Maybe you have heard of Decor Dopamine, and I have definitely enjoyed seeing it on Instagram and other sites, but I think the category we all need is FABRIC DOPAMINE.
So what are the fabrics that hit all the switches to make me happy? Let me share just a few of my favorites, and maybe you will find a few new fabrics to love.
When I start a new project, I love seeing everything laid out so I can appreciate how all of the fabrics and notions go together. It makes me especially happy when I can use multiple fabrics – whether or not they are from the same designer or fabric line – and they just work. It could be the color combos, textures, or a particular graphic, but I get excited when I see fabric that hits just right.
These are just a few recent hits of fabric dopamine:
The more sew, the more I get picky about my fabrics. There was a time I could happily buy printed cotton at a big box store if I liked the design, but now, I have to touch it. If the feel is not up to the quality you usually find at a specialty quilting store, I can easily pass it by. On the flip side, as soon as I saw my favorite fabric designer, Tula Pink, was coming out with 3 prints in minky in her new Tabby Road Deja Vu collection, I had to pre-order them. Minky, Tula, cats….how do we go wrong here? (We don’t.)
When I sew clothing, I like to sew with knits, but again, I have developed very specific preferences. If I need super stretchy knit, I love bamboo or aquality cotton with lycra in it. I enjoy the vibrant colors and drape of many ITY knits, and for t-shirts or sleepwear that I want to be super-soft, I am all about the double-brushed knits. For skirts of dresses, ITY is perfect if the pattern calls for a drapey fabric, but my go-to for many structured designs is scuba knit -I’ve even used it in patterns designed for wovens since it is very stable and sews beautifully.
A few pretties from my fabric stash:
In the last few years, we’ve seen a rise in options for bag-making and other similar projects including cork, faux suede, faux leather, and beautiful vinyls of every texture and opacity. I again find myself drawn to bold colors, soft, yet durable textures, and unique designs. Thank goodness for the many print-on-demand fabric groups out there (even though my wallet isn’t always grateful).
What types of fabric do you like to work with? What types would you like to know more about or see more examples of in projects? Let me know so I can share more!
Enchanted Pines Sewing 