• Skirts are pretty easy to make so whether you are beginner or advanced, this is a garment that will work in your sewing room.
• Skirts can be created from a wide variety of fabrics:  knit/woven, print/solid, textured/smooth
• Most importantly, this year’s skirt trend is all about the skirt!  It’s not about what silhouette has risen to the top of the charts or which length is in, it’s about wearing skirts!  Your choice of style and length, whatever flatters you!!  I love it.

Jenny has just started a Skirt Sew Along in our Savvy Sewer Salon.  She’ll be making 5 skirts in a variety of styles and fabrics.  Join in as she fills her closet with new outfits. Here’s a peek at her first one.

Jenny's Box Pleat Skirt

Join our Sew Along…all that’s needed is fabric from SBDF and a willingness to share your process.  Lurkers are welcome too.

In the spirit of the trend I’ve been collecting inspiration on a Pinterest style board.  I’ll add more as I find them…not too hard to do this spring!

If you are shopping for skirt fabric, our offerings range from 4-way stretch cotton for sturdy fly-front or button-front casual skirts…khaki, dark brown and black

First Choice 4-way stretch

to floaty cotton voile for soft feminine full skirts.

Lady Bird Cotton Voile

Pencil skirts work well in cotton satin and spring/summer is the perfect season to choose a happy color.

Apricot Satin

or choose a bold print.  If its too much for a top, a short pencil skirt may be just the right way to wear the fabric.

Gaussian Flower

Popular for pleats are linens like Balsa, Custard or Rosy Pink

Rosy Pink Linen

We think some of our fine cotton paisley prints would work for a retro Maxi skirt.

Persian Carpet

Comment here to tell us what skirt/s you’ve chosen this spring.

This spring is all about hot colors!  Don’t be intimidated by these intense colors!  There are many ways to incorporate color into your wardrobe without going all the way.  The easy solution to nodding to the trend is through accessories.  We think that’s a great idea, but here at SB, we’re all about fabrics so we’re looking a bit beyond “hardware”.

First, a few definitions…this is how we are using color adjectives this spring.

Neon:  High color with lots of highlight—close to fluorescent.

Spring Ponte-Neon Lime

Vivid:   Brilliant and bold.

Geranium Pique

Dynamic:  Deeply saturated colors

Dress Ponte in Spicy Coral

Generically we can call these “brights”.  The fashion industry has gone over the top with fully saturated color this season.  It’s fun, it’s happy and if everyone is wearing bright color, you blend right in!

Colorblock 

There are wonderful ideas out in the marketplace for colorblocking this season.  I’ve been trying to gather some photos for inspiration on my Pinterest board. Most colorblocked garments have simple silhouettes so that the delineation between the fabrics is crisp and uncompromised by excess seaming.  Successful color blocking requires that all the fabrics are about the same weight and have  very similar properties.  The ideal especially for a first attempt is to choose two identical fabrics in different colors.

Dynamic Banana

The second choice is to find very similar fabrics in weight and stretch.  For instance, you may choose two jersey knits, but one has way more stretch than the other.  This will result in a poor marriage between the blocks.   Below you will see a pique knit which is much more stable than the viscose print, but the stretch factor is similar.  We think these would work well together in a garment. Not tested, just surmised.

Vivid Plum

A third possibility is to  break up the blocks with woven strips for stabilization.  This could work for a Mondrian inspired dress or jacket for instance.  The best advice is the usual: Test, test, test

Coordinate

An easy way to wear some bright color is to team it with a neutral or with a softer shade of the same color.  Coordination used to mean matchy, matchy. But for a number of years we have suggested that sewists think more in terms of blending rather than matching to achieve a coordinated look. This means finding colors that are pleasing together and that complement one another in both color and texture.  For most people a medium contrast works better than a high contrast. If you can wear a high contrast like crisp black and stark white, by all means do it.  When it comes to brights, we suggest using your best neutral:  navy, brown, black, gray, white and choosing a bright color that blends and flatters your best feature.  Want to emphasize your facial features or hair?

Choose a bright top and team it with khaki pants.

Packables-Tamale

For other bright tops see Knits.

First Choice-khaki 4x stretch

Looking to show a little leg?  Choose a bright skirt and wear a softer color or a neutral near your face.

Pandabear Bamboo Rayon

Rock Sound Cotton

For other bright skirts see prints

 Accent

Presentation

Wild Watermelon

Bright colors are perfect for dramatic accents.  Even a navy business suit comes alive with a fuchsia tank or cami.

We hope you have fun this season with the brights we have in stock…We will do our best to add suggestions for go-togethers on our store pages.  If you are questioning whether two fabrics work together, please feel free to email us or call us. 

