I don't usually make new year's resolutions — I mostly just try AGAIN to do all the things I really, really meant to do in the previous year — but if I were to make a resolution for 2009, it might be NOT to buy new fabric until I've made a dent in the fabric I already have.
Okay, let's see a show of hands from folks who have also made this resolution, in any year. (Hollow laughter optional.)
Of course, on the heels of that resolution, Stephanie kindly sends me this:
Wouldn't this make just the cutest ever shirtdress? I would, however, draw the line (no pun intended) at pencil buttons, as I am not a teacher. (But if you wanted to, I wouldn't judge. I'm not a judge, either.)
What would you do with this fabric? I know it's not to everyone's taste, so "set it on fire," is a perfectly acceptable answer …
A Dress A Day 
Adorable dress for a little girl!
LikeLike
Who would want fabric that basically measures how big you are around?Not for me.
LikeLike
This is giving me images of Ms. Frizzle– pencil buttons and compass shoes! Or protractor shoes and pencil earrings?
LikeLike
Im not bold enough to wear it as a dress, but it would make an adorable bag or book tote. Also would make a witty apron or work belt pouches for a woodworker or other craftsperson, as well as a sewer.
LikeLike
Is it to scale? It’d make a perfect knitting or sewing tote if it is…. Comes with built in measuring tape!
LikeLike
i would make a fabric D-ring belt to remind myself (and others) that size doesn’t really matter. 🙂 i’m also on board with stash busting this year. we recently moved and i promised my hubby that 8 bins of fabric will become 2 by August ’09 (our next glorious move). good luck to us both!
LikeLike
I think it would be adorable as a tote or messenger bag. I would also probably make a cute shirt or dress of it for my daughter, since she’s still too young to object. 😉
LikeLike
For a tote of some sort? Super. For clothing? Nope. I don’t need people thinking the measurements mean something, especially once I saw numbers in the 50 to 53 range!
LikeLike
A tote bag or a child’s apron and that’s it. No clothing with measuring tapes, hippos, or elephant prints. -Helen
LikeLike
I actually HAVE this fabric, and am using it for the border of a quilt (contemporary art quilt) that has a dress form on it and vintage laces and various other fun stuff. It’s gonna look amazing!AND yeah, it would make an amazing shirt dress for those of us bold enough to pull it off (or on, as the case may be!!)au revoir,~j.b.
LikeLike
I have a friend from Zambia and I’ll bet she’d take this and make one of those elaborate head wraps for herself. . . she’s very statuesque and she could pull it off. Of course, the fact that she’s completely gorgeous and about seven feet tall certainly doesn’t hurt.
LikeLike
Pleats! It’d be irregular, to match the tapes, but … it would match the tapes! Plus they’d be vertical so you lose the “how big am I around” aspect…
LikeLike
Holding hand up on that on going no more fabric resolution and considering this fabric for lining a denim suit jacket(that I would take on and off alot!) and using left overs for a bandana to wear as a head scarf with the suit…
LikeLike
Love it – I’ve got a similar print, but with evenly sized tape measures. I’m planning something with a chevron effect – both bodice and a-line skirt, if I can manage it.
LikeLike
How about boxers for your favorite carpenter. That way you could see if their “9 inches” really measures up!
LikeLike
Fantastic fabric! I’d probably just stash it, since I don’t ever sew. *grumble* But I’d like to make… hm, not sure. I think a simple skirt, since the fabric is so busy. And because that’s probably all I could master…
LikeLike
Important questions: inches or centimeters? And are they accurate?
LikeLike
I’d like to use this fabric to make the collar, cuffs and a wide waist-cinching belt on a slim shirt dress. I probably have the dress itself be black, so that all those colors could pop like they should. Ha – you’ve got my imagination all in a tizzy now!
LikeLike
Not buy fabric? Isn’t that bad for the economy?Ok, so any reason, however feeble…
LikeLike
I have that as part of the line, Recess, from Moda. But mine were jelly roll size. Maybe as a lining for a jacket, or for a child, but I could not see it as an adult dress, ditto-ing some of the earlier comments about the numbers vs your measurements.
LikeLike
I would make a full, pleated skirt, set into a solid black waistband, and I would run the tape measures up and down rather than around my hips. Cassandra
LikeLike
I have a piece of that fabric destined to be boxers for my DS. It has connotations, just like the golf ball print did. Besides, DH admits that men’s measurements are always off …
LikeLike
*hand raised*Already made it. And already broke it. Pitiful.
LikeLike
Hand up on the resolution, here, too.And the corresponding one, too: “I will finish all those projects I’ve bought fabric for.” (I rarely actually stash, as in buying just to keep around; I always buy with some idea about the fabric’s eventual use, but I don’t always get it made …)This year I do have a pretty good incentive, though: when the baby arrives in April, I expect that my sewing time will be really, really limited! So I’ve got to get a year’s worth of sewing done in the next few months! Aaargh!
