Contest Time! Win a Lucysfabrics.com gift certificate!
Patternreview.com is running the contest and we are providing the prize - a $50 or $25 gift certificate! But hurry - you have til March 15 to submit your entry.

Between March 1st and March 15th cut, sew and review a handbag of your choice and enter it in the contest.

1st Place -- determined by reader votes . $50 Gift Certificate from lucysfabrics.com
Random drawing -- from all eligible entries excluding 1st place winner $25 Gift certificate from lucysfabrics.com

Here are the rules as drafted by the Patternreview.com community:

1. A commercial pattern or self drafted pattern may be used. A pattern you've used previously may also be used, however the entry for this contest should be a different and new bag.
2. A lining is required
3. A closure of some sort is required ( snaps, magnetic snaps, flap with snaps, zippers, button and loop closure )
4. Use of interfacing to make it a structured bag is required. It can be a slouchy bag also, but interfacing is still required.
5. Purchased handles are allowed but purchased straps are not allowed.
6. Use of hardware is optional but is encouraged.
7. Grocery bags are not included in this contest.

There are more rules and guidelines -- read them all here.

Enter the contest now.

FTC says: Call Bamboo "Rayon," stop antimicrobial and eco-friendly manufacturing claims
The Federal Trade Commission of the United States has slapped several companies with product claims concerning bamboo-based textiles (read the press release here).

I am a fan of bamboo knit fabric, and buy it when I can find it at a reasonable price. Like most rayon knit fabrics, it's hand and drape gives a garment a higher-end look than cotton and it breathes better than polyester or nylon. From a crop standpoint, bamboo certainly has a sustainability advantage over other fibers because it grows quickly, without harsh chemicals.

However, according to the FTC, the soft and drapey bamboo textiles we are seeing in the stores should be called "rayon made from bamboo:"

The Federal Trade Commission has charged four sellers of clothing and other textile products with deceptively labeling and advertising these items as made of bamboo fiber, when they are made of rayon. The complaints also charge the companies with making false and unsubstantiated “green” claims that their clothing and textile products are manufactured using an environmentally friendly process, that they retain the natural antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, and that they are biodegradable....The proposed orders do allow the companies to describe their products as "rayon made from bamboo," as long as this is true and can be substantiated.

Hype and green-washing in the textile industry? Well, consider my bubble burst!

Modal is another rayon fabric that has some hype issues. I have been offered "modal" fabric from wholesalers (nice, but no better than regular rayon knit), and have seen "modal rayon" fabric being sold online for half of what I know the price should be. I buy genuine Modal knit fabric (a fiber licensed from Lenzing) directly from a domestic mill -- a mill a friend of mine has toured personally. And it's expensive for a reason. I have rolled out 40 yards of this fabric without finding a single flaw -- rare for knits, where sometimes I am lucky to get 8-10 continuous perfect yards.

When we first started carrying Modal fabric a couple of years ago, Lenzing's printed marketing materials and website focused on "green" -- "Modal is sustainable because it is made from beech wood and uses fewer harsh chemicals." When I went to update our website with our new Modal stock, I noticed that Lenzing now emphasizes softness and color fastness and no green claims are to be found (even the color palette has changed from green to tan).  I therefore no longer include Modal under the eco-friendly fabric category in our store. This is such a huge shift that I suspect that Lenzing was asked by the EU or USA to remove the green claims from their marketing materials.

Unless I buy a fabric directly from a mill, as with our Modal and recycled cotton knits, or has a tag from a mill on it, I am wary about green or brand name claims.

Some textile salesman make used car salesman look like Mary Poppins.

Do you have a Facebook Page for your business?
Please let me know! I will add your page to the Lucysfabrics.com Facebook Page "Favorites" list, and hope that you will do the same.

