Twice recently I’ve wound up at the local low-priced fabric store not needing fabric, but finding fabric that I knew wouldn’t be there if I went looking for it again in the future. Those trips resulted in three new dress lengths of fabrics for the stash.
The first two were from the first trip, when a friend and I stopped by the fabric store so she could get some supplies… I didn’t need anything…
But I bought the gorgeous burgundy rayon velvet specifically to make an 1830s evening gown I’ve been thinking of for the last year or so. It’s nice and lightweight and won’t weigh down the silhouette!
And the icy pink shot imitation silk I also purchased. I’ve used this fabric in other colors in the past multiple times, in my 1813 Regency dress and my 1811 Regency dress. It’s a little poofy, but looks like silk. I also have it in gold, which has been sitting in my stash for a few years. I have no current plans for this fabric, but I finished off the bolt so I have enough to make a dress from just about any decade in the 19th century I eventually decide on.
The lovely pumpkin silk is a color I’ve been dreaming of having a dress made out of, but it’s one of those colors you don’t often find. I carried it around the store for probably an hour before purchasing it. I’ve thought specifically of an 1820s dress, but really this color could be used for many decades in the 19th century. I also finished off the bolt on this one with hopefully enough yardage for any project I eventually decide on.
In addition, I found a lovely figured silk online at Blackbird Fabrics that I also knew was a fabric I wouldn’t find if I went looking for something similar in the future. That’s how fabric shopping often is, at least near me. You have to buy great things when you see them because if you go looking for specific and similar things you’ll likely not find them. Is it like that near where you live?
The purple color is so very 2nd-half-of-the-19th-century-chemically-dyed and it’s figured. It’s hard to find good silks these days for a reasonable price that aren’t just solid. I’m eventually planning a new 1890s gown, though who knows when. Maybe when another 1890s ball pops up on my calendar?
For now I need to get back to using up stash fabrics for my summer projects instead of adding to the stash!
The Quintessential Clothes Pen 
Fun! I love the pumpkin one! Nice finds 🙂 Isn’t it annoying how the right fabric just never seems to be there when one goes looking.
Caroline
Thanks! I guess that’s a good argument for maintaining a well stocked fabric stash! 😉
The imitation silk looks very convincing! Some good buys, I’m looking forward to seeing what you make of them!
Yes, it really does! Often when I’ve purchased it the ladies cutting assume it’s the silk price and then realize with surprise that it is actually less than half the price! Win!
I especially love the fabrics in the first photo but they are all great finds! An 1830s gown in velvet is going to be fabulous! It made me think of this fashion plate right away: https://fi.pinterest.com/pin/237494580323997913/ I’m sure you’ve seen that one already! 😉
Haha, good eye! That’s the exact fashion plate that I’m inspired by! I’m trying to figure out what sort of lace to look for to use for the sleeves. It’s so easy to draw these things but sometimes hard to figure out how to bring them to life!
Ah I should have known you were inspired by that fashion plate as well! It’s one of my favorites. Maybe try finding lace on Etsy? There are some really gorgeous options over there – here’s my collection: https://www.etsy.com/people/TheRococoAtelier/favorites/lace?ref=favs_index_2 I always get mine from Etsy nowadays, since there is a better variety with lower prices than what you can get locally here. Of course I don’t know about your local stores, though! Maybe (hopefully!) they are better? 🙂
Unfortunately, our local stores are very hit or miss. Sometimes they have amazing things but more often then not, especially for something like a nice wide lace, they do not have any options. But oh my goodness thanks for sharing the link! There are so many lovely laces and multiple that could work for the dress! Thank you!!!