look for a wider variety of wool in the future – including hand-dyed wools.

Final thoughts. With all of its challenges, wool makes great quilts. They are cuddly and warm, and drape very nicely. Try wool batting in the quilt for a 100% wool quilt.

There is so much variety available in fabric shops, on-line, and in mail-order catalogs that it’s almost difficult to choose. Often, I end up buying fabric whether I need it right now or not. After all, a quilter must always have fabric on hand.

The “magic” comes when you find a fabric that you fall in love with. Finding a suitable fabric usually isn’t difficult for a project you’re working on. Settling on just one fabric is the hard part.

Here are some criteria to keep in mind when making fabric selections: colorfast quality; fiber content; surface design. If you stick to some guidelines about these criteria, then you’re sure to be pleased with the final result of your project.

Surface Design:

The printed or woven surface design and, of course, the color, is very important.

1) Try to pick fabrics with the same color value so one doesn’t stand out in the finished quilt.

2)Check to see if there is a one-way direction in the design; you may need to purchase extra fabric to allow for cutting fabrics with plaids or stripes.

3) The size of the design and the background spaces are also important considerations. Are the designs large, medium, or small? Is the background area prominent? How will this particular fabric look when cut it into small quilt pieces? If the design is too widely spaced, it may be lost in the cutting of the fabric.

Take a few minutes to analyze fabric and keep these questions in mind when purchasing fabric. It is far better to have left over fabric than be working on a project and run out of material. I’ve run out before only to find that the fabric is no longer in stock.

Colorfast Quality:

Avoid fabrics that fade. Pigment-dyed fabric resists light 40 hours. Wet-printed resists light 20 hours. The best thing to avoid having your quilt fade is to keep it out of direct sunlight.

Fiber Content:

The fiber content is especially important when purchasing fabric for quilts. The way fabric responds to manipulation is determined by the fiber content. The standard 100% cotton fabric sold for quilting is easy to work with and this is the best choice.

Cotton blends are harder to work with; they tend to shift while cutting or sewing them. 100% cotton is strong when wet, absorbs moisture, creases easily, irons nicely at high temperatures and wears well.

Beware of Discount Fabric:

For a good finished product, quilters need to purchase good-quality, colorfast cotton fabric from a reputable supplier. I’ve bought fabric from discount stores because I liked the print. Then I had trouble manipulating the material; it would shift and bunch as I sewed it.

The finished product usually reflected the problems I encountered while sewing. No matter how much money I saved on material, my time was wasted by producing a less than satisfactory quilt.

In order to be happy with your finished product, I recommend that you buy what appeals to you… as long as it is good-quality, colorfast cotton fabric that is treated with finishes to control shrinkage, resist soil, and resist wrinkling.

Janet Montie shares helpful tips and discoveries from a lifelong study of topics related to fabric and quilting. Visit First Class Fabric and The Quilt Box, your premier resources on-line for information on fabric or quilts.

The past few weeks I have been sorting through my overwhelming collection of fabric. Yes, for most of you this may only take a few hours or a couple days, but for my toppling stash, it can very easily take a couple of weeks! As I am sorting different pieces into piles for projects, several thoughts are running through my mind – Why did I ever buy this fabric? Why didn’t I buy another yard of that? Oh, I wish I had the coordinate to this floral! I’m tired of this fabric; it has sat on my shelf for over 5 years and I still haven’t used it.

Often I will end up with more fabric than I need for a project or not quite enough for what I am wanting to do. What are my guidelines for buying fabric? Everyone has their own ideas, but here are a few of my thoughts…

When I first started sewing and buying fabric, I had a 3 yard rule. It didn’t matter what it was, if I liked it, I bought 3 yards. In my mind this gave me enough for several kinds of garments, lots of quilt blocks and borders and plenty for cutting and stitching errors. Several years later, I knew my 3 yard rule had to change. Not only was I running out of space to store all my fabric, but my checkbook just couldn’t handle the expense.

I desperately needed to develop a new strategy for buying fabric, so I came up with the following rules:

It’s a piece I love & can use in various ways, 3-4 yards.

It’s something I like & don’t have anything that is similar, 2-3 yards.

I absolutely love it, but don’t have any idea what I’ll use it for, 1-2 yards.

It’s unique & different, but not my favorite, 1/2 – 1 yard.

It’s on sale for a fantastic price & can be used in a hundred different ways, whatever is left on the bolt.

Now, with quite a fabric stash built up, I don’t always buy following these guidelines. Over the years my taste and thinking in fabric has changed. Some fabrics I have used and am now tired of trying to use in new projects. A few are dated in the sense that some prints and colors are popular for a time and then go out of style. I have also developed more of a feel for which fabrics I will be more likely to use and what projects I can create from them.

