Sew In Fashion by Sawyer Brook

Today's fashion trends and the fabrics you need
to create them in your own voice.

Featured fabrics are available online:  The Bistro Collection  |  more...

Mad for Madras

June 17th, 2010
Patchwork Madras Fabric

L to R Greek Madras, Campus Madras, Quad Madras

Nothing says summer like madras…cool, refreshing in fiber (cotton) and color.  Yes, we know you could make a patchwork yourself!  But truly wouldn’t you rather have it all done for you and all you have to do is construct the garment?  We found our newest selections from a well-known supplier and were pleased with the quality of the stitching. 

Patchwork Madras Fabric

Stitching on reverse of patchwork madras

Serged and topstitched at the seams, this lightweight, airy cotton is perfect for shirts, blouses, skirts, jackets, shifts, loose shorts or crops.   You can have fun with accessories too.

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Mixers

March 31st, 2010

For a number of years the fashionista has been comfortable with mixing print and stripe in the same garment.  Here choosing fabrics that have common colorations and fabrication pulls the story together.

linen print fabric, linen stripe fabric, cotton satin fabric

Blue Hill Linen Print shown with Daybreak Linen Stripe and Crown Cotton Satin. Buttons: Flotation

Taken to the next level, mixing two prints with similar colorations can be relatively easy and pleasing to the eye.  Keep in mind that choosing colors with the same relative value helps to make it a successful duo.  Here’s an example with two of our latest prints… one large in scale, the other small and all over.  Choosing buttons to complement both the fabrics will provide a common thread to tie the outfit together.

cotton print fabric, rayon batik fabric

Jaco Falls cotton print shown with Dominica raon batik. Buttons: Bento, Starscape

We think drape has a lot to do with the success of this trend. When prints fall from the shoulder or the waist, there is less emphasis on the motifs and more on the overall color and pattern statement.  Mixing different prints in different fabrications can work successfully.  Pulling the prints together with a coordinating solid completes the look.

rayon batik fabric, silk chiffon fabric, silk and rayon textured fabric

Sun-kissed rayon batik shown with Acai silk chiffon and Amethyst Giacca. Buttons: Aura

This is a trend you can have a lot of fun with and we’ll be showcasing more combos that we find as the season progresses.

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Get Your Garden On!

February 26th, 2010

Large Floral Trend:  this spring is all about large floral statements!  We’ve rolled it out slowly with some subtle selections that speak to the trend without shouting.  Manderley is a two-tone printed cotton twill.  Deep mint green and ivory partner to make a spring fresh statement. 

cotton twill floral print

Join the large floral trend!

How to wear it?  This sturdy cotton twill will make up well in jackets, capri pants or skirts.  Use the floral in its fullest display or break it up with seams to make it less conspicuous. 

If you are timid about wearing the flowers so prominently, then we suggest one of our newest rayon prints that offer large motifs in tone on tone shades for a muted presentation. 

How to wear it?  Let these prints do all the talking in a drapey dress, skirt or flowing separates!  Very tropical! 

Tranquility–Watery green tones

So you’ll be seeing a lot more from us on this trend as we continue to roll out our spring offerings.  Stay tuned!

Serenity--Sky Tones of Blue

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Wear Red Day

January 26th, 2010

Ah, the red months!  There are so many occasions to wear red from November through February. Red is a powerful color that excites and energizes.  We can all use a little bit of that in our lives and our wardrobes.  Whether you favor the warm or cool palettes, there is a red for you.

Reds

One of the most important reasons to wear red is in support of women’s heart health.  Since our business caters to a majority of female customers, we want to urge our customers to support this cause in any way you can.  February 5th is National Wear Red Day. If you can afford a contribution, great!  There is a Sawyer Brook Fabrics Group at the AHA site.  We hope you’ll be inspired to grab all your red fabrics from your stash or from our store and make outfits for this year or plan ahead for next!   We’ve marked all the reds in stock with Wear Red and a link to the AHA site.

Go Red for Women

February 5, 2010

Of course, it doesn’t stop there…remember patriotic red in the summer too!  There’s always room for a little red in your life!

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All That Glitters…

December 8th, 2009
Brushed Gold and Pewter Spangle Knit

Brushed Gold and Pewter Spangle Knit

Every holiday season brings with it glitter and glitz.  This year’s metallics are toned down to a very wearable brushed gold or pewter.  See our Spangle knit in The Bistro or Snow Globe in The Back Room for  a quick top or shimmery dress.  Sophisticated event?  Try Mirror Ball.  Looking for a bit of colorful glitz?  Try our Back Room Cocktail which featured metallic blue on a black crinkle ground.

 If you want to say glitz without the glitter, try using a shiny fabric such as Ornament or Coquette. Colors such as red or gray can offer up a shiny feel just by their hue. 

Sewists have so many options to add some shimmer to their wardrobes.  Simply take one of you favorite top patterns and color block with glittery fabrics; add shoulder epaulets of glitter to a solid shiny fabric; make neckbands, wristbands or hipster ties with glittery fabrications.  So many ideas, so little time!  You can do it!

