Fabrics

As the year comes to a close, here at Calico Laine we’ve been looking at which colours are chic for Spring 2014. We love colour and nothing gets us more excited than combining two of our favourite hobbies, fashion and sewing.  Fashion is ever changing with styles looping in and out and modernising each generation. The bridal world is no...

Now Christmas is drawing ever closer, your tree is decorated and presents are wrapped it is time to turn your thoughts to the next big event of the season, New Years Eve. Whether you will be seeing in the new year over a quiet meal and glass of bubbly with your loved ones or at an organised event, you will...

Jersey fabrics are always one of our most popular Fabrics for dressmaking whatever the season. These fabrics are so versatile making them perfect for almost any dressmaking project including t-shirts and dresses. Popular due to its element of stretch and beautiful drape, this range of comfortable fabrics provide excellent insulation possibly explaining why jersey fabrics were once strictly associated with undergarments...

With Christmas rapidly approaching, the decorations are starting to come down from the attic and the Christmas trees are finally going up in our homes. If you're hoping to make some of your own decorations for your tree this year, you might have already bought some fabrics and other materials to get started. At home I like to decorate my...

As the world came together last week to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the tragic death of the much loved 35th President of The United States, John F Kennedy Jr, we remember not only what a legendary figure JFK is, and what conspiracy surrounds his death, but what an icon his wife Jackie Onassis Kennedy, was. From 1961 until her...

At this time of the year, BBC One and ITV are usually in battle for viewers with their big budget programmes, Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor respectively. As much as I enjoy a good singing competition, this year I have been hooked on Strictly. As well as watching the celebrities trying their hand at a Jive or American Smooth...

One of the most anticipated films of the year, The Hunger Games Catching Fire, is being released this week and with the L.A premiere being held last Monday, all eyes were on leading lady Jennifer Lawrence. At the Oscars, where she won Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook, she wore a stunning pale pink textured Fabric Dior ball gown and...

Like any dressmaker, I have been keeping a close eye on the catwalks for a sneak peak of the latest trends. Last season, it was all about monochromes, which as a result saw sales of our black and white dressmaking fabrics soar. For Autumn 2013/14 the rigid monochrome prints look set to give way to the softer prints of traditional...

We talk a lot about dressmaking for women but of course it is not only ladies who appreciate the unrivalled pleasure of handmade clothing. Mens tailoring has dominated the fashion scene since the days of Louis XIV or Louis le Grand, as he was sometimes known. Determined for France to become the most influential country in the world, fashion was one...

There are so many things that could be classed as Haberdashery. Here at Calico Laine we (hopefully) stock everything you could possibly ever want or need for any of your projects. In this blog I shall explain some of the great items that you may or may not know even existed! Fray Check This is an excellent item to have...