I still love fabric and will indulge in several yards here and there, but not to the extent that I did in past years. I try to keep in mind the following:

I’m using it for a project right now, whatever I need plus 1/4-1/2 yard extra.

It’s a solid, marbled, textured, or tone on tone print that can easily be used to stitch embroidery designs on, plus many other uses, 3-4 yards.

It’s a novelty fabric, floral design, kid’s theme or Christmas print and I love it, 1-2 yards.

What’s my theory behind these guidelines? If I am only purchasing a yardage amount for a project, I like to have a little extra. That way if I make mistakes such as figuring wrong measurements or cutting wrong sizes, I’m still ok. A solid, marbled, textured or tone on tone fabric is perfect for embellishing with embroidery; for obvious reasons – the designs will show up on these fabrics versus a busy print. Not only are these pieces great for embroidery, but they also work well for blending or coordinating novelty and floral print fabrics. A fabric that is an obvious or busy print is more limited and can’t be used quite as many ways as a solid, so I try not to buy as much of it. It can easily be incorporated with several solids or tone on tone fabrics.

This lets me get the fabric I need, while letting me purchase some fabric for future use. It keeps my fabric stash in check, but doesn’t let it dwindle down to nothing! There are still times when I enter a fabric store or go online and buy more than I really need. Or as my mom used to say when I would come home with a sack full of fabric or another box of fabric arrived at our front door, “You just can’t stand it; you just had to buy it!” But when starting a new project, I try to use fabric from my collection with maybe only needing to buy a piece or two to blend in with what I already own.

Do I regret having the fabric that keeps my shelves overflowing? No, definitely not! Maybe I went a little overboard, but I have found it very useful to have multiple pieces in several colors of prints and solids. I can pull out pieces and coordinate the colors I want for whatever project I am currently work on. I may only need one or two additional pieces to complete it or perhaps none at all.

The next time you are ready to buy yards of fabric, keep in mind what you are going to use it for. Is it just something you love and will not really use? Or is it a marbled or textured piece of fabric that can be used to stitch embroidery designs, blend with floral or novelty fabrics or used as a quilt backing?

Do keep in mind that your fabric buying habits and ideas will change. There will be times when you are sewing more projects with prints versus solids or batiks. Or perhaps two or three colors will grab your attention for several months. There are most certainly no rights or wrongs in purchasing fabric, just different ideas. Thinking about what you are buying and the reason for it may help your stash to be put into quilts and other projects instead of just sitting on the shelf.

Ladies,

Spring has come for some of us and will happen soon for others. Here
are some tips for creating a new spring/summer fashion to your wardrobe.
Go to your favorite fabric store and purchase a 1/2 yard ( 18″ by
54 to 60″ wide) of stretch fabric.

This will be enough to make a tube top and cover a pair of thong
sandals. If you have three or four pairs, pruce them up by covering
them up with other different types of print stretch fabrics.
Now make the tube tops to match them and you have a new
spring and summer look. Take those old flip flops sandals out of
the closet.

1. You start by covering the sides with your new
fabric (the stretch fabric), you can use a spray adhesive (3M
Supper adhesive) you can purchase at a hardware store. Cover the
top and bottom part of the sandals so you don’t get any adhesive on
those areas.

Cut a wide strip of fabric that will wrap around the sides of the
body of the sandal and cut away the excess hanging over the top edge
and bottom edge.

2. Now cut a strip to cover the top part of the thong.
Make sure you protect the area where you feet sits onto the sandal
by covering the part where your feet rest on the insole. Use
brown paper bag with masking tape. Spray the thong and spray the
inside or wrong side of the fabric and press it onto the thong material
part of the shoe. Have a new sole put on those that need it.

3. Tube top blouse are very simple to make. Just cut the fabric 3″
less than the size of the width of your waist. Example, if your
waist is 28 inches cut the fabric 25 inches wide,
fold and sew edges together, 1/2 inch on the seam.

A good stretchy fabric that stretches both direction is what you look
for in a good stretch fabric. It will fit comfortably on
your bust size as well.

Enjoy your new fashion. Also suitable for young teens and little girls.
For a step by step illustration go to: http://www.deyostudios.com
You’ll see swatches of new spring stretch fabrics we sell. We also
sell cement adhesive kit with brushes. This cement gives a better and
tigher final attachment. It’s sold by the ounce (2 1/2 oz).
You can also see other creations and designs that may be of interest.

