When I first started out with the whole Amanda Jane Textiles venture in 2014, I set myself a challenge to make three dresses in three days. (You can read about it here.) On that occasion the emphasis was on recycling, which I still enjoy (see, for example, the most recent quilt pattern ‘Pinstripe’where I use recycled shirts – click here to see it). I dyed and printed the three fabrics myself.
By the time the Festival of Quilts 2016 came round, I was in a position to order up four fabrics that I have designed and that Spoonflower have printed. Now designs can be printed in, and posted from, Berlin to the UK, the parcels come fairly quickly and with no customs to pay, which is great. I then made four different tops to wear on the four different days of the show. I have a filing drawer full of garment patterns which I have collected over many years. Some of these are vintage. I sometimes use these as a basis for a garment, adapting the paper patterns to suit. Here is Thursday’s top which has a wide neckline, with narrow neck and sleeve facings and reaches to mid-hip.
On Friday, I wore this one, which hangs to just below the waist and has a deep scoop neckline:
Saturday’s garment, using one of my favourite fabric designs, is a short top with a V-neck and princess seams. The neck, armholes and hem are bound with contrast bias binding.
And on Sunday, I wore this one, which reaches to hip level and has a notched neckline and armholes bound with contrast bias binding :
You can see – and order – these fabrics by clicking here. Once designs have been selected, customers can choose whether to order from Durham, USA or from Berlin, Germany. I particularly like the Kona cotton because of the quality of the cloth, and because I like wearing natural fibres, but for any one of my designs it is possible to choose from twenty different fabrics, allowing for plenty of scope for different end uses.