A section of yardage from Oak Fabric in Chicago on the Tchad workroom sewing studio tables. It is a dusty slate teal with a light blue and gold vaguely mid-century directional print.

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In: Fun & Random Stuff, General, Resources, Sewing classes (general)
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It is lighter than muslin or most shirtings, smooth, plain weave, with just the slightest hint of polish to it.  Any heavier polish and it would veer into polished cottons or chintz – any lighter and it would veer into voile, lawn, or batiste.  
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Finished smocking on Duree's final dress at tchad workrooms

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In: 1st Projects, Basic, General, Patterns used in class, Sewing classes (general), Student Projects
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When we get beginner folks up here who want to start off with something other than a basic pattern for themselves, we give a couple of caveats about technique and fabric.  Sometimes the things you will learn from a project that is slightly outside of the main will be SO specific that you don’t ultimately get what you need. Duree came to us wanting to work up a smocked pattern from a children’s pattern book and, with the caveats that we always give, we went ahead. She was working from the Girl’s Style Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori. We reviewed it over here. Japanese sewing booksRead More →