Decades ago, I worked at a small sewing distributor (fabric & notions). One morning I saw the boss putting a bunch of fabric sample books in the trash pile. I asked and he said take whatever you can before the truck comes. I made a lot of "patchwork" things and "mended" a frayed lightweight denim shirt--was asked wear I bought it, was soooo proud. I never stopped after that. My sewing space has 3 x more scraps and remnants than actual yardage of any fabric.
My mum and I were going through and reorganizing my stash this morning and I realized just how many scrappy bits I've got...way too many 😅 I have so much more in scrap/cabbage than I do in whole cuts. I'm not normally big on patchwork or quilting for me but I may just need to make myself a skirt or something!
My Samantha had quite an enviable wardrobe thanks to Grammy's remnants bin- she was a professional seamstress in the 80s and has a lot of leftover fabric. Absolutely the reason I'm into historical fashion and sewing!
Morgan, Such a darling, original vest/corset/ waistcoat.... I love it! You are always so clever. Not only in your original designs, also in where you source fabrics and materials from, and I admire that. I have been able to source things ( I ) find valuable, from many different places. I never thought of trying to see if I could get a fabric sample book! I did get a carpet one, and my cat condo was awesome because of it 😊 . I am going to use my best -I am not trying to ruin your day - attitude and be genuinely grateful if I am able to source some nice fabric samples!! I can think of so many cool ideas; depending on fabrics available. Thanks for the ideas and for sharing your talents! Sending happy thoughts and gratitude, Audri
I love when you take a garment and put a whimsical or nostalgic spin on it like your secret pants. This is such a cute way to continue your mom's craft and blend it with your own. The fan lacing is the coolest touch. So beautiful
My dad was in construction, and did a similar thing with his kitchen floor. He used tile samples he’d collected over the years and made a beautiful “patchwork” tile floor. It was truly a piece of art and wholly unique.
@heyits_cat8966 it more so roughly means no one will notice the little errors in daily life, or the little errors don't mean anything to others when they see you wear it, only you.
Not me instantly falling in love with this wrap vest and I want five??? Holy smokes?? Taking notes, taking notes!!!! I can imagine how cool this would look in rainbow or different shades of purples and greens and I'm in love with the concept. I adore the fan lacing it's such a gorgeous detail.
I need to make this in green. Too late for St. Patrick's day...☘️ this year, but that's okay because with my skill level rather than Ms. Donner's skill set it might be ready in time for next year. And then I can make a saturated pastel purple one for my niece! I'm just too happy about this idea.
I often joke that crafting and collecting supplies for crafting are two different hobbies. I am VERY good at the collecting and hoarding part, if I do say so myself!
I love your style of wearing the finished piece while explaining your process of making it. I always feel myself antsy during project videos to jump to the end to see the final product but here I can see it the entire time and think Wow how was it made? and enjoy the process of learning every step that went into it.
Interior designers usually have these books that they get rid of every year. My dad is a painting contractor, so I got a lot of these as a teen from the designers he would work with. They had a lot of leather samples too. I used them for a lot of crafting and small sewing projects. If anyone is interested in doing a project like this, contact local interior designers and ask them to think of you when they want to get rid of their fabric swatches.
I have promised myself a waistcoat since I sewed waistcoats for my husband and for my son and his wedding party 6 years ago. I have sewn for others, but it is time to sew for me again and your form fitting supportive wrap version has inspired me. Thank you.
There is a quilt, which might be in the NC Museum of History, made from men's suiting wool samples. The maker's husband owned a general goods store and Sears would send books of samples, so customers could choose what fabric they wanted for their suit, which they would then buy from Sears.
My aunt used to work at a furniture store and I have SO many samples sitting around that she gave us.....thanks for the idea! Not that I needed more stuff to sew. 😂😂😂
Sometimes warming the paper with a blow dryer or warm iron will lower the viscosity of the glue so much that it comes off much more easily. It works best on stickers on hard surfaces, though.
@@ClaudiaArnoldngl, bless you for this bc my brain was stuck on "eating the glue? that checks out. people (children) do that!" and couldn't think up of what they probably actually meant. (I know brain was having a "dumb" moment, but I still appreciate this xD)
The secret ti velvet no matter the kind of velvet is pins. Pin it like you would normally, pin it between those pins to keep it still, and pin it one more time because it's velvet. Velvet has adhd! I just love your machine cozy claire.
This is SO creative, I love exactly this kind of very personal spin Morgan puts on her more creative projects - that fresh and inspiring mix of historical and punk and feminine and practical
I used to use those books for all sorts of things. We covered a friend's couch in patchwork we made from it. I made a whole coat once. It is a lot of fun and this project was so unique. I love the way it looks.
I now know what to do with my "year pants". I was too poor to get a year book so my last day senior year in high school I wore an old pair of pants my mom gave me (that were too short or tight or worn for a middle aged person, but fit my very small teen age body well enough at the time) and brought in a multi color pack of sharpies and asked my friends to sign my year pants. My friends loved it, those pants have every type of weird doodles, graffiti or heart felt messages you could imagine. They are way too small now, but the strip fan type shape of those panels on your vest thing is perfect. The year pants will live again!
