First Fabric Haul of 2017

Readers, it's been a while since I've shared a fabric shopping haul with you.

Part of the reason is that lately I've been putting more energy into culling my fabric stash than growing it -- Marie Kondo and all that.  But I have plans for some exciting sewing projects in 2017 and purchasing new fabric feeds my creative juices like nothing else.  I know it's more practical to sew from my stash, but limiting myself only to my stash can feel punitive and, frankly, stingy.  I know many of you will understand what I mean.

I visited only two fabric stores yesterday: the ever-going-out-of-business It's a Material World on 39th St. (near where Paron's used to be), and Metro Textiles on 37th St.  I spent $50 in the former store and $80 in the latter -- not a little but not really a lot either in the scheme of things.

Here's what I got:

This cool cotton bird print shirting, $8/yd:

Looks good on Michael!

This Alexander Henry cotton hibiscus print, $3/yd.

I included the gingham to give you a better sense of what the red looks like.

This cotton patchwork in mustard and gray prints, a fabric I've seen in the store for the last eight years.  It's $5/yd., but I managed to get 7 yards for about $20 -- end of a bolt.

Now onto Metro Textiles.  I hadn't visited Kashi in more than a year, my bad.  I love hanging out with him and he always has surprises on hand and very good prices.  Here's what I purchased.

This lavender-undertoned patchwork madras.  Was it $5/yd?  Something like that.  Many of his fabrics are in the $5-7/yd range.

This polka-dotted poly charmeuse border print -- perfect for this vintage Pucci Vogue Couturier pattern I own:

This gorgeous Japanese cotton plaid with a soft-as-cashmere hand and slightly blurry look.

This leopard print cotton voile with day-glo orange highlights:

And last but not least, two yards of lightweight woven fusible interfacing.

And that's it!  I think I did well and I certainly had a blast doing it.  Which is your favorite?

I hope you've enjoyed this vicarious fabric shopping experience, readers.  If you're ever in New York, I do recommend visiting both It's a Material World and Metro Textiles.  (You can find out their exact address and hours by Googling them; Metro is only open during the work week with few exceptions.)  It's a Material World has had "Going Out of Business Sale" signs in the window for the last seven years.  When I asked when they were actually closing, the owner said "When I sell all this fabric."  I think that means he's not closing tomorrow, but I don't think he expects to be around much longer either.  Lots of gems there if you're willing to dig and it helps to know your fabric.

How about you?  Anybody have a recent fabric haul they wish to confess?

Have a great day, everybody!

See more cool fabric from my shopping trip on my Instagram!

Me and my friend Kashi of Metro Textiles.