Waechter's Fine Fabrics News

[kaaren]

Without hijacking this thread, the silk & linen that Janis pictured, is from Thai Silks in Los Altos.  I went in this am to check out the supply and prices!  The white, ready for dye is about $16 and the colors are $19.  I am not sure which country it is coming from but  each bolt can be slightly different.  I think they started with about 6 colors and now must have over 20.  But I am just not wild about the blues! I am not a brown person but the milk chocolate is lush in every bolt!  But the fabric is beautiful and sews exquisitely.  Do get a swatch and make sure you get all you need from one bolt.  Kaaren

[Janis]

Wow, Kaaren, that's a great price for that fabric.  But I can't see how you order samples

[kaaren]

Janis, go to the website:  http://www.thaisilks.com/ But do not ask for a swatch set.  If you call, ask for Josie the store manager.  Remember that their primary business is wholesale to stores like Waechters.  If you call the store be sure that you get somebody who really understands English.  Or you can email them and ask for samples but if they sell out, the next order will be a different dye lot, but similar. I always wanted to be brave enough to try dyeing.  Kaaren

[karent]

BeeBee and I went to Waechter's today.  She had to come here Thursday for a meeting and stayed the weekend.  Today was a gorgeous day, 80 degrees and beautiful sunshine, so we took a spin over to Asheville.  It's a couple of hours from me.  It is very close to the Biltmore, but still might not have found it without the GPS given it's down a side street dead end.  We could not have been happier.  The fabrics are fabulous, I came away with four very nice pieces of linen and four patterns.  BeeBee got a bagful as well.

The ladies there are a terrific combination of helpful and non-intrusive.  A friendly place, and we moseyed around for quite a while looking at the samples they have of the various patterns.  A fab idea, as I skimmed over a couple of patterns and then, after seeing them made up, went back and got the patterns.  Overall, I must say it was worth the drive (a spectacular drive, actually, over Sam's Gap which is always impressive this time of year.)  If you're in the Asheville area, it's worth the trip!  K

[lakestitcher]

Oh ............. lucky you! I'm green with envy. 

[Terri K]

Karen - Glad you enjoyed your visit.  what time were you there because I dropped in around 4 pm to get a couple more buttons.   I'm only about ten minutes from the new place east on 40.   Now I just take 25A (Sweeten Creek) and turn into that driveway/alley.   They need to get their sign up because unless you know where you're going, it's easy to miss.   

One of the great things is to be able to look at the sample garments.   I had only seen photos of the new Trio pattern from the Sewing Workshop made up and there it was today, all three pieces on a mannequin.  The top didn't look anything like the illustration on the pattern, which I didn't care for at all.   They said they were sold out of that one and I know why now.    A piece of cotton poplin from my stash is in the washer right now for the pant 

[Martha Domke]

Since I don't live anywhere close to this store, I have been wondering "how do you pronounce the name?"  Can someone clue me in?  I would truly love to go there, but doubt that it would be anytime soon.  Michigan isn't that close!

[karent]

Terri, we were there about 1pm.  We spent quite a lot of time, but were still back in Bristol by 5pm.  You're right, I love the samples.  We remember that Trio outfit, wasn't that the one with the tag hanging on it that said "make sure and look at the back, it will wow you?"  I did that with the Dana Marie Poet blouse, I didn't look twice at the pattern until I saw the one they had made up, then went right back and got the pattern.  I got a couple of Decades of Style, the 1936 Shaped Seam Skirt and the 1950 Collar Confection Blouse.  We are actually pretty tickled with the stuff, and the selection was worth my taking an afternoon and driving over from time to time. 

You are very lucky living so close.  K

[Karendee]

Karen,

Sounds like a wonderful trip; yesterday was indeed a beautiful day! And it's always fun to see the fabrics "in the flesh."

Karen

[karent]

karendee, yes, their samples are an outstanding idea.  They have all indie patterns, many I have never seen IRL but only online.  A huge number are made up into samples, in various sizes and fabrics, so you can go through them like the racks in a store and then go pull the pattern.  It makes a huge difference in your ability to visualize the pattern made-up.  Brilliant idea. 