You may be wondering, "What the heck is a Facebook Page?"  Since so many of our customers are also business owners, I like to share the occasional nerdy tip. So here it is:

A "Page" is like a profile, but on Facebook, "Profiles" are for People only! Pages are for businesses, TV shows, bands, artists, etc. Through your business Page, you can share photos, videos, tips, resources, and special offers with customers who are "Fans" of your business on Facebook. Fans may use the Page to share photos and other information with the business and with other fans.  Setting up a Page is free.

Pages can show support for other Pages. Example:  I want to add ApronCity to Lucysfabrics.com's "Favorite Pages."

(at left) I click on "Add to my Page's Favorites." Since I manage more than one, it will ask me which Page I want to add it to. I select Lucysfabrics.com from the list then.....
Ta-daa! ApronCity appears on Lucysfabrics.com's list of "Favorite Pages." (at right)

So if your business or organization has a Page on Facebook, let me know and I will add it to this list. Then our Fans, who may have similar interests, will see your page when they visit ours. If you add Lucysfabrics.com to your Favorite Pages, you'll have to let me know so I can reciprocate, because Facebook doesn't notify Page owners when this happens.

Speaking of Fans.... you may be wondering how individual's "Profiles" interact with Pages? Simple: People become "Fans" of Pages.   So, if you (an individual, not a business) are not a fan already, when you go to a Page that you like, you will see the "Become a Fan" button (see below). Click on the "Fan" button:
What happens when you are a Fan?  As a Fan of Lucysfabrics.com, you will get occasional stories in your news feed. Don't worry, I don't post about my dogs' upset tummies (I save that for my Profile!). But, I do try to share information that home sewers and independent designers will find useful.

Being a Fan of a Page is not the same as being a Friend of an individual. There is a privacy wall. If a Page has enough Fans for it to be anonymous, Page owners see aggregated demographic data.  However,  I can't see Fans' profiles, friends, photos, etc. (unless the owner has made this public - read about Facebook's privacy settings here). And, Fans can't see mine, because my personal Profile is set to allow only Friends to see my personal information. I can post to the Lucysfabrics.com Page as "Laura" and everyone can read it, but I can also post as "Lucysfabrics.com".

One final tip about Pages:   For some reason Facebook neither provides a way for Fans to message the page owner, nor does it notify the owner when a question or comment has been posted to the Page's Wall. So, I put our e-mail address and toll-free number on our Page. Facebook really needs to enable two-way messaging, since those who use personal Profiles are accustomed to this.

Still have questions? If you think a Page might be right for your business, read the help file on Facebook.

And by the way, the design division of Lucysfabrics is Sheep Boutique Internet Marketing. If you or someone you know needs help with a web presence, check us out.

How can I recycle textile products?
Since we sell recycled cotton fabric (made from cutting waste), twice in the last week people have called the office asking if we knew how regular folks could recycle garments too shabby to donate.

Some cities are adding textile products alongside paper, plastic and glass to curbside or drop-off recycling programs. So, my first suggestion is to contact City Hall. If your city does not offer textile recycling, contact your city council person -- chances are, citizens have simply never asked for it. The California Waste Management Board website says that in some communities, textile recycling has reduced collection costs up to 15-20%, yet only about 15% of textile materials are removed from the waste stream.

Since the larger national charities such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and St. Jude’s already have a process for selling their excess materials by weight to textile recyclers, the California Waste Management Board suggests that communities work with charities to collect and recycle textiles. Individuals, too can contact their local charities to see if they accept clothing that cannot be sold for recycling.

Other options: Natural fibers (i.e., 100% cotton, wool, flax, silk, linen) can be put into the compost bin. Many of my customers use their sewing talents to reconstruct old garments into new, trendy clothes and bags. And of course, we can always recycle like our grandmothers and use scraps for quilts or doll clothes.




Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful customers!
It has been a blessing working with each and every one of you over the years! Have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving!