For the sleeves, you could also make some of those slit ones that let the shift show through, and have every "slit" be the separation between the panels of different fabrics!
Patchwork must be in the air, I am contemplating incorporating it in my sewing. That waistcoat suits you so much, from the color to the styling. I liked the way you made the pattern using plastic wrap and tape, that's a great technique.
Regarding the vent on the back, I think that there is so much going on with colours, textures and patterns that (adding the ribbon on top) the only person who will ever notice that it isn't 'straight' will be you. And since you can't see your own bum, generally speaking, it's all good. I love how you take an idea and then just run with it and bring something wonderful into the world.
this is such a fun idea! I remember making clothes for dolls and stuffed animals with those kinds of books! Its super cool that you are making them into adult clothes! :)
I'm flabbergasted at how you take everyday clothing pieces and make something so fun!!! Love this vest corset thingy. ❤❤❤❤ You keep sewing fun!!!!! You have quite the imagination!!! Thank you!!! Your videos are always so light and airy and fun. Such a joy!!!
So I'm not the only one that goes to these stores and ask for their discontinued sample packs. 😊 I loved using these for various mini projects. I really must get back to using my left over samples.
Love that you didn’t just ~use~ a fabric samples, you elevated them. You embraced the inherent pieced-together look and created something so stunning. I cannot get over the fan shape of the laces spreading out and across the garment. Glorious. 😂
I have so many of these that I bought second-hand, and I mainly use them for dolls, but to make a patchwork corest? Genius. I know what my next personal project is.
My mom made similar quilts from shirt fabric books that my grandmother got from her job (sewing garments together). Still have those quilts, and I'm actually putting a new filler layer in the two I have (my sister has the other two). The best thing about those quilts is they were *working* quilts. Picnic? Throw them on the ground. Beach day? Throw them on the sand. Dirty? They go in the wash, no worries. We didn't baby them, but they are dear because they were used. They'll never be pretty, but they are homey.
Morgan I have been so inspired by you and other sewists and crafters on RU-vid - I got a sewing machine for Christmas and just made a pair of truly terrible pajama pants as my first project. They are awful but they exist and I learned some things for next time!
This vest is gorgeous. I need/want a summer-weight vest so I have been keeping my eyes open for something I like. I appreciate you showing your method.
My final project for fashion school used this method!! I made a robe a la francaise with a reproduction pattern and then I bought as many red items as I could find at the thrift store and I cut them into random scraps and then quilted them back together
I recently got 4 of these sample books and I learned that for most of them if you iron the backing with a pressing cloth and steam you can generally get the backing to remove cleanly in one or two pieces.
The colors and textures are absolutely gorgeous! As for what I got out of this video, I've been completely burnt out after finishing my semester, but seeing you enjoy the process so much has inspired me. I'll be getting back into sewing, one step at a time.
I love this! I'm going to attempt to make something like this myself. I really appreciate you going through it step by step. I have a whole box of scraps that are too small to do much with but would work perfectly for a project like this. As an aside, my grandpa and uncle used to own a furniture store so I have a ton of upholstery and leather sample books that I use to make doll clothes and shoes. It's so lovely that your mom used to get those books to make blankets.
I got a lot of scrap fabrics that had been sitting in my grandpas woodshop. Some of the fabric was my grandmas, but my grandpa thinks some of the fabric was from HIS grandmother. I have only recently started on sewing and quilting, and I decided that I would make a crazy quilt bag like what @Shannon_Makes made with an upcycled bag. I am on the last few embroidery sections before I can sew the bag back together but it is turning out well. I still have a lot of scrap fabric and fabric that was cut out for a quilt that never got made. There is always an answer to using up scrap fabric whether you quilt or don't. That vest thing was CUTE by the way. You are very calm in how you explain things and concise. I enjoy watching everything you make. Thank you.
This is so cute!!! I might do a take on it myself, because I LOVE that it's vesty but also still adjustable. Gaining weight and having sensory difficulties with tight garments, I haven't really had comfy vests in ages, and lately I'm really feeling that lack. This is such a cute solution to my problem! The fact that it looks good with skirts or trousers AND has some bust support makes it really versatile. I've also always love a patchwork garment, and the fact that you used a method of cheap fabric acquisition you learned from your mom AND got to fill out the gaps with scraps from your own stash makes it feel so personal. I really love both the process and the product on this one!
I’ve been wanting to make a big patchwork quilt that will double as a giant chess/chequers board and this is SUCH a great method for it. Just need to find somewhere locally that will sell off these old sample books.
I've been considering drafting my first fitted top recently but all the conventional wisdom I'd seen was to just start pinning rectangles of muslin together on yourself or the form until you liked it which is frustratingly messy to me. I'd thought about tape lines to help but adding cling wrap + tape + sharpie is genius. Much more motivated to tackle my idea now!