They are right in the area of all the shops around the Biltmore, and I picked up a brochure with listing of other fabric/fiber/yarn places in the area, so next time I decide to take a day and head for Asheville (I should definitely do it more often) I can hit a string of places.  Where I live, I can drive 45mins to an hour and get to your basic Hobby Lobby, Hancocks, Michaels, and we do have a nice little yarn shop in town here, but then I can drive two hours or so and get to Asheville where there is so much.  I'm going to make a more concerted effort to get there on a more regular basis.  K

[Terri K]

Karen -  Good thing you both made the trip yesterday because it's raining steadily all day today -- my flowers are loving it.  It's a good day to stay inside and sew.    The Trio top was made in a bright red and I had to do a double take.    

Martha, here's a phonetic spelling - Waahkters

[Martha Domke]

Thanks Terri.  I keep looking at that name, and believe or not, didn't come up with that.  Another "duh" moment in my life.   

[Terri K]

Posting about an exciting new project by Waechter's.     I was at Waechter's Fabrics in Asheville NC yesterday afternoon and saw all the new childrens clothing styled and sewn by Laura Casey,  Elizabeth George and Betsy Sherman.    Laura, who is there most Wednesdays, was busy with the sizing of the garments and Joyce told me that they would be posting a new e-magazine called SewWow on their site shortly with new designs for all the independent childrens patterns they carry.    She showed me a print-out and what eye-candy.    It was posted today and here is the link  Sew Wow Magazine .   Many of you are probably already familiar with all the darling heirloom childrens' garments they design that are featured in Sew Beautiful and Creative Needle Magazines, but this new magazine also includes fantastic garments featuring Tina Givens and other fabric/pattern designers.     I understand this e-zine is free and they will be putting together kits for all the fun combos that Laura and their creative staff thinks up in case anyone wants to sew one of the designs.   So you don't have to worry whether you have enough of this or that, including the trim.    I think it's a great concept and love the kit idea.     Earlier this summer they had kits designed by Mary Ray for some handbags in exquisite fabrics with all the trim, a big unique button closure and instructions.    Every one was different.

[Terri K]

If you haven't checked out Waechter's Fabrics website in a while, you should, especially if you are sewing for children.   There's a new spring edition of their Sew Wow Magazine with lots of "wow" inspiration and the kits to make anything in the magazine.    I was in the store today and two of the models who are on the cover and in the latest one came in with an Easter basket.   Really cute stuff for kids.   For us grown-ups they had lots of new things.     If you need a wonderful zipper,  they have a super fashion zipper in three different colors black/gold, black/copper and black/silver, and it's a great price.

[Patti B]

Terri, while browsing/drooling on the site the other day, I noticed the SewWow photos -- very cute. I wondered where they were from and just read your earlier posting that explains it. It's such a great fabric shop; lucky you to be so close to it.

[fzxdoc]

I got an email from Waechter's today to say that they will be having different store hours this week because Lifetime will be there filming a portion of On the Road with Austin and Santino.  How exciting!

I had heard that they were going to be doing a makeover for someone who lives in Black Mountain, NC, which is very close to Asheville. It should be fun to see Joyce or one of her employees helping Austin and Santino pick out the perfect fabric for the dress. They should be blown away by the TDF fabrics that are available in that shop.

Kathryn

[Janis]

Oh, that will be such fun to watch!  I hope Waechter's keeps us posted on when it will be aired.

[Linda Dean]

I can't wait to watch the show.  I have seen several of the Austin and Santino shows.  I love them.
I haven't been to Waechter's new locations so it will be fun to see the store.

[karent]

How neat.  After shopping in sporting good stores and quilt shops for garment fabrics, A&S will likely swoon over the great stuff at Waechter's!  Great advertising, the next Mood!  K

Reminds me, got a new DVR yesterday.  Must go program!     K