I wanted to share some information on holiday shipping with you.  If you have deadlines (whether shopping with us or elsewhere) for your business or for gift-giving bear in mind that the holidays cause delivery delays. UPS even suspends their Ground delivery guarantee from Dec. 11-Dec. 24 -- it's not unusual for our incoming deliveries to take some unexpected detours enroute to Texas during this time. International packages may take an unusually long time to clear customs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
 Holiday Shipping & Delivery Schedule for 2009:

• UPS is not delivering Friday, Nov. 27. All packages will take an extra day of transit time.
• Dec. 24: UPS is delivering but no UPS Ground packages will go out. USPS packages will go out. All packages will take at least an extra day of transit time.
• Dec. 25: We will be Closed. Neither UPS or USPS delivers.
• Dec. 31: No UPS Ground pickups or deliveries. UPS packages will take at least 2 extra days and USPS will take at least 1 extra day.
• Jan 1: We will be Closed. Neither UPS or USPS delivers.

This is such a challenging time of year for our Postal Carriers and UPS drivers. I am very thankful for Shannon and Brad, without whom we would not be able to provide exceptional service to our customers.

Three Kinds of Polartec: Three Kinds of Cozy Goodness!
Our Polartec Power Stretch has been popular with customers who are "in the know" about this high-performance fabric. So, I wanted to explain how the three types of Polartec we offer are typically used and how to tell them apart. All three styles are the genuine article from Malden Mills, and are all available in black which is hard to find.

NEW: Lightweight Polartec. This is not Powerstretch -- it's fuzzy on both sides and has moderate stretch along the width only. This is great if you are hot-natured or live in a climate where the regular weight Polartec is just too hot. Lightweight Polartec is also great for base-layer, layering pieces, lightweight tops and pants, sleepwear and warm-ups. It weighs less than 5 oz. per square yard. This fabric was used in Patagonia's line.

Next is "regular-weight" Polartec Powerstretch. It has a knitted side and a fuzzy side, and keeps you warm without being bulky or heavy. The knit side is normally worn on the outside.  It has 4-way stretch and is often used for warm-up jackets and pants. It weighs 6 oz. per square yard.

Finally, our Heavyweight Polartec Powerstretch has been very popular for ice skating warmups and for people who live in colder climates. People are making garments for a fraction of what they would cost in the stores. Heavyweight Powerstretch also has a knitted side and a fuzzy side and the fuzzy side has a more of a nap. This style is a bit thicker and heavier than the 6 oz. Power Stretch style but it actually has more stretch. It weighs 7 oz. per square yard.

Polartec garments make great Holiday gifts for those hard-to-buy-for teens and men!

Do you have a sewing/craft blog? We would like to send you a $25 store credit.
I appreciate that lots of my customers are like me -- "sew nerdy" you keep a craft & sewing blog. Many of you have linked to lucysfabrics.com and I would like to thank you!   Problem is, I know you by your real name, not by your blog nom-de-plume, so I cannot tie the two together.

I am asking all of you bloggers who link to us -- please e-mail me with your real name & the email address you want to shop with (so I can issue you a $25 store credit), along with the URL that links to us. Send it to mail (-at-) lucysfabrics.com.

Your links will be listed here as well. 

Thanks!

So you need something to wear to a Halloween party?
...and I am not talking about costumes. Local fabric stores are full of costume fabrics right now, but what if you want to get into the spirit when a costume is not appropriate? If you are looking for inspiration, check out these new fabrics:

First, our luscious Pumpkin Modal. This modal-lycra fabric is super-soft and has gorgeous drape for sexy dresses and tops, tees and loungewear. If you want something warm to go with this spicy fall color, check out this recycled cotton fleece which has ginger and navy flecks on one side and solid navy on the other.

We have three knit fabrics with skull prints now. The black and white prints would make cute tees or corset tops. The pink and black skull print is a lightweight French Terry and would make a great hoodie.

For a dark yet fashionable look, try these two new rayon-lycra jerseys in purple and navy and teal and black. Not only do they feel great, but they have skinny lurex metallic stripes too!