Here I was thinking the cheap way to get fabric for a patchwork item was to buy a stack of fat quarters... your mum had a good idea! I'm not brave enough to make a patchwork item that's not basically a rectangle, but that is a VERY nice swoosh! And nice surprise appearance of Clara and her paw :D
TIP FOR WASHING WOVEN FABRICS!! Clip about 1/4"-1/2" off the corners of the raw edges at a diagonal. When you put it through the washer, it won't fray hardly at all. Read this on a forum somewhere, and I do it every time now- it works like a charm! Happy sewing
Super cute garment!!! I love the fan lacing, am amazed by your patterning skills to create something so unique. I also love that stash of upholstery fabrics - Morgan Donner's Perfect Red must be the name of that line! About free-motion quilting: all you really need is a free motion or darning foot for your regular machine, then have fun moving the fabric around! I know you would have a good time with it (and plenty of scrap fabric to practice with!).
This is such a fun and interesting project! I VERY much appreciate that you were wearing the finished garment for most of the video. It was wonderful to be able to keep checking it against your descriptions of the process. The garment is very cute and very Morgan. Love it!
Honestly, i had recently designed a waist cincher with a similar angled front coming down to a single tie (basically what your fan lacing did except cut from fabric). Thanks for the proof of concept haha. Super cute. And love the patchwork.
That solvent you're curious about is called Citra Solv. My brother is a mechanic and it's the only laundry solvent we've had luck with that removes engine oil and grease from clothes. It also removes heavy adhesive of the type used in emerald ash borer traps, and removes pine pitch and tar. It has a strong citrus scent that isn't unpleasant (and I'm allergic to most fragrances and this stuff doesn't trigger the need for an EpiPen!).
Such a cute and useful way to use up scraps of cloth! Love how it looks, totally agree with the Belle and Hobbit vibes. Can make a whole wardrobe out of patchworking, and a cool way to take your mom's craft/patchwork blanket and expand on it. Also, your cat is adorable!
Oh wow! This combines my love for 'vest' type clothing... a growing interest in crazy quilting... and strong desire to use up scraps!! I will have to try making something similar for myself in the future! Thank you!
I love your videos so much. Our styles don't overlap very much but your enthusiasm and obvious joy in your sewing is such an inspiration. It makes me want to go sew something that I'd be proud of.
looks so dope. Long ago I used make notebook covers from furniture samples. and wallpaper scraps. someone I know worked at a furniture store that had samples for leather sofas. I still have them. It indeed is a nice way to give scraps a second life
Never thought of using those fabric books like that. That's a great way to get enough scraps to make something too. I've wondered how long it would take me to get enough different fabrics to make anything patchwork myself. This fast tracks that idea.
The hole for the other strap to make it truly wrap around versus that awkward tuck you'd otherwise have to do, or that awkward side that had its flap being overlapped then another strap for the main one that is awkward longer/shorter, all solved with just a strategic magic hole I didn't even properly see before you pointed it out is a superb solution to my life's problems. Thank you for this gift of an amazing idea!
I used to do this with carpet sample books. 16-20 larger squares, some carpet tape, and boom. A funky area rug. The fabric samples would also be amazing for miniaturists or doll-clothing makers.
love this! i was just talking with a friend about making a corset w/ upholstery samples, so thanks for the further inspiration. i've had some luck using a steamer to remove the paper/adhesive in a clean way--just watch your fingers 'cause it's hot! also, i NEED a cat so i can recreate that cat-on-top-of-the-sewing-machine scene. 😻
It’s so fitting that the patchwork vest is also lined with scraps! I especially love the left strap- it really pops :) Projects like these feel like they have so much soul to them…
I do remember those type of fabric things. I friend gave me a ton of fabric one time and there were some fabric samples among them. I ended up using them to make Teddy Bear bodies for a group I belong to. The Bears eventually make their way to our local Children's Justice center and are part of the children's healing process. I love your vest/corset/whatever thingamajig. It turned out so awwdorable. I'm not surprised you chose red seeing how it seems to be your favourite colour.
You feel Bonita? Had the vibe of .. I am delighted of this project ❤ gives me hope that my projects can become fabulous too. Now, all the outfits that come out of this need to be a reel with the Dolly Parton song of her coat of many colors.
I think trying 17th century style sleeves would be a really fun idea, especially as it pairs well with your hairstyle which seems reminiscent of the mid 1600s! The patchwork patterns are very quaint yet evocative, very well done.
I absolutely love this! I can see this looking great over slacks also! The light to dark is extra slimming, as well as dramatic. I could see wearing this for going out in Dressed Mode! And proudly! ❤
I really like the saranwrap over the mannequin to create the ''armor pattern''!Also, the tip about soaking the sample fabric from the catalogue. Well done!!
Omg I want to make a blanket from one of these books!!! 😭 What a beautiful project! To stabilize the velvet (or any loosely-woven fabric), I'd suggest cutting a roughly half-inch wide piece of light interfacing and ironing it over the stitching line (clipping the facing if needed), or baste the two pieces together before stitching them by machine (but I hate basting lol). Alternately, an even-feed foot could help (I've only used it for quilting in lines, but this seems like exactly the sort of situation it's meant for).
