Before you get started on a fabric project there are many things to consider; the colors, patterns, weights and textures of fabric are all important factors that will help you determine the fabric you need. Equally important is the yardage amount needed for your project. If you don't buy enough fabric your project will grind to a halt, if you buy too much then you must figure out how to use the leftover fabric. Either way you will have incurred frustrating and ultimately unnecessary expenses.
Why unnecessary? Because at J&O's online fabric store we now have fabric yardage charts. These charts are intended to help you avoid some of the pitfalls of working with fabric, particularly those of buying too many or too few yards.
The fabric yardage charts we carry on our web site cover five different types of fabric projects: bedding, drapery, dress, quilting and upholstering. These guides don't treat every possible fabric project within each of the aforementioned areas, just the most common. The charts are not definitive nor do they factor in every variable which may arise, so they do not eliminate the need for you to take proper measurements before you begin.
If you still have questions, do not hesitate to email them to us at info@jandofabrics.com. Some members of our staff have over 40 years experience in the retail fabric industry and can share their knowledge with you if the yardage charts do not satisfactorily answer your questions.
Minimize the surprises and the expense with the fabric yardage charts at J&O Fabrics' online fabric store.
Following are some examples of what our fabric charts will look like:
The charts also include measuring tips so that when it comes time for you to purchase fabric, you will know how many yards you need.
At J&O we are always striving to enhance the shopping experience of our customers. The fabric yardage charts are just the beginning of the many improvements we have implemented throughout our online fabric store. Come along for the ride as we change the way you shop for fabric.
Post by J and O Fabric Store
Labels: charts, fabric-charts, fabric-project, yardages
On the surface the seemingly mundane world of fabric may be far removed from that of fine art, but throughout th centuries artists have often turned to fabric in order to express themselves. Simply think of how many precious paintings have reached us on canvas, a plain and unheralded fabric. But the question remains: can fabric be more than functional?
A brief look at art over the past century reveals that many artists have used fabric as an integral part of their aesthetic language. For instance, the collaboration of Christo and Jean-Claude has seen the artists create massive projects using fabric and nature as their primary media. Among the couples' celebrated works are:
Wrapped Coast: Created in 1969, Christo and Jean-Claude used thousands of yards of synthetic fabric to wrap Little Bay in Sydney, Australia.
Valley Curtain: In 1970 the artists draped a cloth over 400 yards long across a valley in the Rocky Mountains near Rifle, Colorado.
Running Fence: In 1976 they used over 200,000 yards of nylon to create this 24.5 mile long fence running through the properties of 59 families in California.
Surrounded Islands: Beginning in May of 1983, the artists used over 6,500,000 square feet of pink polypropylene fabric to surround eleven islands in Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida.
The Gates: Possibly the couples' most well known work to date is The Gates from 2005, consisting of 7,503 gates covered in saffron colored fabric wending throughout New York's Central Park.
At J&O, besides finding fabrics that you can use to create your own projects, you will also be able to find works created and inspired by some of the greatest 20th century artists. Fabrics featuring design by such design luminaries as George Nelson, Alexander Girard, Verner Panton, Gio Ponti, and Charles and Ray Eames can all be found at our online fabric store. We also carry fabrics inspired by Frida Kahlo and other artists.
Small Dot Black by Charles and Ray Eames
Perhaps creating a work of art isn't your ambition or you don't have the means to indulge in thousands of yards of fabric. Nevertheless, working with fabric can afford you a medium for expressing yourself in a personal way while at the same time providing an outlet for your creative impulses.
Labels: artwork, fabric-art, fabric-project, Frida-Kahlo
Gele: The Art of WrappingOften times I am stopped and asked about the 'hat of fabric' on my head. To the children, it is something of amusement....spawning giggles and curiosity. To the adults, it is often an interesting accessory....creating a fascination towards not only its symbolism, but to its technique as well.
This 'hat of fabric', as it is often referred to, actually has a name. It is called a gele. The word stems from the Yoruba people of West Africa and it is not actually a hat, but a coil of fabric wrapped on top of ones head in a designed fashion. In many African countries, this piece of attire is symbolic of several things. For starters, it is worn only by women . Secondly, it serves to identify anything from her family bloodline to her social, cultural and/or marital status.
The technique for wrapping the gele varies depending on the purpose. Often times if the woman is attending a specific affair or ceremonial event, the style, color & print will play an important part.
To wrap your own head only a few steps are needed.
Step 1 Select about 2 yards of fabric . Any color or print that appeals to you will do. I suggest you use a light-weight fabric that does not have a slippery feel to it. This will allow your hair to breathe, and the gele to stay comfortable and in place on your head. The piece should be rectangular and anything less than 2 yards might prove difficult to utilize, as this covering is formed by wrapping and requires length to do so. If you want to have more options in your style of wrap, use more fabric...but keep in mind that your gele may be heavier as well.
Step 2 Wrap your head starting from one end of the material, leaving the bulk of it in the hand that will carry it around. Hold it at the base of your neck and cross over it with the remaining fabric creating an overlay. This will hold the gele in place. Wrap the rest of the fabric around your head and tuck the end into the folds of the fabric to secure. Shape the formed layers
as you wish. For a tight fit, once you complete your first rotation, continue to secure the fabric around your head as you go. For a looser style, be more carefree in your wrapping.
Step 3 Once your wrap is complete, trust yourself. You look beautiful!
Posts by J&O Fabrics Store
Labels: easy-craft, fabric-project, head-wrap, Headwrap, how-to