You can add a little witchy touch to just about any design with some black mesh -- add mesh to a plain tee as sleeves, necklines and cut-outs, or sew it onto the bottom of a skirt. We have several kinds -- the fishnet kind has big open holes, power mesh has little holes and can be stretched tight, and glissenet has barely visible holes (like pantyhose). We have had a sudden uptick in sales of the neon lime green mesh, probably because it looks nifty with black and should glow under black light.

I hope that these suggestions have gotten you into the Halloween Spirit!



Pits and Fash fashion show and benefit in Sacramento!
It's a special occation when I can support both independent designers and Pit Bull dogs at the same time.  Lucy's Fabrics is a proud sponsor of the "Pits and Fash" Fashion and Trunk Show in Sacramento, CA. The fashion show features independent designers (of human clothing) and is aimed at raising money for the completion of "Beyond the Myth", an important documentary that looks into the truth behind Breed Specific Legislation.  The fashion show will also promote homeless pit bull dogs that are up for adoption through the Yolo SPCA.

The show is October 10th, 2009, at the RetroLodge at 1111 H Street, next to the Naked Lounge. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. I hope that my Sacramento-area customers can go and check it out  -- it looks like a blast!

I really wish I could go, but my beloved Lucy will be watching from the Bridge -- that is her picture on the goodie bag graphic. Here is an article about the event:
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1263778

Notions make sewing with knit fabrics easier
I have met countless customers at shows who confess that sewing with knits scares them.  No doubt about it, sewing with knit fabrics is not the same as sewing with wovens.  If you mainly sew quilts or woven garments, you will need to add a few things to your toolbox before you get started.  Based on personal experience and customer recommendations, we've collected a nice assortment of notions that will make sewing with knit fabrics easier for newbies and experienced home sewers alike.


One of the problems with knits is that, although they don't ravel or fray, they can run or get needle holes. This problem is solved by using a new, sharp needle on each project and by using special pins for this purpose. Fortunately Schmetz makes a great line of needles specifically for stretch fabrics and Iris pins.

Another challenge with knit fabrics is that they can get away from you or sag. Design Plus Fusible Tape comes in white, black, bias, straight and double-sided versions and it is designed to solve this problem. My customers swear by it and it was featured in Threads Magazine. All you need is a steam iron - each package comes with detailed instructions. Use the straight version for hems, v-necks and straight seams and the bias version for curved necklines, armholes and curved seams.

You may have noticed some clear, rubbery stuff in the shoulder seam of your ready-to-wear knit tops and wondered where you can get it. That's clear elastic, and we carry it in 1/4" and 3/8" widths. It will keep seams from coming apart. You can also use it for ruching effects and crafts such as ponytail holders.

We have a new shipment in of knit cuffs for sweatshirts and coats. The Dritz ones are a little smaller and softer. The Lyle's cuffs are heavier-duty and come in more colors - these are good for men and boys too. We also have Lyle's matching banding for the bottom of a coat or for the waistband of pants.

I hope that these items will make sewing with knit fabrics easier and more fun! If you have a favorite time-saving notion for knit fabrics, please send it to me and I will do my best to stock it.

New way for International Customers to save shipping $$
I love our International customers, but the US Postal Service apparently doesn't love Lucy because they have raised international rates many times over the last two years.

In order to help our customers save money, Lucy's Fabrics has partnered with Bongo International, a freight forwarding service.  How it works:  1) You sign up a for a US address with Bongo - once you have it, you can use it with virtually any US retailer. 


2) We ship to Bongo's warehouse in the USA (FREE for orders over $75!) and Bongo ships to you.  That means that for orders over $75 you only pay Bongo's rates, plus duties assessed in your home country.

