My love for fabric parallels my love for patterns. In fact, I'm a self-described *fabric-holic. It's so easy to lose track of time, lost in a field of colors and patterns, visions of beautiful fashions floating in my head. I've browsed through fabric stores coast to coast and from Canada to Texas and have fabric that friends have brought back from far-off places. The eye first encounters the colors and luxuriousness, then the texture, then the hand has to touch and caress the softness, whether silky or velvety. New blends and designs are constantly appearing, and the search itself becomes a treasure hunt!

Some finds "speak" to me and I know exactly what their final use will be. That usually leads to an immediate purchase. Last year I learned a lesson on waiting. I found what I thought was the perfect piece for a sixies retro outfit, but wasn't quite sure. In that uncertain mood, I got a small sample which I took home. It was a few days after deciding it would work before I got back to the store, and I was crushed to find it had sold out! The clerk remembered me because of the unusualness of the colors AND the fact that immediately after I left, someone came along and bought all that remained! For five months I search every fabric store I came close too, and on a trip to Iowa found some. Needless to say I bought several yards! That was a lesson well-learned. If I find something I think might work, but am not sure, I may go ahead and buy at least a yard, "just in case."

But sometimes I buy fabric even if I don't know what its use will be, waiting to decide later what creation it will become. There are instances where the results gloriously exceed expectations, other times there have been disappointments. The "love at first sight" can fade to disappointment when a fabric proves difficult to work with, or the design does not carry over well on a small scale. It's a constant learning experience.

Finding just the right fabric is crucial in order to bring a pattern design to life. Reproducing a vintage outfit means being on the lookout for specific colors, patterns and textures. For Barbie family reproductions, I prefer to take actual garment samples, otherwise I usually take some reference books with me, such as Barbie Fashion (volumes 1 & 2) by Sarah Sink Eames, or any of the various books I have on other dolls. Pictures from magazines become resources, as well.

While a fabric may appear at "first blush" to be the right one, additional factors come into play. All fabrics are not suitable for doll fashions, so I've put together a few tips in this installment of "Keeping you in stitches..." called "Fabrics 101." My intent is not to present a complete resource on all fabrics but some general pointers to consider specifically relating to sewing for dolls. I welcome any additional tips readers would like to share and will be happy to post them in the "Reader's Corner."

*Def: fabric-holic—"someone who is obsessed with an uncontrollable love or attraction of fabrics even when you already have more than enough to do a zillion projects; a person who experiences the uncontrollable urge to purchase and take home fabrics." [Confession of a fabric-holic: Last year after working 15 years in the field of research, I decided to have some fun sewing and designing for dolls. I now work part-time in the fabric department of our local Wal-Mart store. It's a bit like the wolf in the chicken coop!]

Click here to continue: "Fabrics 101"

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