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Wild Thing

October 23rd, 2009

Animal prints never really go away, but his year they have been hotter than ever!  We have a few fabrications in stock now that will help you follow this trend in your own voice.  Click Images to see product in the store.

You don’t have to be a drama queen to make this trend work for you.  For instance, our new perma-pleated knit may be too much for the timid to wear all over, but mix with a solid black knit and suddenly you are fashionista. 

Pleated Rib Knit

Pleated Rib Knit

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

With our fabulous sheers, you can choose a full garment for evening or a scarf to kick up your daywear to fashion status.  

Rayon/silk Burnout with overprinted spots and stripes from the jungle

Rayon/silk Burnout with overprinted spots and stripes from the jungle

 
 
Nicole Miller Extra Yarn Weave Overprinted with Zebra Stripes

Nicole Miller Extra Yarn Weave Overprinted with Zebra Stripes

 

 We found a great buy on a poly charmeuse that is perfect for suit blouses or tunics.  The snakeskin print is rendered in soft tones which make the statement a bit more quiet, but very “of the moment”. 

Poly Charmeuse

Poly Charmeuse

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Leather or Not

September 25th, 2009

Leather is very big this year for all sorts of garments.  Using the “real” thing is one way to go, but we’ve found that most customers are interested in the look without the cost, care issues and for some the  moral issues of using a real skin. 

Chichi - Anice

Chichi - Anice

 Enter the faux world!  This incredibly supple black faux leather was imported from Italy.  The ultralight velour backing will make this fabrication easy to work with and comfortable to wear.  On the fashion scene we are seeing  jackets and vests along with long pencil skirts and short shaped skirts. 

This fabric will work well for the office to freshen your wardrobe. Team with silky blouse, add chunky metal jewlery and you’re up to date!   For the popular Rocker look, bring your creativity to the table and add studs to a structured jacket, vest or skirt. An added benefit of faux is the easy wipe clean for those little spills–great for busy lives that require dressing once for a 12 hour day full of activities. Whether your lifestyle requires dressing for meetings, presentations,  power lunches, school plays or casual fun, this versatile fabrication will take you where you need to go.

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Windowpane Plaid Pairing

September 18th, 2009

Check out this sharp button and fabric pairing!

La Paz double cloth with Balmacaan buttons

La Paz double cloth with Balmacaan buttons

We’re thrilled with how these buttons pick up the mustard color in this sophisticated wool blend double cloth from Carolina Herrera.  The buttons look equally sharp on the deep charcoal solid reverse side of the fabric.

We’re picturing an unlined cape or reversible jacket.  Or, consider a swingy coat cut on the bias of the windowpane plaid and trimmed with the solid.  We even see this fabric in the retro 1940’s look that’s currently popular.  

No matter how you cut it,  La Paz is a fabric for today’s trendy looks.  And B761 Balmacaan is the perfect finish for a great garment!

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Country Goes Western with this Duo

September 10th, 2009

Hello sewers!  Dixie here, with a trend blast from the button department.

 One of my favorite tasks at Sawyer Brook is matching buttons to fabric.  It’s fun to see how the button enhances the fabric and sets the mood for the garment.  True delight comes when we find a button and a fabric that look like they were made for each other.  We recently discovered this match made in heaven:

El Paso horn button on Rangeland faux suede

El Paso horn button on Rangeland faux suede

We love the unique design of the El Paso button, a natural horn wedge adorned with an antique gold-tone band embossed with a floral design.  It has met its match in Rangeland, an embossed faux suede embroidered with a floral pattern.  Together, the two invoke the American West, a popular mood within the current Country trend.  We’re envisioning a blazer to wear with everything from jeans to a floral frock, to a flowing evening dress or skirt.  How about it?!

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Welcome to The Bistro

September 7th, 2009

 What is a trend?  Fads come and go overnight. They are temporary.   Trends are a movement in a particular direction. It’s fun to watch trends.  If you enjoy fashion, then watching the fashion trends can be a hobby and a nice adjunct to your creative hobbies like sewing or knitting.   It doesn’t mean you  produce every new style, but following the trends can stimulate your creativity in a direction that will make your garments look current and a la mode.  We know that some of you watch the trends carefully and want to replicate ready-to-wear from your sewing room.  That’s why we created The Bistro, the lighter side of Sawyer Brook.

This new department in our online store features fabrics that speak to today’s styling trends and are “priced to entice”.  Sewing garments for quick turnaround can be fun and easy. 

Right now you’ll find retro prints,Retro Print Knits bold printsBold Floral Print Fabrics and dotsDot Duo…all part of this season’s fashion scene.  We’ll be introducing new fabrics regularly and will announce them here on this blog.  Be sure to sign up for our RSS or email alerts to find out when new fabrics are posted.  Please comment on any of these posts with your own fashion ideas and  send  photos of the garments you create with these Bistro fabrics!

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