Vintage Kimono Fabrics: About, Use, and Sources

Thanks to international retail being so easy via the internet, recycled kimono fabrics exported directly from Japan have become readily available to sewers abroad. These incredibly beautiful fabrics present tons of opportunities and challenges to the sewist and fashion designer willing to rescue them. They're worth the effort; the exquisite embroideries and printed motifs are so unlike what may be found at your average fabric shop, and honestly, they're so beautiful I'm glad they're being given another go at life.

Needlework,  Kitagawa Utamaro, c. 1797

Vintage Sewing Patterns: Resources, Preservation, and Use

Vintage patterns, I adore them! A modern sewist, collaborating with an artisan of the past, a step out of time. There is something poetic about sewing with them, isn't there? Breathing life back into these old patterns can be a more personal experience than passively buying vintage clothing. It also bypasses the fit issue associated with existing vintage clothing, which were often designed to be worn over the binding undergarments of their era. Me, I'm not too keen on that 'binding' bit there, so I alter them for casual wear.

Sewing with these patterns can be a challenge, though, as they use different markings and the fit usually needs some adaptation. Here I've outlined a few tips: storage, use, and some vintage pattern resources that will hopefully help you on your own vintage pattern adventure.

Pattern from my stash: 1930s McCall 9157

Resources for the Sewer: Fabric, Notions, Specialty Supplies

If you're like me, you might live in an area where it's not possible to find your sewing supplies in a brick and mortar store. Or, also like me, you don't have a car. It could be that all you have available to you is a Joann Fabrics. Limiting not to mention expensive, right? Sure, a lot can be said for physically being able to touch your fabric in person. But, for a lot of us, that simply isn't a possibility.

I'm hoarding these fabrics like a dragon hoards gold.

Don't worry about sourcing supplies, though. With some links and some good practices, you can reliably source the best materials available, almost anywhere, thanks to the internet. And if I'm honest with you, it's a boon because nothing terrifies my social-anxietied heart more than interacting with hard-sell salespeople. Or just people in general. Moving on!

Fabric Painting 101, Illustrated

I put this tutorial together for the benefit of artists and fashion designers who are interested in incorporating painting into their work. Inexpensive and readily available French fabric paints are a wonderful way to combine your two favorite disciplines in a durable and beautiful way.

Introduction

Hello! I'm Jeanette-Marie, a fine artist working in the custom couture wing of the arts industry. I've been at this a little while, and I have quite a lot to share with you on the subjects of technique and material sourcing, as well as documenting my more ambitious artistic endeavors.

Look here for tutorials, high end couture, sources of artistic inspiration, and resources for your own creations. Though I don't have the time to maintain a comment section on this site, I hope you will find the tutorials here to be interesting and useful, so, welcome!