Secret stash...guilt free

Happy Autumn!  Hope you are having a good weekend and that you have a chance to get out and enjoy the nice cool weather (after that summer we had~!).

This has been a happy week at Exquisite Fabrics.  A number of the neighboring businesses here on Davis Street are expanding into new niches, completing long-planned projects, celebrating anniversaries (hello Cameleer on your 20th!)  As if there were not already enough temptation in the gastronomy department, the Frenchman's Corner has added goodies (and they keep baiting us about it on Facebook)...fudge, brownies, pastries, and of course those Neuhaus chocolates. The Culpeper Cheese Company has a ribbon cutting next week. There's a new candy niche called "My Secret Stash" in one of the stores too.  Uh, secret stash?  Who, me??

Of course we fabric lovers might have a sweet tooth but our real stash consists of fabric.  And more fabric.  And all the stuff we need to keep that creative flame alive, even (especially) when we don't have time to do anything about it.

I'm thinking about our DC customers who are up against the end of the fiscal year (always a crisis at work) and thinking about how many 60, 70, and 80 hour work weeks we have all had to cope with, somehow.  Our "secret stash" of sewing goodies might just be sustenance for us.  I know mine has been for me.

So, when the new Burda book finally caught up with us (it had been shipped to Georgetown grrrrrrrrr) I took a few minutes and relaxed with the book, and picked a favorite pattern for this fall, Burda 7422. Unfortunately, I was so enthusiastic about it that we sold out today.  But more are on the way~!  Look at this style!

We have some coating weights and even some double face (reversible) coating weights

that would be perfect for this!  

Can't make it to our store? 

Tell me what you would like, and I'll try to post some choices online for you to buy.  

The week ended with a few surprises for us...several customers from our former locations popped in...to our great delight!  Some live in or around Culpeper, some in Fredericksburg, some in Stafford, and one couple was just driving through from Alexandria to North Carolina....well, it's great to see all the familiar faces and of course the new acquaintances too!  

New Culpeper store!

After a season of pondering whether or not, if, or where to open a new retail store, we came upon what we consider the perfect solution.  Beautiful, historic Davis Street in Culpeper.  Our new shop is ready!

Davis Street is consistently named as one of America's top ten "Main Streets" and Culpeper itself is known as one of America's top ten small towns.  If you've not visited at all, or if you haven't been there for years (as we hadn't), you will be amazed at the quality of life enjoyed here, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains and only 80 minutes from Georgetown/Arlington!

We were bowled over, first by the pretty "Main Street" look maintained in the compact business district.  From 100 year old Clarke Hardware, to the authorized Bernina dealer, to the Cameleer... there's even a working Amtrak stop right in the business district!  There's plenty of municipal parking, and the streets are pedestrian friendly, with numerous crosswalks (and the vehicular traffic is generally observant and courteous).  It's almost like the town stepped straight from the 19th century into very socially aware 21st, while maintaining a genteel character.  And, it's a survivor, having been hit hard by the August 2011 Mineral earthquake.

Secondly, the dining choices are delightful...some are sophisticated, all homey and in a good range of prices.  From the Frost Cafe for your morning coffee, to the Hazel River Inn or Thyme for your dinner, you cannot go wrong along Davis Street!  There's a much-loved hometown bakery called Knakal's...and if you want a chewy baguette, go to any of three places and you will feel like you are in a Parisian neighborhood.  Ditto cheeses, local wines, and Belgian chocolates.  So that's enough to keep us busy between customers!

Finally, when we feel adventurous, we can try a winery tour, or a farm tour, or one of the numerous hikes that are convenient to Culpeper.  Culpeper and the piedmont area are also hosts to many horse shows, polo and other equestrian events, and well organized guided trail rides.   Or raft down the Rappahannock River.

Tickle your tastebuds with a stop at a local orchard (observe orchard rules), like Roy's in Sperryville (Roy's Orchard & Fruit Market 540.987.8636 64 Old Hollow Rd / Sperryville, VA near "Little Washington" in Rappahannock County).  Culpeper County and environs is known as the market basket of the Washington DC area, since it provides much of the "local, farm-to-table" produce, dairy, meat, and other foodstuffs for so many of the newer restaurants . There are also two seasonal farmers' markets in Culpeper, one on Saturday and one on Wednesday.  You can find all this and a boatload of history in beautiful Culpeper County.

Please make it a day (or weekend) trip--combined with your first visit to our new shop--soon!

Seasonal store hours:   Wed-Thu  12Noon to 6PM   and    Fri-Sat 12Noon to 7PM.
                      Phone:    540 727 0396.






APA Great Places in America-Streets

Travel & Leisure 5 Easy Road Trips

2012 Great American Main Street Award

Buttons for your shopping pleasure!

It's such fun to be able to pick buttons to put online for you, I'm smiling even as I write this!  I'm going to have time to do lots of buttons in the very near future, but for now this should get us started.  Please get in touch by commenting at the bottom of this page if you want something specific, or if you want something you remember seeing in our store!  I won't publish these comments, so your information will remain private. For today, I concentrated on buttons that you might like to use on your new fall sweaters (or to use for updating your old fall sweaters!).  You can order these here, or look on our web page.  You can also contact us privately through our contact form if you would like to arrange payment by phone.

Click on each picture for a big image!

Ready for Fall sewing...

...but it's still summer....

Yes, it IS hot, but some of the very best fall fabrics arrive early.  It's best to plan ahead and remember that although the weather is brutally hot now, it is just as likely we will have an extreme winter as well!  That's the mid-Atlantic for you!

Heavy woolens were our best sellers last winter!  

Thread

Let's talk about thread you say?

