Waechter's Fine Fabrics News

[Terri K]

Hi everybody.  Thought I'd start this topic to post what we've been doing with Waechter's fabrics or classes.    I'm not affiliated with them, just a customer who likes to pop in from time to time.  I was perusing their web site and found a new Gallery of Garments with photos and descriptions of most of the garments and samples that were made for classes.   Great inspiration and ideas.   Check it out.  

They also posted in the newsletter that they're having a "Stitch Cafe" every Thursday evening starting Feb 1.  

The last thing I bought was what they call shaggy suede buckskin (like shearling) to make the Indygo Junction Vest and the LH Butterfly bag.   No seam finish - great button.  DH also insisted that I made him a vest out of it after seeing it  

[cmarie12]

Terri ~ this almost belongs under inspirational sites...the eye candy was that good!  Thanks for sharing.  I will have to remember that the gallery is there the next time I thinking about an indy pattern!

[lessalt]

Terri,
Thanks for turning us onto the gallery. Of course now I want a couple of patterns that I don't currently have. I loved the Loes Hinse Bistro jacket but I didn't like the LH Hepburn pants. I am going to have to buy the Sewing Workshop's Soho coat to make a raincoat. It is nice to see others efforts.

[touva7]

Terri

Many thanks for posting this gallery-this is one of my favorite things about Waechter's-her garments and samples are so inspirational.

bonnie in NM

[DeniseM]

Terri: what a great gallery of clothes. I need to get back to my sewing room now - to do more than just stare at the mess. 

[menelson55]

Lessalt, I think you would enjoy the Soho coat -- we had Linda Lee here for our Guild in Jan 2006 and that pattern had just come out.  She had it in a cool washed silk, more of a raincoat.  Two of our Guild members made it right away -- one in a gray wool with a lining (great for MN) and the other in a fleece.  Both loved the coat and said it was easy to make.  I might add that the fleece version was very cute on our member, who is a very petite lady -- barely 5 feet in her stocking feet.  And she didn't look overwhelmed at all, which can be something she has to watch out for, of course, being so tiny.

[Terri K]

Now to turn up the heat in the upstairs sewing room..... Question -  I want to do a fast, throw on, artsy jacket using a drapey wool/rayon with both sides good for showing - one side is vertical lines and the other the lines run horizontal?   I always look at the SW gallery and am thinking either the Plaza Jacket with the hems turned to the right side, or the Ikina Jacket with the sides sewn up, or maybe another Haiku Two.   Too many choices.   

[menelson55]

Haiku Two -- looks great on everyone, looks good in both cool artsy fabric and a nice drapey wool.  One of my petite friends made an extra small in a brown houndstooth -- it looked wonderful on her.  A fabric you usually see in a suit jacket on a cool jacket pattern like the Haiku Two.  I believe it's their best selling pattern right now --

I've got 2 of them cut out right now -- one of a red drapey rayon with a little black embroidery -- the other a black wool with a check pattern, usually a fabric you would see in a much more constructed jacket.  Hope to get those done before it's too warm to wear them!

[Terri K]

Yes, Yes  this is pretty heavy (weight not bulk) fabric so that would be a winner.  I've made several of them from seersucker to stretch wool.  It's very versatile.  I was looking at the SW gallery for inspiration as well.   I like Liana's boucle one where she used a nice lining instead of self facing, and fringed her collar.   I've not done the fringe but may on this one because the selvedge has great potential for that.

Another thing I saw Linda Lee do was wear the Mimosa top under the Haiku Two.   She made it out of a kind of tie dye looking charmeuse and put it under a boucle Haiku jacket - TDF.   The collar of the mimosa fills in around the face and looks fabulous.   I've also been really happy with my Plaza Pants and the Mimosa Pants too.

[Lisa]

Could someone tell us a bit more about them as either a fabric store or fabric web-site? If so, I can add this thread under "fabric sources" under either "bricks & mortar" fabric stores or English-language web sites...or perhaps both? 

Thanks!

Lisa

[Terri K]

Lisa, they're both.    They have a brick/mortar store in Asheville (been there since the Vanderbilts) and a great web site that features the patterns and fabric and other things.

[menelson55]

I'm also intrigued by the Princess Top by Loes Hinse.  That was a pattern that went right past my radar when it was released but golly I like the sample they have on the Gallery. 

[simonfreep]

I love the LH Princess tank - I will being making many tops from this pattern as I prefer sleeveless tops under my jackets and cardigans.  However, I found that it runs quite large.  I normally use the XXS in LH patterns, but on this one I had to downsize it a fair bit.  I have only made it in knits at this point, so I'm not sure how it would look in a woven.

[LynnT]

Lisa, I've ordered from Waechter's frequently - wonderful fabric and service.  When I lived in Virginia eons ago, my Mom driving up from Florida would go out of her way to stop there.  I've been sorting thru her things now that she has Alzheimer's and find fabrics and buttons with the sales slips from Waechter's still attached - wish the prices could have stayed the same!!

[Lisa]

Thanks Tully!  Sounds like a really nice place!

Lisa

[Carole]

Browsing their site, I noticed this:  "Brussels Washer is a blend of 55% Linen and 45% Rayon. It looks like linen, drapes like rayon, washes like a dream and feels good on the body. Brussels Washer doesn't cling or crawl. It's the perfect fabric to wear in any season."

Has anyone used this fabric?  It sounds yummy.

