In reality, it’s all Felicity’s.
She knows it too. Just look at her:
Mine. All mine.
I open up my red fabric box for just a minute, and what does she do? Come and sit on it! And refuse to move!
You may recognise the top fabric as the lining for the nougat corset.
What do you think of the bottom fabric? I’m torn about it. It’s a reproduction of an early-mid 19th century cotton from the International Quilt Study Centre & Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. I found it on sale here in NZ and snapped up 6ish metres before realising that it’s actually kinda hideous and repulsive. But also appealing at the same time.
So what do you think about a tomato red with mustard and black print? And what on earth should I do with it?
I miss having a cat; mine used to take over my entire pillow (although this was in my pre-sewing days, so I suppose it was as close as she could get). As for the hideous-ish red fabric, I think it wants to be lining for a men’s 19th century hat – so we see just a little flash of it whenever he takes in off or puts in on.
What a fascinating idea. Of course, that won’t use anywhere near 6 metres. And that means I need a reason to make a man’s 19th century hat, which I don’t have!
I think that fabric could look fabulous on the right person (probably a dark autumn type?), but… not mid-19th century style. There would be too much of it in that case.
So, no, I don’t really know. 😛
Notice that Felicity’s cleverly chosen the fabric that matches her fur.
Oh, Felicity knows all about picking the fabric that makes her look prettiest! She knows exactly what her colour range is!
I love the red fabric. Not hideous at all. 🙂 Have you seen that one regency dress with red fabric like this? Or is that too far back?
Genevieve
How about making one of these?
http://austenonly.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/regency-shawl-backed-dress-1.jpg
I have thought of something like that. It’s a bit early for the fabric, but a white dress would definitely temper the overall pattern-ness of it!
Why don’t you make a companion piece with the other red fabric you are torn about? Or make something out of both! You can call it ‘mish-meh’
Oh, that would be terrible! Either might be OK on it’s own, but hideous wouldn’t even begin to describe how they would look together!
Ah Felicity,
Just like a cat to spread her loving fur on the goodies.
As for that fabric, it is telling me, be a romantic-era dress with gigot sleeves and play up that stripe, or a fan-front 1840s gown, with straw hat trimmed with a mustard ribbon, and again, let the stripes do the talking, while the model moodily, coyly droops.
Very best,
Natalie
My cat loves to help me with fabric too. She likes to sit on it when I’m trying to cut things out so that I have to pay attention to her.
I’m not a fan of the red, black and mustard print at all. I’d say sell it.
I see what you mean about the fabric–I like it…but I don’t like it…I hate it…but I don’t hate it…. Up close, it truly is a pretty pattern, the colors are just a little heavy in my opinion.
Perhaps you could make a wrapper like this: http://vintagetextile.com/new_page_651.htm
…or a dress like this: http://vintagetextile.com/new_page_271.htm
For some reason it reminds me of “Mama and Mammy canning tomatoes in the kitchen!” If nothing else, it could make some nice looking pillows–a whole set!
I say heartlessly hack it into several pieces, distribute it to a few costume/sewing bloggers, and see what they make of it.
Really, I wouldn’t know what to make… Maybe a late 19th century smart day dress or something? How much of it do you have?
That would make a fun contest!
What does the red look like when ruffled or bunched up? If it’s good you could try something like the blue in this pic
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDMyaYnyMrhK9GNO0Ki2QCCrOj3EJ_m7TLt9e9fjGOPKIuPo_P
But with 6m of fabric, I think you should make a sidesaddle habit!
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgKIBdvaIbEQXMsKUaVJ4tgT-e3bLowMYnFUCX-H-I05QepVLR
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7hjF3ZPzboSzlcroczgLr5YJctntLNpSJoVjcKV5O-FcNd9fb
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQKXZ9ezcyC5c1oUuK4fknKcw2Sris6aQqydawth_uPcbXKLh5a
And that print and colour screams American Pioneer to me
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPL3d2e9eaQ32fpBYQC7X_GdH7Pjaf-j4V8i84Vol46oSAUtaw
The red fabric is not the sort of thing I’d wear; it would clash with my red hair. But it’s not bad for a Victorian dress, if you’re up for doing Victorian; a wrapper would be appropriate, or some kind of day dress. I agree that it’s more a “pioneer” dress fabric than a smart or fashionable Victorian fabric.
That being said, however, you might want to consider not making an entire dress from the red fabric, but using it strategically as trim with a solid black or brown. I don’t do enough Victorian to be able to document that kind of use, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t documentable.
Good luck in finding a use for it!
I think I have two more of that range of calico prints also (you’ve seen them, are they from the same range?), and the same issue – love, hate, love hate, argh! Needs to BE something, methinks. Context is often the saving of a fabric. I have metres and metres of wide and narrow mustard velvet ribbon.
Coulda used them to make bridesmaids’ dresses… :-P~~~ heheheh
Felicity looks like she should be entered into a contest for most regal kitty. All my cats love to curl up on a pretty piece of fabric and better that it be the most expensive.
The fabric would make a great fall quilt.
I was just at the International Quilt Study Centre this past Sat. plan on going again in two weeks. Nebraska is lucky to have this beautiful collection of quilts and a modern museum to display them in. You should have heard all the uproar before the building was built. Many thought it was a waste to spend money on a quilt museum.