I don't normally post fabric shots, but... this is so exciting that I have to share. I like making my own workout wear but have been frustrated by sourcing the fabric. I have been stalking eclipse textiles for years, but never really knew which fabrics were suitable for what. Then I saw an offer on their blog for samples of their new supplex colour range. I requested samples and asked for samples of other fabrics as well. Then I contacted one of their stockists, Beach Bubble Swimwear, to order the fabric. A few days later (which means I got amazing service, because mail deliveries to my home town are a little slow) I received a parcel, mostly of supplex lycra. The colours are gorgeous and the quality looks exceptional. I am planning an order of the aqualife fabrics for the next round of swimwear making.
I have also ordered a new overlocker and am waiting for it to arrive. I have been sighing over the quality of stitches from my overlocker for years. It was the bottom of the range Janome when I bought it 15 years ago. The clincher came when the swim trunks that I made my son split all the way up the back during a training session. My kids are at the age where they need a lot of sports clothing. I like to make it and they do wear it, so I think I need the right tools for the job. I course, there is nowhere within hundreds and hundreds of kilometres for me to test drive overlockers, so I was very reliant on the reviews of other bloggers and PR members. In the end, I decided on the Bernina 1150 MDA. Of course, it would take a lot a leotards to break even on the costs...but what price do you put on the joy of your nearly-teen child wearing your sewing?? Hmm, obviously the answer to that is remarkable similar to the price of a Bernina overlocker!
And now, just because I like posts with project photos, here are some pictures of my youngest child wearing the donkey costume I made him to be the donkey in the Simpson Anzac story.
I am also researching sources for thread for my overlocker and coverstitch...if you have any recommendations, pass them on.
11 comments:
Have had Bernina sergers for years. You will not regret this purchase twenty years from now. I have two threaded all the time ( one twenty years old ) and they are my favorite machines. Enjoy them.
Wow, that donkey costume is fabulous, and I speak from some experience.... played the back half of a donkey in a school play in Grade 5. True!
I just splashed out on a Bernina - the 900DL. That was as much as I could afford, but the lady at the shop says the ease of threading is worth the extra money cf the lower model. They swear by Bernina generally - apparently the service and support is great and the machines are very well made, compared to others now made in China etc.
Hope you will very happy with your new purchase, and it will serve you for many years!
Katherine - Glad to hear you are enjoying our LYCRA® fiber and SUPPLEX® fabrics! When it comes to swimwear, fabric with our XTRALIFE LYCRA® fiber is the ideal choice as it will help your swimsuit retain its shape and color.
Great costume. I think you should make one for Christopher Pyne who wants to restore the importance of the Anzac story in school history classes. What an ass!
Oh, super exciting!!! I've been lurking their website for quite a while... your choices look fabulous! Very much looking forward to seeing what you make from these :) I hope your new overlocker meets your expectations - I'm yet to delve into that world, so I'll be of absolutely no use!
This is awesome-the animal costume. Also awesome-the fabric swatches. I've checked out their website a couple of times while looking for Aussie suppliers but never seen a swatch request form for non-wholesale purposes. Did you just email them directly and ask?
Amazing costume!
I have also been stocking up from elingeria and do regret it a lot that they are going out of business. (Though I understand the reasons very well.) They were my only supplier for lingery fabrics.
(If you'd live in Germany I'd recommend Alterfil thread (http://www.alterfil-shop.de/), runs smooth through the machines, creates less lint than most others, never had problems with breaking seams. (And if the stress on the seam is to much for normal thread they even have an elastic thread that works great in my sewing machine and in the sergers of some of my friends. I don't have a serger myself.). They do ship internationally, but the website is in German only. :(
An excellent idea - fabric and overlocker. Your swimwear sewing is so impressive, surely the overlocker will be paid off very quickly when bikini tops alone from Roxy are $80?
I clicked on the "contact" link in this post, where they offered the swatches
http://www.eclipsetextiles.com.au/blog/a-new-dimention-in-supplex-lycra
Thanks for that Katherine. I contacted them through the same and they responded saying they don't send samples to members of the public only businesses with ABN numbers. =(
oh my god. I totally freaking love those stripey/heathered supplexes! I must get my hands on some!!
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