This is a great option for heavy, high value and time-sensitive shipments.  For your lighter-weight orders where time is not an issue, continuing to select USPS First Class or USPS Priority is probably your best option. However, Bongo offers more tracking -- we ship UPS to them and they ship DHL to you, while with the US Postal Service tracking is available only on the most expensive shipping method.

Our checkout system for international customers has not changed -- once you have the address from Bongo just plug that in as your shipping address. Or you can still choose USPS and ship directly.

I know it can be difficult to find good apparel fabric, so I hope that our customers find this useful.

Visit our international shipping page to read more and sign up with Bongo International. 

Huge Summer Sale! Cute knit prints for under $5
Fall has arrived in North Texas and everyone is giddy with excitement. So, lots of cute Summer cotton knit prints and swim fabric are now on sale -- supplies are very limited. Check out all sale items here.
I am thinking resort and cruisewear... enjoy!



Fall is here! Some favorite fabrics...
A nice chill is in the air here in North Texas, which is something we always look forward to. Here are some fun things for Fall.

I usually don't get faux fur because it's kind of a pain to handle, but this short-pile leopard is cute and versatile. The print is small enough to use for cuffs and collars, or for kids or dog clothes.

It goes with this chocolate brown solid fleece. I don't usually do fleece either because it's not fashionable, but this has a more high-end feel and would make a great little jacket.

People who have visited the shop have responded very well to these new matte jersey / microfiber prints - great for tops.


And now, orders over $100 get a free puppy! OK, just kidding. I just wanted to share this sweet picture of our little foster puppies. They are 12 week-old American Pit Bull Terriers and are from a massive cruelty bust. The county actually gave the Pit Bulls a chance, which is unusual. So, these two little girls are up for adoption! They have great personalities - their mama did a fine job. Nooooooooo we are not keeping them.

So you want to start a blog?

I have been doing websites since 1996, and each summer I challenge myself to learn something new. Summer is website time for me because it's too hot in Texas to go outside.

In March, I re-launched Lucysfabrics.com with a brand new e-commerce platform (the fourth, counting the old eBay store). At the time I didn't focus much on the graphics so I re-did them this week. I wish I got paid to download free fonts and brushes, because that is pretty much all I did in my spare time this month!

Then I decided to take on upgrading Texoma Bully Breed Outreach and re-doing those graphics also. Whoa! I have fallen head over heels in love with WordPress 2.8 and a new theme. I can't wait to apply what I learned on my personal site.

You don't have to go theme, font, and Photoshop brush crazy like I do to have a blog. The blog you are reading now uses Blogger, a Google product. This is by far the easiest to use. You never have to worry about upgrading software, and the set up process is basically just point and click. If you can use Microsoft Word, Blogger should be a snap. An advantage for business users is that your posts should begin showing up in Google search results almost immediately.

Blogger is free and is adequate for a personal or basic blog. I don't care for the image-handling or the design control Blogger offers, however. Another option is the free version of WordPress hosted by WP. I believe this will eliminate the need to upgrade but I can't speak to how much flexibility the free version has. My fully-featured WP software is included with my website hosting package, so it was essentially free but has no limitations.

If you want to have multiple authors, WordPress is a must. The free version allows up to 35 authors/editors. You can set different permission levels for individuals, and set posts and pages to draft or password protected. Your team members can edit the blog without messing up the code or design.

If anyone has questions about blogging, please feel free to ask me. I love to talk about nerdy things!

30% off Sale Extended through Monday
30% off sale extended through Monday August 3!
The "Sale" and Bottom-Weight knit fabric categories are an additional 30% off. And as always there is free shipping on orders of $75 or more in the Continental USA, so now is a good time to stock up for Fall.

The sale price does not show up until you add the item to your shopping cart and view the cart. The old price is crossed out and the new price shows, along with a message confirming that you saved 30%.

This means for example that the Rayon blend double knit is is now $8.05/yd instead of $11.50/yd. Customers love this fabric because it is easy to work with, is wrinkle-resistant, and can be machine-washed.

