Check out our mustache!

We are celebrating Movember by featuring “Where’s My Stache” fabric!

This fabric is perfect for almost any project for your mustached man, or the woman who adores mustaches! Show your support for Movember and men's health by sporting this as a satchel, make a carring case for a tablet, apron, or even a large oven mitt just for him! The possibilities for projects are endless!! And, you will be doing a good thing supporting men’s health! You can find this mustache fabric here. We are planning on celebrating Movember through December when we will be receiving lots of different mustache fabric. Be sure to follow our blog for updates!

If you do craft something, we would love to see it!

Link a photo to your project in the comments down below! Happy crafting!

As the weather cools down, our fabric heats up!

Although we are located in the heart of the Fashion District in Los Angeles, we still get chilly in the winter! Our California Winters are not frigid, but they are perfect for a medium weight coat. One of our favorite fabulous bloggers, Mimi G, created a beautiful DIY Blanket Jacket using a plaid fabric and Vogue’s Pattern 8696. We are featuring beautiful outerwear fabric this week, but we only have a limited amount of each fabric! Grab this hot fabric for your project before it is all gone!

We love the fresh look of this jacket paired with a metallic belt – it forms the jacket to your body and gives the blanket jacket great shape. This Blanket Jacket even has pockets! Mimi says she plans to make several of these for her California Winter this year.  Just like Mimi I am planning on making one and using these Coating fabrics to complete my Blanket Jacket! I am so excited!

Hello Kitty goes Rock & Roll

If you had asked me 5 years ago if Hello Kitty was going to join forces with Kiss I'm sure my answer would have been no, but obviously I was way off base.

Here is what I saw on the cutting table yeaterday....

 I have to say I love this! We just received this darling line of Hello Kitty from David Textiles. The cotton prints are crisp and the two fleece panels makes great blankets. Here are a few of the patterns of what we got in...

                                                                                                

Click here to see all the cotton prints or here if you want to check out the fleece panels.

One of our buyer made up the fleece panels. While the lighting in the store isn't great, these panels are.

                   

Aren't these fun? You might think only little girls love Hello Kitty, but not so. My teen daughter and all her friends are into Hello Kitty. I think Hello Kitty is retro. Honestly I'm ot really sure, but I know we can't keep it on the shelf.  I have a feeling these prints are going to fly out of the store just as the other have.





I'm a big fan of PJ bottoms. I think the cotton prints would be perfect.  You could use one print for the majority of the pants, and than use another for the cuff.

Craftstylish says you’ll need:

• Favorite pair of pajamas


• Ironing board and iron


• 2 yards of main fabric, prewashed and pressed


• 1/4 yard contrast fabric, prewashed and pressed


• Cutting mat


• Fabric marker


• Seam ruler


• Ruler


• Scissors


• Pins


• Thread


• Sewing machine


• Safety pin


• 1 yard of 1-1/4-inch nonroll, sew-through elastic


• Seam ripper


• Approximately 60 inches of 1/2-inch ribbon

Check out our Notions section for most of the items she suggests. Our ribbons are here and more cotton that you know what to do with is here, that's if you haven't already put the Hello Kitty in your cart. LOL! Just a side note, if you love your first pair so much you have to make another, why not try flannel or fleece. Just a thought.

Here is a video that uses jeans to make the pattern. Looks like a great idea.

If you get started now you can have a great homemade gift ready for the holidays. Remember these prints are  online, as well as in the store.

Twice is Nice...

Check out our swimsuit fabric that is featured on Mimi G.'s site. This is the 2nd time in the last 2 weeks she has used our fabric and made a great outfit.I have to say Mimi has great style. I love the sweater and shoes as well. I have to say I wouldn't have thought of using the swimwear to make a skirt, but it looks great and is probably super comfortable.



Check out her blog for this tutorial. There is even a video to watch.

Hope to see you again Mimi!

Fleece anyone...

I just have to share what I saw when I went to The Loft, our pound good store, located across the street from our retail store. Can you say fleece....

                                           

There is a great assortment of solid colors, as well as great prints. As you can see above there is Christmas, patriotic, camouflage, juvenile, sports, and more. Here are a few I thought may catch your eye...

                                                                                                                      

And if you think that is all we have, think again. Here is the stock....

So what to do with all this fleece. I thought with the holidays coming up I would include a few links that have easy fleece projects. I love fleece blankets. For $2.50 a pound, even if the kids outgrow the theme in a few months, you won't feel too bad. All three of my kids love when grandma makes them fleece blankets. Another super easy holiday idea is a scarf. If you're up for a little more challenge try a fleece jacket. The cream and beige herringbone would be amazing! I included a pattern below. Many of the ideas are no sew, so there is no excuse.

http://www.naptimecrafters.com/2010/10/repurposing-1-blanket-into-fleece.htm

http://www.etsy.com/listing/107982702/mccalls-2404-pattern-womens-reversible

http://www.ehow.com/how_5939206_make-fleece-jacket-out-blanket.html

So, if you live close by come in and take advantage of this great deal. I'm not sure how long it will be here, so get it while you can.

Enjoy!

What a cool visitor...

Last week one of the designers of a few of our Timeless Treasures cotton prints stopped by the store. I wish I was there to meet & greet, but after reading her blog it is clear she had a great time. Her prints are so fun & quirky. I see why the two women in the store picked them out. Considering the fact that we have thousands of prints I can imagine it was a real thrill to see the two customers eyeing her fabric!



Besides loving that Samarra blogged about her trip to our store, I also enjoyed the wrap skirt she referenced in her blog.



We carry this print in our retail store. Hopefully I will be able to get another piece and offer it online. I will link it to this blog as soon as I do.

