Fabric Porn

So I have a confession to make....

After being so good at the start of the year at using up my stash I have let loose and bought some exciting fabrics. Let's start with the fun stuff from my trip to Asia. I was in Kuala Lumpur with work, so although I didn't get to explore too much whilst I was there I did spend my free day visiting the textile and craft museum and doing a tour of the fabric district. For those of you that can pop to Malaysia to do a spot of shopping it's reminiscent of the area in the Sacré Cœur and is based in the 'Indian' quarter. There is the large fabric shop called Jakel and lots of smaller fabric shops around it and in the market.  

Let's start with the traditional Malaysian batik fabrics. I am going to make a simple summer top with this print that I picked up from the textile and craft museum:-

I visited Jakel - the biggest fabric shop in KL. It's 5 floors, similar in size to Marche Saint Pierre in Paris. They had a huge range of fabrics that really varied in price, from simple cottons to expensive silks. I picked up these batiks from the bargain bin. I would like to sew some simple summer dresses or perhaps a skirt with these two:-

Jakel had a large selection of satin-like cotton voile. The fabrics that I selected will hopefully be perfect for some tops to wear out over jeans. I purchased 2 metres of each, so if I change my mind and decide to go for a dress instead I will have enough fabric.

Doesn't this fabric look familiar? I blatantly fell in love with it as it reminds me of my favourite version of Simplicity 1884.

The shop had a huge range of paisley fabric. I think that this will make a lovely shift dress to let the print speak for itself. Although this also came from the bargain bin I will definitely make a muslin before cutting into this bad boy. 

So that's it for Malaysia. After Kuala Lumpur I spent a week visiting a friend in Bankok, Thailand and of course I had to pick up some Thai Silk. I purchased 4 metres at Asiatique for the equivalent of less than £14!!! I have an idea that I would like to make a bolero and perhaps a jacket from the fabric. My pattern stash includes Vogue 8333, a Custom Couture pattern from Claire Shaeffer which could be a possibility. There was a huge selection of colours - I picked this lovely sunset red colour. 

Just when you thought that there couldn't be more....my parents visited a couple weeks ago and we took a trip to Walthamstow Market. I picked up some more goodies, all priced at roughly £2.20 per metre. 

Some of you may have seen this fabric before if you follow Karen over at Did you Make That?

The birds are a fun print. As Karen mentions they run along the selvage so I am thinking a long maxi dress for this. 

As most of you know I have a soft spot for florals, so this pretty print made the cut too. One of the ladies from my sewing group made a skirt with a similar print and I have been dying to get my hands on something similar.

I must have been inspired by the jacket sew-a-long that my sewing group held in Autumn 2013 as I fell in love with this fun hounds-tooth and am aiming to make a Chanel style jacket. It will be a great way to practise my couture techniques on some lovely fabric that doesn't cost the earth. 

Lastly, I found the amazingness that is the 'Man Outside Sainsburys'. Rather than flowers I went with butterflies and purchased some chiffon.

My stash is so out of control as a result of these recent purchases. But it is totally worth it. I feel even more inspired to finish my current projects and start some Summer sewing. Without sounding like a cheap skate it's also great to know that I spent less that £100 on all of this fabric. Even if only 50% of the items work out and are not wadders it will be a huge saving compared to buying RTW garments. And of course it makes me feel better about how much fabric I have bought...

Have you made any guilty fabric purchases recently? 

Happy Sewing!