My New Fabric Design!

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I was working on a couple of fabric designs and was going to have them printed out on Spoonflower. It was something that I had wanted to do for a very long time. I also mentioned that I was having a few doubts on my first pattern, not because I didn't like the design, but because I wasn't sure if it would be something I would wear.

I just received my first order in the mail a few days ago, and I'm so excited!!!! I love it! Forget everything else, I'm just so proud to see my own design printed out.

I even have my own listing!

Thoughts on the quality and process: I'm really impressed with the quality and clarity of the print. It may be difficult to tell from my photo below, but trust me it's good. The colors are very close to what I saw on my computer screen.  I've noticed with other services (photo printing) that the colors tend to vary, especial when using purples. I'm guessing that the color calibration of my screen is similar to Spoonflower's. The design was also very crisp, with no bleeding.

I'm also pleasantly surprised with the fabric. I ordered a fat quarter of the most inexpensive Basic Combed Cotton, and I'm pretty impressed with the quality! I only wish I had ordered something fancier.

Here is a photo of actual fabric, and please excuse the poor quality. I am again without my good camera, and now also down all of my editing software because my laptop needs a new hard drive. (When it rains, it pours around here.)

I think I'm going to take back what I said about not wearing this print. In right fabric, and right pattern, I think it could work. I'd love to try ordering this in organic cotton knit and making a pair of lounge pants/shorts. Or, maybe the cotton voile and making a cute little top?

I can't wait to get my laptop fixed so I can continue work on my second design.  :)

Random Ramblings

I finally have a finished Lonsdale to show, but no camera! I'm waiting to see what arrives at the apartment first - my husband with the good camera he took on an out of town project, or a new charger for my not so good camera. The race is on. My poor Lonsdale deserves a much better fate than being subjected to camera phone pics.

In the meantime, I'm curious to know if anyone has used Spoonflower ? I've just designed and ordered my first print, and am currently working on a second. Has anyone ever ordered from them or had their own designs printed? How was the experience? Were you happy with the fabric?

I'm actually fascinated by the entire design process. It's been a balancing act between trying to come up with a print that I like but also a print that I would wear and could see being made into a finished garment.

I think I missed the mark a bit with my first attempt, a bird and flower motif. I'll post a picture of it when it arrives. I very happy with the design, but see it as more of a quilt/home decor/lining fabric, if that makes sense. I'm still pretty proud of myself, more so for "breaking the seal" so to speak, and actually placing the order. I had been holding off for so long. And, I suppose that not all fabric has to be "garment appropriate", but that's really what I'm most interested in right now.

Which brings me to my second design. I'm currently working on a border print, inspired by 1800's hand painted pearlware. (It's not as random a topic as it sounds, but I'll save the origin story for another day.) This one I can definitely see as a dress - a Hazel actually.

Good news for me is that my Hazel pattern just arrived in the mail today. By the time I've made a muslin, and probably made my previously proposed white eyelet version, I should have my newly designed border print ready!