LikeLike
If I were to make a dress of a fabric like this, I would ensure that the “stripes” were vertical. Though, truth to be told, it is not a fabric I would choose to buy. At least for dressmaking.I _do_ have a bit of a very similar fabric. I bought some unbelievably cool buttons with SCIENCE FICTION MOTIVES!!! and ordered a bag of quilt fabric scraps at the same time. One of the scraps was of a fabric very similar to this one.It _will_ go into a quilt. Some time, somehow.(And, Erin, you really should share the URL that I sent you where I found those buttons with the other devotees of Dressaday. If they don’t like the SF buttons, perhaps they will like some of the other motives)
LikeLike
Curtains for a 1st grade classroom or run screaming in the opposite direction. I’m flexible. 😉 lol
LikeLike
Ooh, Science Fiction buttons? I’d love them! A few years ago I made a “purse cover” from “little green men” Alien fabric; SF buttons would have been perfect for it. (Purse cover: instead of taking everything out of my purse every time I changed outfits, I made “slipcovers” for one very simple purse. I could have a purse that matched my dress or that went with a particular theme, like an alien purse for a Science-Fiction convention.)If I saw that ruler fabric in the store, I’d buy some. I think I would do as some people suggested and run the rulers vertical instead of horizontal. Or perhaps cut it on the bias.Someone said no hippo, elephant, ruler, or other such prints on a large person. I should follow that rule as well, but I didn’t. I bought a wonderful Orca whale print fabric and made a tank top and skirts-over-shorts set to wear to the beach. I also wore that outfit on my recent visit to SeaWorld in San Diego. Unfortunately, it was a little cold on the day that we went to SeaWorld so I was covered up and most people didn’t get to see the pattern.
LikeLike
No is all I can say.
LikeLike
I think if you did chevrons in opposite directions, bodice and skirt, as Moggy described, you could create a wonderful hourglass effect…
LikeLike
I think I’d make a special apron for sewing in – you know, with pockets for my scissors (reinforced lining in that one), a pencil and a little notebook or pattern instructions and a cute attached pin cushion. I’d just feel like I was getting stuff done wearing an apron made of this fabric.
LikeLike
Okay, apparently I’m the odd woman out here because I ADORE that fabric. I would make a charming vintage-y sort of fitted blouse: short sleeves with the barest hint of puff, Peter Pan collar, subtle piping, maybe even a sort of yoke like a western shirt, and throw on a little chest pocket and button-tabbed sleeves if I were feeling up to it. Wear it with a great pencil skirt, some cute flats and a cardigan. Okay, this is going from “idea” to “elaborate fantasy in which I am also slightly taller” far quicker than I had intended.
LikeLike
Bias trim. Then use it along the pockets in something in gray linen.
LikeLike
Oooooh, I love it. Love it! Why not clothes? I think it would make a fun A-line skirt with the pieces cut on the bias to make a “V” pattern.Also, what’s up, gals, with the not wanting to be measured? It’s just numbers (plus I doubt any line goes all the way around). I’m reminded a little of the “fat rant” that made a splash on YouTube awhile ago:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTJQIBI1oA
LikeLike
hmm, if i had this fabric i’d probably make a cute jacket.that was a good resolution to make..if only i was brave enough to do the same!
LikeLike
I think I would make a cute tote out of that fabric. And I just said to myself I can’t buy anymore fabric until I use up everything I have. So much money in that trunk of mine…
LikeLike
I’m in need of a sewing machine cover and I can’t think of a better fabric
LikeLike
sheepishly holding hand up ….and if I had that fabric I would mail it to you…so I don’t have to on fire
LikeLike
it’s ok to buy fabric. Think of it as a retirement plan. When you are too old to get out to buy fabric and/or too nearsighted to buy it online, you’ll have plenty to work with.wow. that is really lame, but I’ve been using it anyway……
LikeLike
tote or a skirt! pillow?
LikeLike
i just discovered your blog. As I am currently living in the year 1955, I would most likely make an adorable apron to use while sewing or darning. It would also make a great lining for a fitted coat and I would not mind cuffs and a collar on fitted full skirt. We are still wearing the NEW LOOK length here in the middle of the 50’s.
LikeLike
LOL I don’t have much of a stash and my fabric sucks here but even still, no. This is not for me. It just doesn’t fit into my whole “librian chic with the retro vibes and stripper shoes” persona.’Sides, it is not ugly enough.
LikeLike
Gorgeous fabric. BTW, you probably know already, but Claire McCardell’s “What Shall I Wear” is being reprinted in March this year and will be $24.95 for a hardback copy.
LikeLike
I’d probably do a pin cushion or a tiny pillow.
LikeLike
I’d probably do a pin cushion or a tiny pillow.
LikeLike
best comments ever…Boxers is by far the best idea. That said, this fabric is all about you Erin, and no, no resolutions here. I spent $300 on fabric on January 1st at the Gorgeousfabrics.com 25% off sale. But it should last me all year.
LikeLike
I think it would make a good set of pajamas or a nightgown. I would prefer to sew in something like that. If only the world would go away
LikeLike
I love it— it’s just what I was looking for last year when I wanted to make a skirt for my sewing table (a throw-away from a fast food restaurant). Now that I have a new table however, I see pajama pants, boxers, tote bag, appliance covers, quilting options, aprons, pin cushions, notion caddies, shoebags… and even a blouse or skirt. New year resolution? It’s never to make resolutions!
LikeLike
pillow, bias trim, tote, interlining (sorry, I really think it is unattractive)
LikeLike
Years ago there was a comedian who said “I would never where “Guess” brand jeans because I would be afraid that the people behind me at the mall would say “oh I don’t know 250? 275?”…… for me this pattern would have the same result…however if you turned it length ways maybe you would seem taller…..just a thought.
LikeLike
Thought you might be amused to see that Spoonflower was mentioned in the New York Times today.
LikeLike