Mixers Tencel Jersey

We started a love affair with tangerine last year and this year its taken over the color palette!  Everyone is talking about Pantone’s choice of Tangerine Tango as the color of 2012.  We’ve seen it in our European prints since last fall and some of the newer spring collections have stepped it up to the feature color. A tangy orange is energetic, playful and eye-catching.  It’s not generally the color for corporate board rooms or for court houses except in small doses.  If you work in a creative environment, you can definitely work it into your daytime wardrobe. If not, leave it for date night or weekends.

We introduced these fabrics in the fall and they will carry over beautifully to springtime.

Salsa

Mobile

Persian Carpet

These prints are bright and bold, combining shades of tangerine with bright pink, another very popular fashion color.

This brand new artful floral can be worn year-round.  Soft cotton/stretch fabric will work for skirts, tops or dresses.  Pull out the tangerine with your accessories or not.

Gaussian Flower

Maybe this bold statement is not right for your mood or your aesthetic, but you want to nod to the trend in some way.  I saw a well-known personality caught on camera this week as she exited a cab.  She was dressed in a stylish, but conservative trench and there at her neck was a tangerine scarf–guess everyone’s got the word by now.  This little punch of color made all the difference in her appearance.  You could do the same by making a very drapey mobius–easy to make infinity scarf–from a solid rayon such as spiced pumpkin.  The shade of orange is a bit more subtle, but tips to the trend and is very chic.

Spiced Pumpkin rayon

You can meet this trend in your own way by choosing shades that flatter you.  Bend it a bit towards brown if you don’t like the bright golden tones, lean it to red for warmth and more intense color.  Strictly a cool palette kind of girl?  You might have to wait a few years to have a compatible “color of the year” but for now, think about using Tangerine in small accents with a neutral or a turquoise that suits your skin tones or choose a print that features your pinks or purples.  Avoid wearing it with black unless you want to call forth the fall spirits!

Comment below to let us know how you choose to wear this color…send us a photo or post a pic on Facebook. We are always interested in creative interpretations of trends and sewists do it best.

Who said winter fashion has to be dark and drab?  Wearing pale colors in the dead of winter is a great fashion trend this year. Did you see the Golden Globes?  Lots of blush tones and soft pastels.

It’s time to dispell the old notions about pale colors.

• Pastels are only for babies
• Pastels are only for spring
• Pastels are strictly feminine

And ring in the new…

Pastels work year round like this wonderful rayon ponte knit in an icy shade of raspberry.

Pink Raspberry Ice

Pastels work on women or men

Warwick Shirting - Coming Soon

Pastels work in frothy feminine ruffles as well as tailored tops and dresses.  The print design on this silk is angular and the crinkle linear while being rendered in mostly soft pastel tones.  Great for soft ruffled blouse or drapey camisoles.

Antoinette Silk Crinkle Print

Cotton twill is sturdy for jackets with crisp lines in a very soft coloration.

Lavender Twill

Pastels work well in tone-on-tone combos like this threesome in fresh celery.

Celery Trio

Pastels also combine well with dark colors for high contrast.

Eugenie Viscose Knit

Mix with darks or lights…  buy and sew now… wear three seasons. What’s not to love?

How much fabric to order?  You can plan a square by using the width or less and matching that measurement in the length.  Remember to subtract for seams for your finished measurement.  If you prefer lengthwise, you can order the length that you wish and use the additional yardage on the width for duplicate scarves or trims, bias binding, etc in other projects.  Alternatively, you can buy twice the width of the scarf (plus seam allowances) and seam the scarf in the middle.  Many fabrics would hide this seaming well.  Finishing the edges comes down to fabric composition, personal preference and the look you are going for in the finished scarf. Lightweight silk edges can be hand-rolled or rolled on a standard machine with an edging foot.  Serged edges would overpower the fabric. Cottons or wools can be fringed or clipped.  Velvets look and feel lovely when lined with rayon or silk.

Classic scarves are generally made of silk.  Prints are particularly stunning and versatile.

Lightweight and airy, this feminine print will be just the right statement on solid purples and pinks or with a bronzed camel tweed for instance.

Patrice Silk

Scarves are a wonderful way to display large prints.  The multi-colors in this floral charmeuse will work with a number of solids as accent or main event.

Honfleur Silk Charmeuse

The dry hand of a crepe is less slippery than some of the habotai or satin silks.  This conversation print is adorable for accent with red, blue or black.

Vino Silk Crepe

More silks for classic scarves. 

Casual Neckwear or Shawls

Karyn in Seafoam

Loose knits are great for long casual scarves.  See more options in Knits. 

Vice-Versa Double Cloth

Great for fringed edge!  This double cloth with plaid and check in soft cotton will work up well for casual long scarves or large squares with fringed edges.

Elegant Evening Scarves

Ella embroidered velvet

Nothing more elegant than silk/rayon velvet.  The drape is wonderful and the slight sheen adds drama.  

Bollywood in Orange

You will love this wild panne velvet with gold overlay.  Comes in three colors!  What a great scarf to dress up a solid sheath or to drape with an evening coat. 

