I'm grateful that I have time to sew, even if I sometimes don't think I do. I'm grateful for all the people out there who post tutorials, patterns, reviews, and inspiration. I'm grateful for the people who taught me to sew (that's you, Mom!) and the people who enable me to keep at it (that's you, Ian!).
And I'm grateful for these giveaways. See, a couple decades ago my grandparents did some world travel. My grandfather took an enormous video recorder to Australia, back when such things rested on your shoulder and didn't live in your phone. No idea how he did that. Somewhere along the way, my grandmother bought some fabric, silk from Thailand, a gift for my mom. The colors didn't quite suit, and the fabric has lived in its gift box for years. Eventually the fabric came to me (the colors don't suit me, either). Because of Sew Grateful Week and the annual giveaway, I can be sure that this fabric will find quality new homes with people who will know what to do with it.
Which is so much more satisfying than taking it to Goodwill!
The first fabric is on the crisper side - I don't know a lot about silk as I tend to work more in cotton. It might pleat well? Anyway, it's heavier than what I think of when I think "silk" - definitely not drapey blouse material. It's a peach color with flowers, and there is about four yards of it.
This one, on the other hand, is all kinds of drapey. It wants to hang in soft folds - no pleats here. It's darker than the other, more bronze than peach, with texture woven in and splashes of color. The black may be calligraphic characters or may be birds. The piece is roughly two yards.
As far as I know, both fabrics are silk, both are from Thailand, and both are circa late 1980s/early 1990s. And I'm giving them both away.
Which one speaks to you? What would you make with it? Not that it matters for the giveaway (I'm just curious), but have you sewn with silk before? I work primarily with cottons, both for quilts and clothing, so silk intimidates me.
Random.org will pick a winner on Monday, March 3. I'll ship international, so all are welcome.
Good luck!
Both fabrics are quite lovely, but that second one is the one that calls to me! I think it would make a lovely tiki dress
ReplyDeleteI love both fabrics but I would say the first one as it is 4 yards. I'm tall and the more yardage the better. I would make a maxi dress or skirt for summer.
ReplyDeleteI haven't worked with silk a lot. I have a lovely blend sitting on the shelf that I'm too scared to cut in to.
Ohhhhh!!! What a lovely giveaway! I absolutely adore both fabrics...especially the darker brown one! Happy sew grateful week! Xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic giveaway! I love the darker fabric, just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI would love the first one, and would make a lovely vintage style blouse out of it! Or a skirt :) I haven't worked with silk yet, so that would be fun to try :)
ReplyDeleteporcelina(at)live(dot)nl
Ooooh, this is a great giveaway! The fabrics are both lovely and I especially like the first one. I would probably make a skirt or dress. I usually sew with cotton, so silk would be something new.
ReplyDeleteI haven't sewn with silk yet, it would be a first for me. I like both fabrics, I'd use the first for a dress to wear after I get a bit of tan, and the second for a maxi skirt... so, hard choice here :) You choose, then ;)
ReplyDeleteOoh I like both but peach is a good color on me. I have sewn with synthetic silk before and I'm sure the real stuff can't be any harder than the slippery synthetic..
ReplyDeleteThanks for the neat story and the lovely giveaway!
What a fantastic giveaway! I adore the light-pink flowery fabric! It seems like it would make a fantastic 50s style dress with lots of body. I have never sewn with silk before. Mostly because I can't afford it. But I'm always up for the challenge :)
ReplyDeletestarcross.sewing AT gmail DOT com
Thanks so much for the wonderful giveaway! I love the colors of the second fabric. I haven't worked with silk before, but I can imagine the wonderful results would be worth the extra fretting! =)
ReplyDeleteAh Silk! I have one piece of silk here and plan to make something soon. It will be my first experience with silk. Both are gorgeous - The first one would make a lovely pleated skirt- And then work in that blue or teal for a blouse? Or maybe a silk jacket! ~Laurie (Sew Exhausted)
ReplyDeleteOh pretty fabrics! Thank you for such a generous give away! Oh my, I think the first one I'm more drawn to and I'm imagining it inside a Chanel inspired cardigan jacket.
