Fabrics
All of my fabrics are of excellent quality and 100% cotton, with the exception of the imperial batiste (Spechler &Vogel), which is 60% cotton and 40% poly. This is a unique fabric that gives the look of traditional cotton batiste without the need of ironing. I gently pre-wash, dry, and press all fabric before cutting. This prevents any shrinkage after construction.
My items are to be worn time after time. They may need a little ironing, but that is part of the beauty of natural fibers.
My items are to be worn time after time. They may need a little ironing, but that is part of the beauty of natural fibers.
Pique
1/8 Gingham
1/16 Gingham
Tri check & Windowpane
OTHER WEAVES
Oxford
Swiss Imported
Dotted Swiss Cotton
Swiss Imported
Striped Dotted Cotton
Swiss Imported
Embroidered Dotted Pique
Swiss Imported
Dimity Cotton
Sweet Swiss Dimity cotton comes only in 2 choices: in pale pink and baby blue
Seersucker
Stripes
Corduroy
Imperial Batiste by Spechler and Vogel
All Imperial batiste are from Spechler and Vogel. The available colors are: white, rice, moonbeam, melon, periwinkle, lemon ice, neptune, lavender, seafoam, Christmas red, Kelly green, navy, ballet pink and baby blue.
Spechler and Vogel Pima Cotton Tartans
Available: Red tartan #40 and Blue/green tartan #50
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...am I choosing the right fabric?
Choosing the right fabric for your item can be quite the task! ….How to decide which one? …..We love them all!
It is helpful to first understand what makes each fabric unique. Fabrics are formed with fibers, either natural (cotton, silk, linen and wool) or synthetic (rayon, acetate, nylon, Dacron and others). Each of these fibers poses inherited characteristics that are transmitted into the fabric they produce. And to the characteristics of the fiber, we add the style of the weaving technique, as well as the color(s) used to dye the fibers….And all this, just to form a piece of cloth….a piece of fabric.
Natural fibers have been used for centuries, while the new and synthetic threads belong to the modern world and have become very popular and less expensive.
Before 1900, all fibers used were natural, today there are more man-made than natural fibers. At the same time, natural fibers become more appreciated and expensive.
It is helpful to first understand what makes each fabric unique. Fabrics are formed with fibers, either natural (cotton, silk, linen and wool) or synthetic (rayon, acetate, nylon, Dacron and others). Each of these fibers poses inherited characteristics that are transmitted into the fabric they produce. And to the characteristics of the fiber, we add the style of the weaving technique, as well as the color(s) used to dye the fibers….And all this, just to form a piece of cloth….a piece of fabric.
Natural fibers have been used for centuries, while the new and synthetic threads belong to the modern world and have become very popular and less expensive.
Before 1900, all fibers used were natural, today there are more man-made than natural fibers. At the same time, natural fibers become more appreciated and expensive.
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Natural Fibers
Wool. This natural fiber can be obtained from the fleece of sheep, goats (cashmere and mohair), alpacas, Camels and rabbits (angora). Worsted wool gives a smoother surface to the fabric (e.g. gabardine) while woolen yarn is fuzzier (e.g. flannel). The use of these fabrics depends on the item we need to construct. Baby items are better made in wool flannel than in gabardine. Nevertheless, some gabardine fabrics are of exquisite construction that they could be used in some baby items. Silk. This fiber is a filament secreted by the silk worm. There are approximately 2 miles of thread in each cocoon! These fibers are soft, lustrous and warm and they are excellent in garment construction. Linen. This natural fiber comes from Flax (a plant), where they are joint together by natural gum through the length of the stalk. This gives the characteristic unevenness of the fabric they produce. Linen is an absorbent and durable fabric but it wrinkles and creases badly. But when it is blended with other fibers, such as cotton, forms an excellent material for children’s garment construction, such as rompers, children’s shorts, pants and dresses, and of course it wonderful for baby suits. Cotton. Precious, versatile, durable, and noble cotton has been the fabric of the masses. It is obtained from a plant, where the fibers cover the seeds inside the pod. The longer fibers are used for threads to weave, while the shorter fibers (cotton linters) are used to form synthetic fibers like rayon or acetate. Cotton fibers could be spun into threads of different thickness giving a great variety of fabrics. Also, cotton is the perfect fiber to blend with other natural or synthetic fibers. Cotton is strong and durable, washes well (although it may shrink) and presses well. It is very absorbent (40% its weight) and can be presented in a large variety of colors and printings. I LOVE COTTON! For a more detailed look on cotton, please visit the Beautiful Cotton page. 
Sew Beautiful Dress
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Synthetic fibers
In order to produce fabrics that could be more accessible and less expensive, man has created synthetic fibers which are woven into fabrics. These synthetic fibers could be made of acrylic (Acrylan), cellulose (rayon, acetate), polyamide (nylon), polyester (Dacron), polyurethane (PLU) and protein. Most of the synthetic fibers produce fabrics that need little or NOT ironing….which sounds fabulous, but the touch and texture of these fabrics are not as soothing as the touch of the natural fibers. Therefore, the blending of these synthetic fibers with natural fibers has produced very popular fabrics which present qualities from both worlds, less wrinkles and less expensive than the natural fibers fabric, and nice to the touch with a nice drape (e.g. Imperial batiste). 
"Coque" dress and romper
Victorian Boy Set
Winter Bib
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Fabric Manufacture
The yarn or threads produced by the fibers (either natural or synthetic) will be woven or knitted to produce the fabric. The yarn could be colored before producing the fabric, or the coloring and printing could be postponed until the fabric is already made.
The weaving of the fabric takes place in a loom using vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (weft), and the pattern of the fabric will be introduced by weaving in different ways: plain wave, haircord, twill, herringbone, sateen wave, etc.
Stripes, checks and plaids are created by woven using different colors or group of colors in the wrap and weft threads (e.g. gingham).
Knitted fabrics are produced on a machine (just like knitting). They are easy to stretch and curl, drape well and don’t wrinkle easily. They are wonderful where a little stretch is needed for comfort.
The yarn or threads produced by the fibers (either natural or synthetic) will be woven or knitted to produce the fabric. The yarn could be colored before producing the fabric, or the coloring and printing could be postponed until the fabric is already made.
The weaving of the fabric takes place in a loom using vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (weft), and the pattern of the fabric will be introduced by weaving in different ways: plain wave, haircord, twill, herringbone, sateen wave, etc.
Stripes, checks and plaids are created by woven using different colors or group of colors in the wrap and weft threads (e.g. gingham).
Knitted fabrics are produced on a machine (just like knitting). They are easy to stretch and curl, drape well and don’t wrinkle easily. They are wonderful where a little stretch is needed for comfort.
At the end....
Choose the fabric that will give the drape needed for your item...with the color and print that favors the shape of your item.... and then... choose the one that calls your name. You'll never be wrong.