From laminated folders with color coded indexes and ringed binders showcasing an array of prints and designs, to simple brown boxes filled with raw remnants and sandwich bags to the brim with the same, how we organize our cherished swatches is about as creative and individually determined as the fabrics themselves. But one thing seems to be universal across the board…trust and believe all fabric lovers have a method to the madness just the same.
When we think about African fabric design, rarely do we as consumers give much thought as to the history, craft, and meaning behind the symbols, patterns, or design elements we see. Instead we ‘ooh‘ and ‘aah‘ at the bright colors and creative print, thinking about what we can make with this, what we can do with that . But until we have the opportunity to see its manifestation from concept to completion, we will never really appreciate the finished textile that seems to silently whisper…i am special, buy me!
If you have ever had a pet, especially a dog, you know how much they like to gnaw and entertain their Freudian oral fixations from time to time. Heaven forbid your cute canine finds boredom in their day, then so much for your pair of brand new sneakers and other objects of play. Of course one can find a million toys at a local pet store to spend their last $10 on, but why buy when you can make it I always say. Enter our D.I.Y. fleece toys for dog blog!
Dear Netfah,
I recently purchased a cotton jersey knit that came in a tube. Aside from pre-washing, do I need to do anything in particular to the fabric before cutting the pieces into a garment?
~Sandy / Detroit-MI
Dear Sandy,
Once you have pre-washed the fabric to reduce any additional shrinkage, simply cut along one of the folds and steam or press to remove the fold line. If it won’t press out or if the fold line is unfortunately somewhat faded due to overexposure to light over time, you will want to be mindful to utilize your fabric strategically so as not to reveal any defects on your final garment.
Some call it a gimmick, some a gamblers dream, but whatever name you give it, if you can call a perfect NCAA men’s basketball tournament bracket during the March Madness run…you might be the first Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge Winner by the luck of the draw!
If you haven’t heard already, Quicken Loans and Warren Buffett are offering up to 15 million people a very small chance to win a very, big prize to the tune of ….you guessed it— a billion dollars. With many entering and only one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 standing a chance at actually winning, according to some, the free entrance fee and a little Lady Luck may be just enough to pull it off and walk away with the big bucks.
Each year on March 17, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe observe St. Patrick’s Day. What began as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with dancing, parades, special foods and a whole lot of green. From corned beef and cabbage dinners to parties and kegs that last well into dawn, over 34.7 million U.S. residents with Irish ancestry (this number is more than seven times the population of Ireland itself) will be celebrating in one way, shape or form, their love of home. And with a little help from J&O Fabrics, the festive occasions will be donned with a special touch… St Patrick’s Day fabric galore!!
mad·ness \ -noun
1. the state of being mad; insanity.
2. senseless folly: It is sheer madness to speak as you do.
3. intense excitement or enthusiasm.
4. frenzy; rage.
While Websters Dictionary describes madness in the terms above, the arrival of March signals a unique type of madness that goes along with the long-awaited thawing of winter’s ice and snow, chirping birds, sprouting buds and evolving green landscapes. In the midst of all this gentleness lurks a recurring madness that blows in with March and builds to a frenetic conclusion in the final weeks of the month. This seasonal insanity is aptly called “March Madness”; and among its symptoms are the strong growing weak, the weak growing strong, and constant talk of Cinderella.
With Black History Month officially kicking off this week, we thought it would be the perfect time to celebrate the multitude of contributions and achievements African-Americans have made toward the advancement of not only our country, but the human race as a whole in the fields of science, math, athletics, literature, medicine, technology, agriculture, art, music and more. From our farmer’s bible…aka…the Almanac created by Benjamin Banneker (appx 1791) , and clothes dryer by G.T. Sampson (1862), to the ever popular cell phone invented by Henry Sampson (1971) and house keeping friend …the dust pan, by Lawrence P Ray (1897), the list of ‘firsts’ invented by African Americans goes on and on. Each year since it’s inception, Black History month has been drawing more recognition to the achievements of the past, encouraging more creative ideas and first’s to come in the future, and offering exposure to the faces and stories our books have often left out in its attempt at rewriting American HIS-story.
Widely appreciated for their craftsmanship and vibrant colors, the textile and designs of African fabric often create the kind of appeal that inspires breathtaking traditional garments, eclectic home decor, memorable celebratory events and more. From waxed metallic cottons most popular in Nigeria and other West African countries, to traditional Kente from Ghana and Bogolanfini mud cloth from Mali, the creative uses offer a multitude of options to satisfying an array of project needs not only for special occasions, but everyday use as well.
So you purchased your funky novelty flannel material just in time for Old Man Winter’s chilly winds, but now you’re hitting a creative block that’s leaving you stumbling on just what to make with it. Enter J&O Fabrics Top 5 Flannel Fabric craft ideas to the rescue! Inspired by both the novice and the seasoned, the possibilities of what this soft and warm fabric can bring seem endless. So grab your notions, sharpen your scissors, and add your own unique spin on these cool crafts.
plaid flannel laptop case