For more casual garments, check out the brushed jersey knit in several colors, which is made from pre-consumer recycled cotton. If the pattern requires just a little give and not spandex, it is good for tops, hoodies and lounge pants - a little like fleece but lighter. It is a good price at $6.25/yd. and even better at $4.38/yd.

And if you have not checked out the recycled cotton knit fabrics, do! Several of my art-to-wear and custom clothier customers are using it.


Two Trends: Pretty in Pink and Inspired by Nature
It was wonderful meeting so many of you at the American Sewing Guild National Conference. The best thing about doing shows is talking to customers about current trends. Here are a couple of trends or motifs to think about....

Pretty in PINK!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pink is always a favorite for folks who are sewing either for themselves or for daughters or granddaughters. Several of my customers make dresses for little dogs, and the smaller prints are particularly good for this. The prints below all happen to be cotton knits, and can be found here.

Inspired by Nature
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some folks escape from troubled times by sewing or wearing happy pink princess prints. Others seek out the peace and serenity of nature. Fashion has responded to this desire by offering realistic prints inspired by nature. Feathers, animal prints, koi fish, and realistic florals are very popular. Most of the below are cotton knit prints as well.These colorways and patterns could not be more different, but they are two sides of the same coin.

Most people are surprised when I tell them that I sell apparel fabric: "Nobody sews clothes anymore, do they?" Off-the-rack clothing today is so inexpensive it is virtually disposable. Although home sewers can save relative to specialty stores, cost is not why most people sew. Sewers spend time and money on their craft because it makes them feel good! Home sewers enjoy the process and the self-esteem they get from achieving a certain look, color and fit that cannot be found in stores.

Whether you are a Pink Princess or a Natural Woman, I hope that you find something to inspire you today.




So you want to sew a maxi dress
My husband and I spent much of the weekend at Honkytonk Fest, a music festival near our home. For some reason this part of far Northeast Texas is an incubator of great musicians. One of the singers pointed out that the crowd looked like "Hillbilly Woodstock." Maybe he was thinking like I was: Maxi Dress! Lots of women of all ages were wearing them, not just because they are cute but because it was over 100 degrees out. So it really did look a lot like Woodstock.

Many of my customers are making maxi dresses - here are some recommendations gleaned from their experiences.

A customer in Hawaii used several print and solid rayon-lycra jerseys and adapted Simplicity 3882. Rayon-Lycra jersey is very breatheable and drapey - perfect for the hot and humid weather of her home state. However, check the fabric descriptions - you might want to stick to 6 oz. per square yards or less, or it will be too hot.

Another customer chose a lightweight 100% cotton knit print and Burda 515B. This fabric does not have much stretch, since it has no spandex, but for a loose-fitting garment it will be fine. In fact these low-stretch 100% cotton knit fabrics (read our descriptions) will probably be OK for wovens patterns too. Just be sure to pre-shrink, probably more than once. Some of these cotton knit prints are a little on the sheer side, but again, if the print is busy and the fit is loose it should not be revealing.

Here are some other suggestions: Simplicty 2622, Simplicity 3803. Expect to use about 3 yards of fabric.

You may want to line the bodice - I recommend Whisper II lining or 70D poly lining. The former has cooler feel but is more stretchy and slippery. The latter is your basic lining (most RTW garments use it) and has only mechanical stretch. Or just use a solid leftover cotton knit fabric in your stash.

I think a maxi dress and a good outdoor music festival can help make the summer heat a little easier to bear. If you have any maxi dress experiences please share them with me!

Black and White Prints
Black and white prints are always very popular during the summer, and I wanted to share some of these with you.

Also just a reminder: No shipping July 16-20 (inclusive) due to the ASG Conference. Orders placed by noon CST July 15 will ship before the closure.

I hope to see many of you in person at booth 313 in the exhibit hall at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Many digits were burned on the glue gun making displays and I just shipped about 200 lbs. of stuff out there!