See also Twilight Elegance 

Outerwear Scarves

Top of the Hub Chenille

Slightly bulkier fabrics will still work for scarves with coatings.  Line with a pop of color or with a subtle match.

Shawl Pins

Spirale in Black Nickel

While you’re thinking about scarves, you should really check out our new blog Finding Closure.  Dixie has written about the shawl pins and shown various ways to wear them.

Now that you’ve chosen your fabric, the sewing is easy.  You can make lots of gifts in one evening for everyone on your list or fill your wardrobe with scarf accessories to wear in sew many ways.

Don’t miss this video…it’s worth the 4 minutes to watch it!

25 Ways to Wear a Scarf

Through the years artists from all genres have been fascinated with the paisley and have embellished it in a myriad of different ways.  The designs were originally much more naturalistic but has evolved in many directions to include stylized florals as well as ornamental motifs mixed in with the paisley shapes.  Today paisley prints come in a wide variety of design…some harkening back to the 60’s revival, others more traditional and still others mixing paisley with geometrics or abstract designs.  Find your paisley and wear it this fall!

Photo Credit: Dan Lecca; Getty Images

For an all-over look, try one of these

Persian Carpet

Cirque de Couleur

If you want to nod to the trend, but don’t do the all-over look, try color blocking with a solid.

Paisley Party and Brassy Orange and Hunter Fine Cord

These mix knits and wovens, but with the right pattern, it can work.

Paisley Party and Knit Pick Purple

Want a touch of paisley?  Cut a Paisley out and appliqué (satin stitch or straight stitch and fray) on to your favorite casual denim or fleece.

Evan

In addition to prints, we see a likeness of the paisley shape in jacquards and brocades.

Atrium from the Back Room Collection

One of the more fun ways that paisley is used in today’s designs is in a melange of other motifs.  To me its a great nod to the design without being traditional.  Our recent Back Room fabric, Dawali, does just that.

Dawali

When you choose your look, send us a photo for our gallery.

I can’t stop watching this vlog posting!  You have to click this for a great graphic display of stripes in NYC.
It came at just the right time for me since we just posted our newest stripe knit, Ines

Ines Rayon Jersey Knit

For other black or gray stripe options, you can check out Clinton Organic cotton shirting or for a bit of glitz, try Marquee which is on sale right now !

Marquee in Gray

Don’t like a prominent stripe?  Try a white on white or black on black version such as Shirtwaist or Railway.

Shirtwaist Cotton

Railway Cotton Stripe

Remember, many stripes on the crosswise can be railroaded to produce a vertical line or play with the bias to produce chevrons and other interesting designs. Put your own spin on the stripe trend and make a unique fabric by piecing in a striped pattern.

For those outside NYC for whom color is a cheerful statement, try LaSalle.

La Salle wallpaper stripe in blue. Also available in Peach

Whatever you choose, have fun with this linear trend!!

Classic in fabrication and in color,  laundered white linen works for tops, skirts and dresses.

Classic White Linen

Casual for day dresses, shorts, skorts or tops, white pique is great on the court or off.

Links Cotton Pique

How about a clean pair of white pants or crops for day or evening events?  Cotton satin works up beautifully and has just a bit of sheen for a dressed up look.

Nymph Cotton Satin

Some of the most delicate fabrics come in white like this embroidered cotton lawn.  Great for hot days and evenings.

Mid-Summer with Demitasse Buttons

Looking for a lightweight jacket or shrug?  Try this interesting textured knit.

Maze Knit CloseUp

For more ideas, shop our Black and White Collection  in the web store.  You’ll be sure to find several whites to cool your summer days.

Looking for casual?

Hoodie-French terry in a slightly muted fresh growth green

Stylish Knits

Sail Away- Cotton jersey knit-soft emerald and dew green play with blueberry on white.

Playful Prints

Reverie-Scattered paisleys in shades of emerald and fresh spring green

Dress it up!

Spearmint Shimmer-Bright tone of green cross-woven with pearl peach creates stunning shade.

Lime green always finds its way into the fashion palette in spring and summer.  This year is no exception.  The tone is slightly less yellow and softened a bit from previous wild lime shades.  Here are a few examples in stock right now. Images are linked to product.

Hurricane-Printed linen-cotton from France featuring turquoise and lime on brown--stunning statement!

 

Monteverde-Cotton print with overlapping geometric shapes in dark lime green and shades of brown.

 

San Remo-Silk faille from Valentino with soft hand and slight texture in a rich shade of lime.

Shades of green will carry you through the summer whether you use it all over or as an accent. We are still seeing green featured for fall…deeper tones of fern and olive. Keep an eye on Just Arrived  to stay current with our most recent offerings.

Fashion Silhouettes

What’s next?  Now fashionistas are updating the seventies.  The fashionising team thinks we may be giving a nod to the late sixites and then back to the roaring twenties….What do you see coming?