Blog - Cotton & Flax

sewing

Cotton & Flax visits the LA Fashion District

Chevron fabric - LA Fabric District

I made another trip to the Los Angeles fashion district, where there are blocks and blocks of fabric stores overflowing with things to delight even the most seasoned crafter. I was just picking up some small samples of some of the fabrics I’ll be using for my Fall/Winter line for Cotton & Flax, but I took a few shots of beautifully patterned fabrics with my phone to share here.

Fabric finds from the LA Fabric District

Ikat fabric finds from the LA Fabric DIstrict

Fabric finds from the LA Fabric DIstrict

Most of the bolts of fabric were not identified by brand, but hopefully I will find some time to track down the makers of these fabrics soon.

Liberty Prints - Fabric finds from the LA Fabric DIstrict

These ones I do know… Liberty of London!

Getting Back to Sewing

Cotton & Flax - Sewing in the studio

As you may know, Cotton & Flax is a new venture for me. I’ve been making textile goods for a while now, under my name, Erin Dollar. You could usually find pillows and tea towels in my Online shop, right alongside my fine art offerings (prints, drawings, and the like). I decided earlier this year to separate the textiles into a new business, and to start building that business from the ground up. It’s been a few months of working on the back end of things (bookkeeping, finding new suppliers for fabrics, getting my home studio better equipped), but I am finally getting back to the stuff I really LOVE: printing on fabric, and sewing.

Cotton & Flax - cutting fabric
So it was much to my surprise that in my haste to get back to making things, I made a couple silly cutting errors while making some pillows yesterday. They are still perfectly great, printed, sewn, and finished with the same care, just a little more plump than I would normally have them look. It’s strange though… I kind of prefer the outcome! Normally I sew the pillow cases a little larger, but I think I am starting to like the more full look these little pillows have.

Cotton & Flax - handmade pillows

All you artists/makers out there: have you had any happy accidents while making things lately?