Blog - Cotton & Flax

sewing

Thread Collaboration with Aurifil

Designer Thread Collections - Erin Dollar for Aurifil

I’m so happy to share another fun collaboration that’s debuting this summer: a thread collection created in collaboration with Aurifil! This box of 12 large spools of 100% cotton thread is perfect for anyone who loves to sew. Aurifil’s 50wt thread is great for hand sewing or machine sewing, and you can use it for all sorts of projects, including quilts, bags, and clothing.

Designer Thread Collections - Erin Dollar for Aurifil

I chose colors that compliment my new fabric collection, Arroyo, but many of these colors will look familiar from their use in the classic Cotton & Flax products. The thread collection is available now, via one of my favorite online fabric shops, Fat Quarter Shop!

Explorer Tote Bags – Made with Arroyo

DIY Patterned Tote BagOne of the most exciting things about debuting Arroyo, my first fabric collection with Robert Kaufman, is seeing the finished projects roll in as designers and sewers get their hands on the fabric. These beautiful bags were created by Anna Graham of Noodlehead, using her Explorer Tote pattern. I’m completely obsessed, and while I’ve skipped adding bags to the Cotton & Flax product line until now, these bags have me daydreaming…

Arroyo Explorer Tote BagSeeing other’s creativity shine as they adapt my fabrics in new ways is so exciting — it’s such a pleasure to see artists like Anna integrate my patterns into her designs.

DIY Patterned Tote BagI love all the lovely details in these bags! The gorgeous leather straps, that shiny little clasp… even the contrasting liner fabric is a charming accent. Anna’s tote bag pattern walks you through all the steps of creating this bag, and she’ll guide you in selecting materials that will age beautifully.

DIY Patterned Tote Bag DIY Explorer Tote BagArroyo fabric will be debuting in fabric and sewing stores this summer! Ask your favorite shop if they’ll be carrying it. As more projects start rolling in, I’ll be sharing them here on the blog, as well as on Instagram under #ArroyoFabric. I can’t wait to see what you’ll create with this fabric!

Using Up the Scraps, Part 2 – Mini Quilt Collab

Modern mini quilts - Salty Oat + Cotton & FlaxI’ve talked about my commitment to running a environmentally-friendly studio in the past, and I’ve continued to look for ways to improve my no-waste approach to production for Cotton & Flax. I’ve been lucky to find some amazing partners in that effort, including my newest collaborator: Caitlin Topham from Salty Oat!

Modern quilting - Collaboration quilts from Salty Oat + Cotton & FlaxCaitlin has been creating beautiful wall quilts from Cotton & Flax scraps, and I absolutely love the results. She does a great job of finding the perfect project for even the smallest scraps that I send her.

Modern mini quilts - Collaboration quilts from Salty Oat + Cotton & FlaxI love seeing a new piece of art come to life using fabric that would have otherwise been wasted, and her beautiful approach to modern quilting has led to some gorgeous pieces that I’d be proud to display in my home.

Check out the available quilts from our collaboration, and visit the Salty Oat shop to learn more about Caitlin’s work.

Where to Buy Beautiful Fabric and Sewing Supplies

Arroyo Fabrics by Erin Dollar

One of the most common questions I get on social media and via email is about where to source beautiful fabrics like the ones I use for Cotton & Flax. I’ve been lucky to live in cities that had vibrant craft and sewing communities, and so I’ve been able to visit lots of great fabric shops. Today I’m going to give you the scoop on my favorites, including a list of my all-time favorite fabric stores.

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Guide to LA Fabric Stores

The Fabric Store LA

If you love a good fabric store, today I have a treat for you: a guide to my favorite fabric shops in LA!

After moving to Los Angeles in 2010, I spent a lot of time driving around the city, visiting all the fabric stores I could find. I was experimenting heavily with printing on locally sourced fabric, experiments that would eventually lead to founding Cotton & Flax. At the time, I was just beginning to get to know LA (let’s be honest, I’m still getting to know LA), and all the awesome creative resources it had to offer.

I take pride in the fact that I still source the majority of my materials for Cotton & Flax from local shops and fabric distributors. I’d love to share some of my favorite LA fabric stores, so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy these fantastic shops!

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Favorite Purl Bee DIY projects – Holiday Edition!

DIY supplies

Are you making any of your holiday gifts by hand? I tend to make at least a few gifts each year, although I never seem to have enough time, and end up buying the rest of my gifts on Etsy or at local craft fairs and holiday markets (like Renegade!) When I do have some free time to work on DIY projects, I love to turn to The Purl Bee, one of my favorite DIY project resources, for inspiration.

If you’re like me, and are starting the holiday season with the best intentions to make your gifts by hand, maybe these DIY projects from The Purl Bee will get you started!

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