Guide to Finishing Fabrics

Abigail Cecile has added a very useful guide to finishing fabrics on her website.

https://www.abigailcecile.com/blogs/how-to-guides/guide-to-finishing-fabrics?omnisendContactID=61d4f71be5b2120022be7c19&utm_campaign=campaign%3A+New+website+and+fabric+announcement+%28683f5fcee56fa4d6eca89577%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=omnisend

She sells finishing supplies, so this promotes what she carries, but she has also added tips about the use, weight and issues you'll run into when using the cotton Liberty lawn, the Dupioni silks or the hand dyed velvets she carries.  It's great information for those who finish their own needlework, or even for those who are looking for something special for the finishing a shop is arranging for them.  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright June 8, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Another Peek Behind the Scenes at Suppliers UPDATED

Tricia Nguyen is well-known among the needle set for her 17th Century reproduction casket and mirror classes.  She's also an engineer and familiar with the challenges of making threads and fabrics for the use of needle artists.  The latest challenge has been to get the nice linen needed for her classes.  You will be amazed to read about the long shelf life of linens and how that dye lot change you are annoyed with might have occurred because environmental laws changed ten years back.
https://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/05/old-white-linen.html

UPDATE:  Here's a bit on how silk wrapped purl is made.
http://thistle-threads.blogspot.com/2018/11/how-are-silk-wrapped-purls-made.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 22, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Source for Finca Perle Cotton (and More!)

I'm told this is a great place to find size 8 Finca perle cotton from Prescencia, as well as a lot more.  Check out the beautiful fabrics!
https://shiboridragon.com

Five enabling points to Pat who told me about this.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 3, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ultrasuede

Orna Willis is now selling larger Ultrasuede fabric sets.
http://ornadesign.blogspot.com/2015/08/ta-da-ultimate-ultrasuede-collection.html

You can get one from her Etsy shop, where she sells smaller pieces in collections as well.  If you do your own finishing, this is a very valuable resource.  Do make note that Orna's Ultrasuede comes to both the lightweight and upholstery weight types.  The lightweight is very easy to sew in hand but I find the upholstery weight much tougher, even for my old Singer sewing machine.  But with that caveat, if you want to pick up colorful bits of Ultrasuede for your finishing, this is a great resource.
http://adornbyorna.com/collections/embellishments

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 17, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Finishing Friday: What Shops Go Through

I know a lot of folks don't understand why they need a shop to help them with finishing. Why not cut out the middleman and go to a finisher directly?  I think Mary Agnes explains how finishers and shops work together for the benefit of us stitchers very nicely.
http://needlenicely.blogspot.com/2015/04/fabric-for-pillow-finishing.html

Uh, MA, can I come play with your piles of fabric?

Signed, 
Jane
lusting after all the pretty backing material here in CH

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 23, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Ann Loves Spoonflower

If you were driving past the With My Needle blog, you would probably see "Ann Loves Spoonflower" painted on a rock wall.
http://with-my-needle.blogspot.com/2014/12/i-love-spoonflower.html

"Spoonflower?"

Fortunately I've been around the Internet a bit and I know just what Ann means.  Spoonflower is the place to buy small swatches of interesting fabrics, or even create your own special one-of-a-kind design.  I see they are even selling wrapping paper now, so you can be totally unique from backing fabric to the outside packaging you put that special gift in.  It's fun to browse the fascinating items for sale here.
http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome

I think I might have to paint "Jane Loves Spoonflower" on my rock wall, too!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 20, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.