Do you have a yen to wear vintage clothing but aren’t sure how to begin?  Or perhaps you’d like to update your look without breaking the bank.  Vintage scarves are the answer.  They are easy to find, easy to wear and affordable.  Here’s three reasons you’ll want to add a versatile vintage scarf to your fashion repertoire.

1. Vintage scarves are a classic style that can be made fresh and new.

Scarves have been worn since ancient Rome.  They’ve been used as neck wraps and belts and for warmth and for beauty in every fabric from wool to cotton to silk.  Fashion trends may come and go but the scarf is always in style and can be worn on the wrist, neck, head, hand bag and even as a light wrap or shawl.  Try twisting several sheer scarves in complimentary colors to get a swirl of color or make a halter top from a larger scarf.

2. A stylish scarf is a small investment that can perk up any outfit.

Does your wardrobe need a lift?  Then add a colorful vintage scarf in silk or rayon to a jacket, dress or handbag.  Scarves can be mixed and matched to your own wardrobe and come in all price ranges depending on the label, age and fabric.  Designer labels and scarves printed with a maker mark usually command a higher price. If you want an affordable collectible look for the “Vera” label or logo printed on the scarf.  It’s a quality brand that is still being made.   There are also plenty of vintage scarves without labels that are made using quality fabrics and can still be found for a modest sum.  After all, pay less and you may be able to buy two!

3. A scarf is uniquely yours.

Why buy new mass produced goods when each vintage scarf is its own unique treasure in a rainbow of colors and designs. The chances are very slim that you’ll find a duplicate style or color in vintage. Create your own flair or statement with a neck wrap or shawl and make it your signature look. Check pictures online to get inspired then let the scarf flow as a neck wrap, hair tie or wrap turban.  You can tuck it in a jacket pocket or tie it at the waist for a splash of color. Add a pin or a second sheer scarf as an accent. With experimentation one scarf can become a dozen looks.

Check flea markets, your neighborhood boutique and online sites to see prices and availability of vintage scarves.  Watch for quality fabrics like silk and rayon or choose cotton or polyester for durability and bright colors. Always check the scarf tags for maker and washing instructions.  If there is no label assume it should be hand washed.   Be sure to experiment with different size scarves and unleash your creativity.  Enjoy the hunt for the perfect vintage scarf and your lucky find will never go out of style.

Fun Fact: Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, both fashion icons, were know for their distinctive way with a scarf.  Hepburn often wore a head scarf to frame her heart shaped face and highlight her luminous eyes. Grace Kelly wore her scarf  as a way to protect her hairstyle and still look glamorous while traveling.  This style with the scarf over the head, wrapped around and tied at the throat is known as the “Grace Kelly.”

If you’re into fashion and designer clothing, then you must be very interested in the latest trends this summer. Look chic and stylish this season. Designer clothes or at least designer-inspired garments would definitely give your confidence a big boost.

Here’s a rundown of what’s hot this season:

1. Ruffles

Ruffles are actually an all-time favorite. But this time of the year, it’s making a huge comeback in the designer’s turf. Ruffles would look great on girls who prefer to don a lady-like look. Just keep in mind that ruffles draw attention to the body part that it is closest to. So if you have a pretty face, go for ruffles in the neckline. If you have great legs, ruffled hemline would suit you best.

2. Tribal designs

Exotic designs are making waves today. The safari or tribal look usually appears in accessories, fabric, or prints in the clothes. They come in the form of beaded jewelry, safari jackets, and animal prints. Use them against your modern clothes for the best effect.

3. Glitzy shoes

A woman can never have too many pairs of shoes. So better get those statement sandals ready. Today’s trends call for beaded, jeweled, and sparkly strap sandals with high heels. It’s perfect for almost any type of clothes, from business suits to jeans.

4. Off-shoulder, asymmetrical clothes

If you’re in to what’s hot and stylish, better go for asymmetrical, off-shoulder blouses and dresses. Show off your shoulders and toned arms. The gladiator look / goddess look very is popular today. Pair it with gladiator sandals to seal the effect.

5. High and low hemline

In dresses, this is the latest craze. The dress with a high and low hemline is something that would show your knees up front but would go a little longer at the back. The design is perfect for evening wears and casual wears.

The suit chosen should not only suit the occasion but also be a perfect fit for the person wearing it. It is indeed a great task, picking the perfect men’s suit. There are many varieties to choose from. There are also various styles and designs that suit different occasions.