Again, I want to thank Samarra and hopefully next time you visit you will drop me a note first. I would love to meet you.

Thank you Mimi...

I just wanted to give a big thanks to Mimi, from Mimi G. Style, for featuring our fabric in her blog. Of course whenever someone makes something fun, like Mimi did, with one of our fabrics, the phone starts ringing and the requests start flooding in. We have been looking high & low for more of the ITY knit chevron print that Mimi used. I think she must have grabbed the last piece. We will be photographing more knits this week and getting them on-line ASAP. Hopefully Mimi's dress will inspire you, but not limit you to that one print. We have an amazing selection of knits both in our store, Michael Levine, Inc., located in the heart of the Los Angeles Garment District, as well as on-line at lowpricefabric.com. I just added a few new chevron knits. Hopefully one of these, or another of our knits, will strike your fancy.

Again, thanks Mimi! We hope to see you in the store soon, and see more of our fabrics come to life through your design.

Coming soon, new cottons and flannels...

Our owners just arrived back from Quilt Market, and therefore I have cotton on the brain. Over the next month or so we will be getting in lots of great new cottons and flannels. Hopefully they will give me a list of what is coming in month by month and I can post a coming soon section. From what I have seen, looks like some really great prints.

For today, I just wanted to show you a few projects, both cotton and flannel, that are going up in the store.

First the new California cotton print from Timeless. In one yard you get the best of California. Our sample maker decided top make an apron from it.

Here's the front:

and here's the back

This free Apron tutorial is very similar to the apron shown here. Again, while I love this new print, remember to check out all our cotton prints and pick one that is just right for you or the person receiving this great apron.

Another cute line we're featuring with a sample is Marmalade Flannels and Vintage Modern Flannel from Moda.

We have it in both cotton and flannel. Both these collections have the wonderful feel of the good ol' days. They have found a way to take vintage charm and add a bit of modern geometric flair.

Both collections have an assortment of prints to pick from. In this stroller blanket we used three of them. Click here to see the entire collection.

                                 

This blanket was made from a super easy pattern, not even really sure you can call it a pattern, more just a sheet of directions. Basically you get 1 3/4 yards of a one print and 1 1/4 yards of another print (cotton or flannel) and approximately 3 2/3 yards of ric rac or a contrast bias binding. You should always pre-wash both pieces before you cut them. Cut both pieces to the same size, 40' by 42' square. To add ric rac, put both pieces of fabric right sides together adding ric rac in between the two pieces.  Stitch around the edge of the blanket leaving an opening of about 6 inches.  Turn the blanket right side out and stitch the opening closed. Iron with steam. If desired, ric rac can be added to the outside of the blanket on the flannel side for a decorative look. Simply sew the two pieces of fabric together right sides together, turn right side out, close the opening, and add the ric rac on top to finished blanket. To make a blanket with binding, put the wrong sides together and add the binding edge on top of the cotton print side edge. Stitch 1/4 inch seam allowance around the blanket. Fold binding edge over to the back of the blanket and blind stitch by hand or machine.

The last sample is from the same collection. It is still in the process of being sewn, but I just wanted to give you a peek at this great patch work blanket.

                             

It is hand tied and not quilted. Really cute & simple. Again, I love this collection, and this quilt really shows off many pieces from it,but if you find yourself with less time than you anticipated you could buy our fat quarters, coming on-line next week,  and whip it together in no time.

That's it for now. Keep checking our site all month for great new cotton and flannel prints. Also remember all our cotton and flannels are 10% off everyday.

Felt...

I have been coming across so many great felt projects online. I just wanted to share a few of them with you. Also,  since we have felt on sale all week ,I thought it might entice you to buy some. Wink, wink!

This site called Craftsy has lots of great felt ideas. Form cute felt houses to tree garland, and lots in-between. 

Family Circle has an easy stocking template. Something like this would be great to update the mantle, but also an easy craft for all the kids to make at your next holiday party. You could Pre-cut out the stocking and they can decorate it. Now that is a party favor I would like to go home with. mI love the untraditional color selection. I am so into turquoise, greens, and reds right now.



Of course we can't forget Martha. When in need of a craft she is always there to lend a helping hand. I have to say sometimes they get a bit complicated for me, but here are a few that are darling and may not take up your entire day.

      

     

      

      

The felt bag is one that I am really drawn to. I use recyclable totes all the time. Again this would make a great gift. If you had extra time maybe adding the recipients initials would be a nice touch.

Here is the video for the tree wine covers. These really make an ordinary hostess gift much more personal.

Of course, since I have little ones, I love the monster mittens and the Tooth Bear. They are so cute & would make you the hit among all the moms! I think my five year old may have to get the tooth bear this year. So vintage looking!

All the above crafts can be found at Marthastewart.com. They all have directions and pictures to help you make some great felt crafts this winter.

I don't want to leave out Hanukkah, so here are a few crafts that are fun.

 



The 8 nights of Hanukkah Countdown Calendar is from Land of Nod. I love this idea. Kids love anything that counts down and contains some sort of goodie! Again, while this one is great, it would be a nice tradition to make one with your kids.

I love every year when we pull the holiday boxes out, which we have lots, since we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas, and my kids, my husband, and myself, gravitate to items that have special meaning to each of us.  It may be the menorah I painted when my husband and I were dating, or the box that my mom put my most special gift in each year, or the ornaments that they made in school when they were little. Whatever it is we always enjoy a few moments talking about those special people or those special times.  They always want to hear the stories behind these personal treasures. I love that. That is really what the holidays are about. Spending time together, cherishing each other, and remember family who can't be with you anymore.

Hopefully one of these crafts will help you make a special memory with your family this year.