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How to shop for the perfect fabric
Join me on a fabric buying expedition! In this video, I share how I choose fabrics for MARCYTILTON.com. It's easy to become overwhelmed when shopping for fabrics. These tips can help you decide what to buy, what to leave behind, and how to know the difference the next time you need fabric for an upcoming design or sewing project.In this 4.5 minute video I share with you some of my top tips for finding just the right fabrics for sewing your own signature garments.
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ParisTilton tour group shows off flea market finds
Experience seven magical, inspiring and artful days in Paris with Marcy and Katherine Tilton. Our intimate small-group travel experience is tailored for women who enjoy design, fashion, textiles and art and want to explore and encounter the magic of Paris with a designer's eye.
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Tongue in Chic T-Shirt
When I want to make something fast and reliable, I make a t-shirt using a tried and true pattern, and, as my friend Mary says, 'a little sewing makes any day just that much better.'
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Marcy's Craftsy Artful T-Shirts
As I prepared for the Tilton Sisters new Craftsy Class, The Artful T-Shirt, I made a series of tunic/top/t-shirts for myself using Vogue 9057, the pattern we used as the basic for all our class projects. Detailed instructions for neck, sleeve, cuff and design ideas are contained in the online class itself. Here is a closer look at the garments. 1 Uses 4 different knit fabrics in black, gray and ivory. The neck band is a single layer and uses the roll at the selvedge edge as a neck finish. 2 Is a light weight gray/lavender jersey stripe cut on the crossgrain with lace sleeves and mesh knit twisted band neck. I ran short of fabric at the back hem, so the lace adds a bit of extra length while tying the garment together. Love these happy accidents. 3 Is made from one mesh knit, using a double layer in the body with a fold at the hem, single layer sleeves and a super easy self double layer neckband. 4 & 5 This version used the angle tunic made in 2 separate pieces designed to be worn together. The top is a gray/black graffiti print rayon/lycra jersey and a sheer/opaque stripe is used for the sleeve is cut on the bias and used cross grain for the neckband. The under tunic is a single layer of mesh point d'esprit, bound neck and armholes while the hem has a raw edge, simply trimmed with a rotary cutter. 6 Is made from a hand painted ivory bamboo/lycra jersey. I painted the fabric one summer day when Diane Ericson came for a visit. She brought her fabric painting kit, and we laid the fabric out on the lawn and splashed paint, used brushes tied to long floppy sticks. The process was big fun and I love the results. The sleeves are two different rayon/bamboo/lycra knits. I am always rolling up my sleeves, which can be worn long with a narrow bound edge or rolled up which shows a wider faced cuff. 7 Yes, you can cut knits on the bias...see the video tutorial below. This top uses a cotton knit, body cut on the bias, sleeves cut on the lengthwise grain, and one leftover sleeve in the Venetian Panel print from another garment. I often will cut different sets of sleeves in various fabrics and audition them to see what works best, and both sleeves do not have to be the same!
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The Hoodie Hiding in Plain Site — Vogue 9244
Worn by men, women and children, beloved by skateboarders, athletes, students and the uniform of tech geeks, the hoodie is a garment so universal it can almost render a person invisible. My hoodie pattern keeps the functionality with a feminine dash of sophistication. Visiting Vogue patterns last month, I was honored to discover that Vogue 9244, a hoodie, is the #1 best seller.
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Stripes + Dots = Seasonal Spin On A Classic Shirt
Nothing says spring like dots or stripes or a fresh cotton shirt. The fashion world is having a love affair with stripes this season and so are we! Gwen Spencer combined all three elements using a dotty stripe from our Japanese Wovens Collection paired with Vogue 9174 shirt and added one more stripe-y dotty feature to make it sing.
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Gwen Spencer's Cool Combo Tunic
I sent Gwen Spencer our Moderne Cool Combo to experiment with - called first to see if she was willing - she replied instantly with a big YES, so we shipped off the fabric. My only request is to use any current Tilton pattern, and as you can see, she rose to the challenge!
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Ponte Primer & Pilling Solution
What exactly is ponte? Why is it desirable? What about pilling issues? I've been getting this question in my newest Craftsy Class and on internet sewing forums.
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Sustainability is a primary value for Ratti
Sustainability is a primary value for Ratti, an environmentally virtuous business, oriented towards a circular, socially responsible economy, in constant dialogue with its circle of stakeholders. More creativity and less consumption is the principle that inspires their work. Combining beauty and sustainability in their creations, integrating cultural heritage with technological innovation, opening up to the challenges of the future without abandoning tradition, being in a constant quest for what is beautiful, well made and sustainable.
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