On Swatching - Hint: you're doing it wrong.

Where have I been?  A bit caught up with life messiness and other stuff, but trying to crawl out, slowly but surely. Many changes in my life and business that I may will chronicle shortly, but I hope you are all well, happy, and excited for a weather change, wherever you are! (Unless you're in a place where your weather doesn't change... )

Inspired by a conversation with a sewing friend about swatching, I thought this information would be of benefit to the many who aren't already thinking this way. 

Example. NY Elegant Fabrics.  Still in my wallet... MONTHS(?) later.

Let's say you've gone to a fabric store and fallen in love with a certain fabric.   The way it feels, stretches,  and its color are just magical to you! Whether unable, unwilling, or uncommitted to buying yardage right away, you might have chosen to take a swatch.  You've stroked it lovingly in your pocket for a few days/weeks/months, and now you feel you MUST go and retrieve it. 

What store was that again?  Now, where was that fabric?  You tentatively stretch out your hand to reveal a mangled swatch to store staff, who shrug and show you something "close" (softly mumbling their annoyance to themselves).  And now, even you're not sure if they've found the right one or not.  

Then again, frankly, if even YOU can't remember it well enough, what difference does it make?

Well, it matters if you need MORE of something, or if you need to match something.  So then, what do you do?

Okay... Unless it is wildly unusual...

Take the selvedge edge! This is not always an option when the swatches are pre-cut, but when you can ask or be more specific, get the selvedge.  It will help identify the fabric in a way that makes it more specific and unique to the store staff when you try to find it again.

And... really, don't be a swatch-hog!  It truly is just a lovely courtesy these stores are willing to extend to help you make your purchasing decisions.  Take swatches of only the things you are realistically considering. We'll all be better off, okay?

On Swatching...

We all know that there are LOTS of stores in the NYC garment district.

With ever-changing inventory.

And you can get overwhelmed, or far too picky, or indecisive.

A few years ago, I chose this silk fabric (on top) as a visible lining, to make with this chiffon a bridesmaid was given to use "pop"... Based on just a swatch, the bridesmaid was uncertain, but, trusting my gut, I hand draped and made the dress pictured below.  She really loved it, thank goodness. 

The garment district stores know that you may have to check the budget, match things with other things, get an idea of yardage, get approval, think it over... Those are all good reasons to take a swatch.  They also know that the fact that you can swatch may lead you to research endlessly, take swatches to compare, overthink, consult with a million different opinions of others, haggle endlessly with others offering similar goods, and possibly compile an overly optimistic wishlist.

Here are my suggestions for successful swatching:

• When you find a great swatch, attach it to the business card of the store where you found it.  Most stores will give you a card to attach it to.  Failure to do this will result in a pile of random swatches in your pockets, you will wonder why you collected later on. (Ask me how I know...) Write the price and date you found it. Write the fabric's name and fiber content, if needed.

• If needed, wash test your swatch (secure it with a safety pin to some other well-worn item in your laundry), burn test it, and/or check it in daylight.When you decide that you do want it, order it, or return to the same store to buy it.

• When you decide that you do want it, either order it, or return to the SAME STORE to buy it, within a reasonably short amount of time.

For the professionals among you, over-swatching can lead to client confusion, and the problem of just TOO MUCH information for a real decision to be made.  Fact is, there are plenty of "right" fabrics, plenty of acceptable ones, plenty of wrong ones.  Your gut (and experience) will often respond to what will work.  Trust it.

A client gave me a sketch for a costume she designed, and I submitted a bunch of swatches to her, indicating what I felt was a "right" combination of fabrics, and some others, in case she felt differently.  She did accept what i chose, and we were both happy with the outcome.

Swatches from New York Elegant

Costume

So yes, swatch when it is useful to you... but not to make endless fabric "scrapbooks".  Then, swatch your own fabrics at home, so you can keep track of your stash.  What?  You don't have a stash? No "someday" pile?  I don't believe you...