Liberty jersey
It seems like such a long time since I first discovered that Liberty printed on jersey, so I can't believe that it has taken until now to see and feel it for myself in real life. It's actually even lovelier than I'd imagined: far thicker and more substantial than I'd expected, so although it would work beautifully for tops, it's almost more suited to dresses. I'm imagining that they produced it with the creation of Diane Von Furstenberg style wrap dresses in mind - although I always find wrap dresses hard to wear and, for me, they feel a little too eveningy for daytime wear. However, I'm excited about the idea of a jersey shift dress, which seems to be the garment that I reach for most often from my winter wardrobe each year.
And like buses, the Liberty Jersey is now appearing all at once: Leah of Sew Box (a website dedicated to dressmaking fabrics and patterns) recently started stocking a small selection too - you can find them here - where they are, curiously, almost half the price - the presence of the gorgeous wooden floor boards, hallowed halls and the deep purple bags seem to be an expensive accompaniment to a metre of fabric...I'm retrospectively shocked).
I am now going to try and sleep off the shock (she said dramatically, before falling into her bed in a swoon).
Florence x
Excellent link, thank you Florence. I too was shocked to find Liberty's own fabric so much cheaper in shops other than themselves, it makes no sense. Ah well, happy sewing!
ReplyDeleteKate x
What pretty fabric! It will potentially look good underneath the black jacket/coat you made. Thank you for the link. This is a new site for me.
ReplyDeleteFlorence, I once spent three horrible weeks as a summer sale temp at Liberty. If people could see the products in storage - still wrapped in plastic and thrown carelessly about the grubby rooms with dusty metal shelving and stained carpets that looked like the offices of a run-down accountancy firm c. 1984 (and this was 2000) - they wouldn't for a moment consider handing over the absurd amounts of money that they happily do in those wooden-floored, perfumed, and neatly arranged retail halls!
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, *thank you* for that link which I've just clicked - certified organic stripy interlock?!! I'd given up searching for it this side of the Atlantic!
ReplyDeleteI do love it when you post a link Florence as it is almost always one I would use. Off for a look (and have you seen Liberty needlecords? Just beautiful and reminiscent of Japanese fabrics) x
ReplyDeleteOh that fabric is gorgeous. I'm in love! But I've never sewn with jersey. Any pattern suggestions?
ReplyDeleteK x
I visited Liberty in the summer and was disappointed by the prices - just not worth it! Particularly as the cotton lawn was not nearly so soft as I recalled it once was. I was shocked by the prices actually and dare I say it found some of the prints rather ugly. Nevertheless Liberty is a beautiful shop - my daughter and I spent hours in there but our only purchase was a covered notebook. Prices were all well out of my range!
ReplyDeleteSiobhan
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ReplyDeleteFlorence the jersey is beautiful. It will be nice working with it (as I think you have an overlocker). Thank you for the link to the shop - I am now coveting the grey and black roses pattern.
ReplyDeleteLove your Jacket posts too
xx
C
just found your blog. WOnderful and that Liberty fabric is really yummy. thank you for the link. Joanna
ReplyDeleteSewbox is a great shop. Good luck with your dressmaking. I was thinking of indulging in a bit of that Liberty jersey too - but only to make a scarf - I'm a bit nervous of sewing jersey.
ReplyDeleteNina - how traumatic! I'm not sure I will ever feel the same about Liberty again - I am fine (and almost grateful) at the 'wrapped in plastic' aspect, but feeling slightly unwell at the idea of the stained carpets. That's such a shame.
ReplyDeleteHurrah for you finding the striped interlock - it's gorgeous, isn't it.
Yes, Pipany - I know of them, but am yet to see them outside of a computer screen yet...but on your recommendation I may make more of an effort to snaffle some out!
Kristina - no, no pattern recommendations as I'm planning to use a current dress of mine to make the pattern pieces from - however, Cal Patch's (beloved) book is fantastic for making things for your own dimensions and does have lots of jersey options in.
Catherine - that's exactly the print I have my eye on too - it's gorgeous, isn't it.
Veryberry - I worried a lot before sewing with jersey, but it's easier than I expected, so definitely worth leaping in there and having a go with.
Hello Joanna - thank you so much for leaving a comment!
Florence x
Hehe, it WAS traumatic! That's why I'm still going on about it a decade later (which Boyfriend says is ridiculous - but he wasn't there!). The only thing I enjoyed was when they sent me out onto Regent Street (probably because they'd observed my utter hopelessness on the shop floor) to hand out purple balloons. I much preferred spreading the helium-filled joy for free to ripping people off in the scarf hall :-) Mind you, some people go there BECAUSE of the prices - one woman marched through the doors and demanded that I show her "the most expensive scarves", would you believe. I'm so glad you've found a cheaper source of the fabrics!
ReplyDeleteThe jersey (and pattern) arrived today. Beautiful soft drapey jersey with grey roses on it. Sorry to gush on here but I don't have a blog yet and just had to share. Thank you for recomending Sewbox, Florence
ReplyDeleteI don't yet have an overlocker either and am looking for one on e-bay!
x c
Oh Nina, that's so funny - what a lovely thought to think of you spreading helium happiness away from the strange people in the scarf department.
ReplyDeleteCatherine - that's so exciting and I'm so pleased that you came back to share it. By the way, I'm not convinced that an overlocker is completely necessary - I made my Audrey dress (most recent post) almost entirely on my sewing machine last night and bound many of the edges, rather than overlocking...although an overlocker is a nice addition to one's sewing room! Happy eBay hunting!
Florence x