So this weekend I have been staying with family in London and attending one of my favourite events of the year, the Country 2 Country festival. Since 2013, the O2 arena has housed the biggest country music festival in the UK which has grown in size each year and this year has been increased from just the Saturday and Sunday concerts to an extra night on the Friday with many more pop up stages and artists being added. As expected many people showed up in stetson hats, cowboy boots, shirts made from Gingham Fabrics and plaid dresses, all trying to fit in with the american country style. For years now, the stereotypical image of a cowgirl or cowboy includes Gingham Fabrics and here at Calico Laine we stock a number of check fabrics which would be ideal for creating an outfit inspired by country fashion. Gingham is a medium weight fabric and works especially well for dresses because it has a good drape to it. It is usually a woven check rather than a printed check which means that the pattern can be seen on both sides of the fabric and this is a desirable trait for many. Although it is only medium weight, with a little bit of interfacing in places, it would make a great shirt and with a pair of jeans and cowboy boots this would make a great country inspired outfit. If I was making my own country inspired outfit I would personally choose to use the cotton rich Gingham Fabrics as these have a great aesthetic and are slightly thicker than many of the other check fabrics for sale. I would go with the apple green shade and create a shirt dress as this accessorised with a denim jacket would give off a great country feel. At only £4.99 per metre, this would be a cheap way to create an outfit without compromising on quality.