When a man attends a formal occasion where he is invited, like a wedding, it is best to wear a tuxedo. The tuxedo consists of black pants and a black coat with or without tailcoats. The vest is simple and light colored for traditional functions and wild colored and patterned for a more modern function. The person generally wears a black tie and a white cummerbund. The coat lapels can be of four types – notch, peak, shawl or any other variety. The traditional coat has just one or two buttons while the modern coat has up to six buttons. The pants generally have a stripe at the side. The traditional occasion demands a black bow tie.

A white tuxedo is worn during official functions. This consists of a white shirt, a white tie, a white or a black tailcoat with matching pants. The white shirt does not have buttons but is done up with white, diamond or silver studs, which should match the cuff links. The coat should cover the waistcoat and the tails should be beneath the knees.

Mens suits

The zoot suit is a suit in which the trousers are high waisted and wide legged. The pants are gathered at the ankles. The coat is long with wide lapels and wide shoulders. The shoes that are worn are pointed and a felt hat with a feather is also used as an accessory. It is generally worn for a dance or a party. The zoot suit needs a lot of fabric to make the suit and thus shows extravagance and is a symbol of youth.

An overcoat is worn over a suit to ward off the cold in a cold climate. It is generally worn below the knee and can be worn over suits, casual wear or any other dress. An overcoat is worn to keep warm and therefore should be made of heavy cloth. You can choose between single and double breasted coats. Some coats have buttons or zips. You can choose between full length and three-fourth length overcoats. You can have matching buttons. You can also have on to six buttons depending on your likes.

Suits are very important for attending business events. The suit should be a perfect fit and for this you need to have the right measurements taken. The style of the suit, the material and the finish are all very important.

The perfect men’s suit can be picked by deciding the occasion for which it has to be worn. Care should be taken in getting the right type of fabric, the right measurements and the right fit. You also have to know whether you are going to attend a wedding, a formal function, a business meeting or a party. For a wedding you should pick a tuxedo. For a formal meeting you should get a business suit. For a party you should get a zoot suit and if the weather is very cold you will need an overcoat over these dresses.

You can browse the internet, read the latest magazines and then decide which type of suit you want to invest in. Depending on your needs and your budget, you can decide whether you want to get designer suits or suits from an ordinary store. The designer suits will be very expensive and will fit perfectly. In the local stores too, you can get good deals and pick the best suit that fits you. After you have done a thorough research about the different styles and designs, you can pick the perfect men’s suit.

John Richard is a SEO copywriter for Overcoat. He has written various articles like Tuxedos, Zoot suits, Black suits and more. For more information visit our site http://www.mensitaly.com/ Contact him at johnrichardseo@gmail.com.

It was bound to happen. Men have been lolling around in comfortable clothes that are just a little too tattered around the edges for far too long and the backlash has started! Now sharp, stylish and svelte are firmly back in fashion – just in time for summer.

This ‘wear it smart’ movement’s figurehead is style guru and TV and radio presenter George Lamb, who recently scooped the Best Dressed Man of the Year award. The canny Scot collected his accolade at The Clothes Show Style Awards in London, confirming his status as the UK’s most on-trend guy and a closer examination of his outfits gives a clue to this summer’s essential look.

Although, it is not mandatory that you opt for Lamb’s trademark ‘bow-tie’ look, wearing smart clothes and thinking ‘laid-back and vintage’ is essential this summer. Simple layering with sun-bleached and cool colours, using tees or vests with a check shirt or tunic on top, worn with bleached faded jeans or denim shorts is the on-trend look. Accessories such as plaited leather belt, beach beads, straw trilby and a summer scarf complete the Traveller look.

Also big this summer will be the Riviera trend, especially around the pool or on the beach, which features vibrant reds, ocean blues and a lot of bright white. Smart alternatives for this look include cotton chino-style trousers, Wayfarer sunglasses and this summer’s essential footwear – white plimsolls.

So, have no doubt when it comes to men’s clothing for summer 2009, ’smart’ is the key. Close-fitting and smart with not a fray in sight this summer’s wardrobe pays homage to the classic style of our fathers and grandfathers.

To ensure that you can complete this summer’s ’smart’ look here is a list of the top five essentials:

• Simple stripe tee: in solid contrasting colours preferably red and navy or grey and white;
• Polo top: take inspiration from the mod era and go for a tipped version;
• White plimsolls: this summer classic matches with just about everything in your summer wardrobe;
• Cotton trousers: checks again, or simple stripes and bold colours in navy, green and even on-trend pink;
• Accessories: opt for hats, particularly trilbies and mix with cotton scarves and an on-trend man bag

The time has come to get stylish. Goodbye to the days of lounging around in old shorts and Hawaiian shirts. This year, dress up your wardrobe and celebrate the summer in style.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.