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic fabric! I would love the first one for a swirly summer dress. If there are odd bits leftover (aren't there always!) I'd use them for a lingerie set, they are my latest obsession!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
Ooooooh, silk!! I am most interested in the one that 'drapes all over'. Ya to drapey!! I have not sewn with silk yet, but do have some silk chiffon and a lightweight woven silk in the stash. I would make a floaty and drapey summer dress with it. I would love it to flutter all around me when the breeze blows. Ahhhhh, lovely. Lol. My Sew Grateful Giveaway is also up on the blog if you are interested in anything there, please enter! http://gjeometry.com/2014/02/24/sew-grateful-giveaway-how-about-some-red-and-some-threads/
ReplyDeleteThey are both so beautiful. I'd make silk blouses for sure. I wear them all the time. For myself, I'd keep one from the darker color, and the others I'd make for my mother and sister. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteNice giveaway! - I would love the 1st one - the lighter peachy color.
ReplyDelete:-) Chris
Check out my Giveaway, too -
Vogue 8546 - Five Easy Pieces (8-10-12-14)
http://sewtypical.blogspot.com/
feb 22, was my 66 birthday. What a great gift either one of these beautiful silks would make. I'm thinking either a shirt dress, or a skirt-shirt combo. Good luck and congrads to whom ever.
ReplyDeleteThat's so wonderful that you are willing to share these lovely pieces with wonderful history. I have sewn a fair bit of silk and each time swear that I will do so even more often! I'd love to make the first into a dress.
ReplyDeleteOh, both of these are gorgeous! And such a lovely story behind them. :-) I'd be extremely happy to win either one. :-)
ReplyDeleteIf it was the first one, I'd make a full-skirted dress. If it was the second one, probably a dress as well if I can squeeze it out of it, otherwise a floaty skirt I think.
I've only sewn with silk a couple of times. I really enjoyed it both times though, it's so nice to handle. :-)
That bronze is simply awesome!!! Depending on how I can lay my pieces out, it would become a(another) Victory Nicola or a floaty skirt to go with some gorgeous knit tops I'm currently working on. I've mainly used chiffon & drapey silks for floaty scarves to go with 'everything' ;) My Sew Grateful giveaway is: http://dreamingdashie.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/sew-grateful-week-2014-giveaway-and.html
ReplyDeleteI loooove the second one! That calligraphy-looking signs are just so beautiful! Maybe a dramatic maxi-skirt? Thank you for your generosity.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love silk! These are absolutely beautiful. The first one immediately whispered "pencil skirt" to me...
ReplyDeleteOoh - Thai silk, how can you go wrong? lol. I love the peach one - it would make a really pretty dress for a nice occasion I think. Something drapey and flowy.
ReplyDeleteBoth fabrics are great. I think I'd go with the first one as it might be easier to work with. I'm hosting a giveaway too if you are interested.
ReplyDelete-Emily
Here's mine http://vintagevisions27.blogspot.com/2014/02/picnic-with-my-valentine-apron-giveaway.html
Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to try a jump-suit or maxi dress, or maybe a matching skirt/dress for my daughter and I with the four yards. But I also like the Thai character-ish aspects on the second fabric (I have several friends in Thailand, Japan, and China) so I could see making a sleeveless top from that fabric. Hard to choose! I've got a giveaway on my blog as well be sure to stop by!
ReplyDeleteI would love the first one. I'd probably use it to make a kimono jacket. Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteOooh I love the dashes of pinks and purples and blues in the second one. It speaks maxi dress to me.
ReplyDeleteI have not had the good fortune of sewing with real silk, however, I love these two prints.
ReplyDeletejackienj
cutekipepeo(at)gmail.com
I love the first one, I would make a dress with a box pleated skirt. Mind you I wouldn't say no to the second one either.
ReplyDeleteOh beautiful fabric! The first one is just lovely but I prefer the second. I think it would make a great summer skirt, long and drapey. Haven't worked with silk before so that would be a fun challenge.
ReplyDelete