[judith]

yes, I've used brussels washer, and it does wear and wash like a dream. It's linen with the advantages of rayon and the colours are very nice

[Terri K]

Here's the  Zona Jacket   that I was talking about over on the Sewing Workshop patterns topic.    I'm glad they posted photos of both the front and back.  The back is so nice.

[Terri K]

Was browsing their site and found this darling retro styled  Maia Jacket

[cmarie12]

Terri - thanks for the eye candy!  Now I have this pattern, why haven't I ever used it!  I need to go pull it out...

[Terri K]

Carolyn, it would be a wonderful addition to your wardrobe.   I will have to go and check it out in person.   I don't have the pattern - yet.

It's interesting how classic polka dots are.  They were Givenchy's signature and I remember some gorgeous outfits on Audrey Hepburn. 

Now for the news ---   I am eligible to retire after May.   My office has a special assignment in Tampa that they want me to take (don't want to lose my experience) but I'm not sure I want to deal with it.   Maybe I can finish my curtains instead 

[lessalt]

I also loved the Maia jacket and would never have thought to use the polka dots but it is wonderful. My friend made the Zona jacket at a sewing retreat out of washed wool crepe (she used the other view which is slimmer) and it was beautiful. I have some tie silk (silk purchased at the Talbot tie outlet in Carmel Valley) earmarked for this.

[Sewshopper]

For the last few weeks, Waechters have been sending 'virtual swatches' from their site every so often (I must have signed up at some point.)  I ordered the denim tencel and ask for a swatch of the navy, which arrived promptly.  Then I ordered the navy tencel.  A couple days later, there were rayon batiks featured.  I emailed to ask which ones would go with the denim fabric.  They promptly replied that they would send samples.  When they came, several would have worked but I picked one that also went with a couple other fabrics I had.  The batik arrived on Friday and is now washed and ready to sew.  Living in a 'good fabric' starved area, their service is really appreciated.  This is the first time I have ordered from them and will not be the last, for sure.  So much for stash reduction...

Karleene

[cmarie12]

Carolyn, it would be a wonderful addition to your wardrobe

Terri - I thought so at the time I picked it up.  I actually bought it after attending one of Fred's classes at the Expo in Worcester.  Wow, that was several years ago...I definitely need to pull this out and look at it again.  It would make a great corporate type suit without looking like all the rest that are being shown in RTW right now.  Wasn't this pattern featured in a Threads article too?

[DeniseM]

I've had the Maia jacket pattern for ages. Looks like I'm going to have to make it this season. What a pretty jacket, almost like a blouse. I'll bet it would be wonderful in a light washed silk, too.

[KathyB]

Boy Terri, that is a tough decision  . Would you have to make a permanent move? Sorry to get off topic  . By the way, love that jacket.

[vtmartha]

I purchased that pattern when it first came out.  I really like it!  I haven't made up the pattern because I'm not sure I have the shape for it.  Wishful thinking?  Perhaps someone can answer this question.  I have a very straight body with very little waist indentation.  I'm built this way - I've already stripped the excess padding.  Someplaces I read that a fitted jacket would not work for me and other places that I need to fake a waistline.  The Vogue pattern descriptives about what shape body goes with which pattern don't seem very consistent to me.  Should I pass this pattern on to someone else or give it a shot?

[Marji]

I love that jacket. Too cute! The details of the piping and the buttons/lining in red are just wonderful.

edit: meant to add: Terri, do you live near Tampa or would this require a move? My sister is there, works on the hurricane response team for the power co, and I was down there (flew into it - what an idiot) during Frances and ended up trapped in a small house with her dh and 5 kids for 4 days while she was working round the clock.
Me, I'd take retirement... 

[Terri K]

Martha, check out Fred Bloebaum's website Gallery for photos of her patterns on real people.    If you are concerned about the short, fitted jacket, you might just be able to trade it in for another of her jacket or blouse patterns.   I suggest e-mailing Fred with the question and a photo of yourself and let her advise you.

[judith]

vtmartha, I don't have a noteable waist. My husband (who became my best critic once I learned that I had to ask and he learned that he had to be honest) tells me that anything in an armhole princess style gives me the appearance of a waist.

[menelson55]

Ladies, one of my SGuild members made that jacket right after the pattern came out in a brick red slubbed raw silk.  It was so cute!  She didn't line it and eliminated the large number of buttonholes -- which I think is an adorable design feature.  Even with the standard number of buttonholes it was adorable.  She is tall and slim and pretty straight up and down and it was very flattering on her.  Seems to me she wore it with the Brussels skirt (Textile Studio or Loes, can't remember which) and it was so nice.  Those long skirt look good on her with her height and slim build.

[karent]

Terri, I would take retirement in a heartbeat.  On the other hand, my sister Amanda has a condo just outside Tampa she would looove to sell!  K

[vtmartha]

Thanks, everyone.  Now I am excited about this jacket's potential.  Wouldn't it be fun to make it up at Fred's Santa Fe retreat?!  That's brings up another question which might need a topic of it's own.  How advanced (or should I say non-beginner) do you need to be to feel comfortable at various sewing retreats?

[Terri K]

Hi Martha, that's why you go to the retreat - for personal attention.  So there's usually lots of different levels of knowledge and experience among the attendees.  If you can make it to Santa Fe, Go!  I'd call Fred Bloebaum and talk to her ahead of time, and then enjoy yourself!   

BTW, Waechter's is sponsoring a retreat with both Linda Lee and Louise Cutting the first week of November in Asheville NC.     Lots of personal attention and creativity guaranteed with those two!

[touva7]

Waechters has some wonderful new photos up in their gallery, even showcasing some original Folkwear designs.