There was a time that the types of thread available to consumers in the US was limited in some ways, but I wish I had some more of those threads now!

Top of my list was Molnlycke (that is umlaut o).   Molnlycke is a town in Sweden, but around about 1975 it was also the brand name of a fabulous long-staple 100% poly thread.  The thread came on dense heavy plastic spools which would stay put on the vertical or horizontal spindles of the day's sewing machines.  The color range was a lot more modern than its contemporary US competitors.  Sometime in the late 1980's, a big US thread manufacturer bought Molnlycke, and promptly put it out of the US market.  But I think they secretly studied how to make better thread, because almost instantly (20 years later) the thread quality of US manufacturer Coats and Clark improved drastically.  More on that later.


About the same time as Molnlycke appeared on the US market, a Swiss maker by the name of Mettler also introduced its line of 100% long-staple cotton ("silk finish" because of the smooth surface) and of 100% long-staple polyester (Metrosene).  The color range put everyone else to shame, and the spools were slim, very modern looking but at first a little wonky because the spools would not fit a lot of home sewing machines.  That problem was quickly corrected but the perception plagued them for a long time.   


About 5 years ago, Coats and Clark improved their thread line (old "Dual Duty" short staple poly/cotton blend thread would leave a layer of Coats and Clark color dust inside my machine anytime I used it).  It's now called "Dual Duty XP" (for "extra performance), and is very good quality now.


But how to choose from my favorite brands?  It is simple for me...natural fiber fabrics get Mettler "silk finish" 100% cotton thread (article 105).  Cotton thread is compatible for all natural fibers.  I don't buy the reasoning that you have to have very strong thread...you don't want your thread to abrade your garment fibers.  Another advantage of cotton thread--it's much more forgiving of color than is polyester.  With cotton sewing thread, you can also hand sew with ease.  

If I sew synthetics (can't recall the last time I did that) I use a poly thread.  Either the Metrosene or the Coats and Clark, whichever is closer in color.  In a pinch for a color match I have used poly thread on natural fibers, but rarely.  Poly thread has a way of kinking up when you are hand sewing, but if you use a shorter strand of thread, it is less of a problem. 


Both companies have a range of topstitching thread, but I like the results I get from using two strands of regular thread (stack two spools or bobbins on your thread spindle and feed through as one thread).  You can use two different shades, hues, or even totally different colors (or try variegated thread).  The heavier threads are handy for sewing on buttons.

So, in a nutshell, Mettler's "silk finish" article 105 100% cotton is my go-to thread. I'll continue to hoard my Belding-Corticelli wooden spools of silk size A and D (for sewing and for buttonholes)--they are just sooo prettty.   Happy Sewing!

About pins...

There are so many pins on the market for every kind of sewing and craft.  How does one choose?

Most important is the quality of the pins.  You want a pin that is nicely polished, with a perfect point.  Japan, England, and Switzerland are known for producing top of the line pins and needles. Some US companies subcontract to other firms abroad, but most of the time the quality control is good.  I've listed some of my favorites and their intended (or adopted) purposes.

My favorite all around pin is the glass head pin from Dritz.  I sew with silk and wool more than anything else, and the fine polish of the point on this pin is always reliable...won't snag your delicate fabrics.  The white glass head allows you to leave the pins in place while you press (although I don't press directly over them because I don't want an imprint on my fabric)...they won't melt (don't ever try that with a plastic head pin!).  They are also easy to find once-uh-dropped onto the carpet.  (bottom right)

Clover also makes a very good transparent glass head pin...even better for more delicate fabrics.  The Clover pins are longer and they will bend if you try to use them in heavier fabric.  (top right in the picture below)

Iris-Swiss pins are favored by professional dressmakers.  This all-metal product is affiliated with Schmetz.  These very fine pins do no easily bend, and have a very fine head.  They are perfect for sewing with all types of natural and synthetic fabrics.  (not shown here, they come in an orange box).

When I want to pin a larger piece with straight edges, I opt for the Dritz quilting pins (with the yellow plastic head).  These are also a very good quality, suitable to pin cottons, woolens, and stiffer fabrics.  (center bottom)

In a pinch, I discovered that the "Sew Perfect" pins are surprisingly good quality.  I've used the plastic head pins and the straight dressmaker pins.  These are pins that we recommend to beginning sewers because they are so reasonably priced and of super quality.  (left top and bottom)

Discard dull, discolored, or bent pins, and enjoy sewing with some delightful new pins!  Like a good pair of shears, they make the sewing process that much smoother and easier!

Where did they go?

Where did they go?

Some of our former neighbors at Georgetown Park have relocated to Arlington, and others remain in the general vicinity of the mall in Georgetown.  Some have not decided if, when or where they will relocate. As we get word, we will post some contact information here.

As of today,

Phoenix Bridal may relocate to Silver Spring, Maryland.

Joy of Beading has relocated to Arlington (5903 Lee Highway, near Harrison Street). It's pretty accessible by bus from Rosslyn. 

Fornash has relocated to Ballston Common Mall, in Arlington. 

Comfort One Shoes is now open at 1329 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Just a few steps from Georgetown Park!

Galerie des Parfums has not announced a new location yet. Here's their Facebook page. 

Total Party has relocated to the Ballston Common Mall. 

Rush Hour Printing has relocated to Ballston Common Mall. 

Meridian Health and Relaxation has moved to the 1600 block of Wisconsin Ave.

The DMV closed its Georgetown Park location in May.  Please refer to their website for the closest location or the temporary C Street location.

We haven't decided where to relocate, ourselves, but keep watching our web page for any news.  All in all, it seems everyone is making the best of the change!