Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Grand Old Day

Just a quick FYI, Treadle will be closed for Grand Old Day, Sunday June 3rd.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Shirtings

Fine, smooth, lightweight cotton is the traditional fabric for men's dress shirts.  In addition to many weights and weaves in classic white, Treadle also carries a selection of stripes and subtle checks in quiet blues and grays that add variety to a dress shirt wardrobe while still looking professional.


Traditional not your thing?  Check out these rustic homespun shirtings for more color and a casual feel.   The muted brights keep the look a bit subdued, making these a great choice for men's or women's wear.


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Oilcloth

If you've ever walked past Treadle, you've probably seen the array of colorful oilcloth patterns in our front window.


With the weather heating up, outdoor picnics and barbecues are moving the fun outside.  Spruce up your party table with a fresh new tablecloth in easy, wipe-clean oilcloth.


Oilcloth also makes a great re-usable shopping bag, tote, or apron.  For sewing, we recommend increasing your stitch length and using a Universal size 14 needle.  A walking foot or roller foot can be helpful, but isn't necessary.  Or skip the sewing altogether - oilcloth's edges won't fray, so for a tablecloth, hemming isn't necessary.


Saturday, May 19, 2012

printed double gauze

I was immediately charmed by this new group of fabrics, whimsical printed cotton double gauze.  The fabric is two layers of light cotton gauze which are "woven" together with tiny, barely visible stitches.  Since it's doubled, you get all the cool drape of gauze with more opacity for garments you won't need to layer.

We have several prints in this lovely, light fabric.  Here are a few of my favorites, all border prints.

I believe this print depicts goats playing saxophones?


Deer with hearts on them, trees, rainbow-striped hills, and lampposts.  Did I mention it was whimsical?


The deer print in black.


Each of these border prints has a scatter pattern of dots and stars over the main part of the fabric, and a smaller, coordinating border on the opposite end.  The border print makes these perfect for a full skirt or dress, or even a tunic or swingy blouse.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Rayon Challis

Rayon is a lovely fabric to sew and wear.  Made from cellulose, it breathes like cotton but has a soft, silk-like drape.

These new group of rayon challis prints are bright, soft, and flowy.  Perfect for a cool, comfy, yet dressy summer garment.




Sunday, May 6, 2012

Silk chiffons


Thanks to everyone who stopped by during the Shop Hop.  Your support really made this event a success!

With the Shop Hop behind us, it’s time to get back to what Treadle is really known for: fine apparel fabrics.  What could be more appealing than iridescent shot silk chiffon?



These are new in our store, and we have them in several shades. I like to think of these two as mermaid vs. phoenix.


This chiffon is diaphanous, shimmering, and just the thing to add some luxury to your wardrobe.  It would be great for a blouse, dress, or just a scarf.  Use it alone or layer it over silk charmeuse for more opacity, without disrupting the wonderful drape.   

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Shop Hop starts tomorrow!

The 15th Annual Twin Cities Quilt Shop Tour starts tomorrow!  Thursday, May 3rd.

Treadle will be open for extended hours (see below).  Come on in and see this year's beautiful quilt, check out our fabrics for quilting and apparel, and get a chance to win some fun prizes!