The Fabric Store

While I was in Fitzroy last week, I made sure I had time to squeeze in a visit to The Fabric Store.

The Fabric Store has stores in both Australia and New Zealand, and they pride themselves on stocking top quality designer dress fabrics, with a strong focus on natural fibres. It would be a great place to shop if you knew what you were looking for, but for a new visitor who was browsing, I found it a bit daunting. Good quality fabrics scare me.

The Melbourne store has roll upon roll of beautiful fabrics arranged into heavenly colour-coded displays; silk chiffons and georgettes, linens and satins, not to mention their new range of New Zealand merino knits -so lovely and soft. I admit I was tempted, but at nearly $50 a metre, and with no project in mind, I really couldn't justify the expense. Such a shame, just look at the awesome colours that are available! What a great way to brighten a dull, rainy day!

There are plenty more fabrics to choose from though, and at surprisingly reasonable prices. It just depends on what takes your fancy. Cottons range from $10 - $22 per metre; woollens are in the range of $20 - $48 p/m; linens are $15 - $30 p/m; and rayon is $12 - $18 p/m. Very reasonable indeed.

And of course, try as I might, I did end up buying something...

With winter in full swing here, keeping warm is high on my sewing priority list and lately I've found my thoughts turning to jackets. The lovely charcoal-based plaid at the top right of the photo caught my eye as soon as I walked in - it's a Marc Jacobs designer wool and once again, nearly $50 p/m. I have expensive tastes.

Then, while sifting through the remenants pile, I came across an 80cm piece of exactly the same fabric for $19! What can I say but SOLD! The width is 155cm, so with some careful planning I should be able to make some sort of jacket out of it.

Fingers crossed!

-Tamara