!), and other items I enjoy or are on my wish list!
Last week's Memorial Day Weekend sales at Hancock Fabrics and Jo-Ann Fabrics drew me. I could not resist.
The Hancock store in Hayward has lots of light and it's clean and organized! Very nice compared to the Jo-Ann stores in Hayward and Dublin which don't have enough light, are crowded with what looks like junk, are unorganized in many sections, have quite a few broken or empty shelves, and don't have enough staff (at least at the Dublin store!).
I must have shopped for about 2 hours in each store (including the lengthy time it took to have the fabric cut!) and splurged on about 30 different fabrics - most 1/2 a yard, but some up to 4 yards. There are so many lovely or cute or colorful fabric designs! In my mind's eye, I see triangles and squares and bars in quilts and sleep shirts and pajama shorts and pants in colorful 100% cotton fabric. If I get good enough at making clothing, I may branch out into tops or pants I can wear outside the house! But before that can happen I need to start and finish my first piece! I haven't even had the guts to open the sewing pattern package yet! One thing at a time...
I giggled so hard that my Honey had to know what about when I saw your fabric stash photos! (I have some of the kitty print that appears in one of the shots! It sews beautifully.)
My experience with Hancock vs JoAnn has been similar. Only 'my' Hancock is in Fresno where my grandkids live and (since JoAnns told us here in Sonora that we were not WORTH a store) 'my' JoAnns is in Modesto.
Fortunately we have a Ben Franklin's inside Twain Harte Pharmacy, only 15 minutes away.
I too refer to my personal stash as collecting. I think it is just more honest that way . . . .
If you can crochet, sewing should come easily. Just practice your stitches on paper with an empty needle. When your stitch lines show straight, then you are ready to touch fabric. It is easy to see if you use lined paper to practice. Just hold it up to the light. (Credit this trick to my 7th grade home ec teacher Mrs. Samuels, many many moons ago. 1967 I think.)
In any case, it was great to read from a kindred spirit.
I'm just today catching up on comments...
Thanks, Penny, for your comment and encouragement! I don't think I took home ec - and if I did, using a sewing machine was not included in the curriculum!