These fabrics are all located in the Cotton Knit Print section.

We also have more solid black rayon-lycra jersey to complement all of these prints, as well as a nice, heavy solid white rayon-lycra jersey.

New recycled & organic knits and sweatshirt fleeces!
Because it's 100 degrees out, here is some FLEECE. I know, it's a strange thing to be promoting right now, but this recycled and organic fleece became available and I had to grab it. Our last supply did not last long. There is a nice 8 oz. lightweight style ideal for cool evenings or for travel.

But fleece isn't everything - we have some new jerseys and ribs too. Tip: If the color names are the same (i.e., "Artichoke Green"), you can buy different styles in that color and they will match.

I love recycled cotton because it's good to the environment in two ways. First, it reduces the amount of cutting waste that goes into the landfill. Second, recycling eliminates the need for irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides and dyes. Finally, the fabrics are just plain neat looking because they contain all the yarns and colors of the t-shirts from which they are made. Each run is a little unique.

Click here to view all of the organic and sustainable styles - 42 in all.

Sorry for the dearth of updates here. I have been spending more updating time on the highly-addictive Facebook! So be sure you join us by becoming a fan, as I occasionally post exclusive coupons just for fans.

Visit us at the American Sewing Guild national conference in July, Albuquerque, NM.



Tons of new items have been added lately. I am thinking about what I am going to wear to the American Sewing Guild (ASG) Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in July. We will have a booth there.

So this has put the idea of light, cool cotton prints into my head. Thus, there are lots of new cotton knits like the one on the left.

Also, I had the opportunity to procure bra-making supplies for a fashion design class at the Art Institute in Dallas. It was really fun to see what the students are working on and what inspires them.
As a result, I have some new bra-making items such as elastics, and this really lovely new stretch fabric for lingerie. Those of you who liked the "Whisper" fabric will like this. The Whisper mill went out of business but this one is sturdier and I think it has a cooler feel. If it proves to be popular, more colors can be brought in.

OK, so back to the cotton knits. If you are planning to go to the conference, I am thinking gauze. We have some cotton gauze knit fabric that is not flimsy. The prints are very detailed and on-trend, with the major Indian influences we are seeing now.

Rhinestone Buckles under $1
Did you know that lucysfabrics.com has rhinestone buckles for under $1, and many styles that are close to $1? When browsing the rhinestone buckles, be sure to click on the "buy in bulk and save" links to see the wholesale/bulk price discounts. To get these discounts, just place the quantity in your cart and check out. It's very easy!

10mm square - 90 cents for 100 or more!
13mm round - 95 cents for 300 or more!
15mm round (at left) - 99 cents each for 300 or more!

Polartech Power Stretch now available in Spring colors!

Happy Polartec Power Stretch!

For those cool Spring mornings and nights, here is an updated fleece just for you!
Polartec Power Stretch can be found in many high-end athletic wear brands. It has a knitted side and a fuzzy side, and is not bulky. The knit side is normally worn on the outside. It has 4-way stretch, wicking properties and is machine washable. Try it for hoodies, vests, loungewear and more. It's great for travel because it's light and folds really flat.

Check them all out here.


Dress Barn, Double Knit, Michelle Obama and Me
A bunch of us Pit Bull people are going down to Austin to lobby the legislature. Stop #1 was the hairdresser - my overgrown hair that is usually in a ponytail is now a cute layered 'do inspired by Alexis on American Idol. Now, I need something to wear that doesn't make me look like a hillbilly who lives on a sheep farm with 5 dogs. It's going to be a long day, so the ideal thing would be a double-knit or matte jersey dress in a transitional or year-round color or muted print. A knit is a must for a long trip because I want something that stretches and does not wrinkle.

We were in our closest small city for date night, so I dragged my husband into Dress Barn. I can't say it without going, "Dress Barn! MOOO!" I mean, who would place the word BARN in a clothing store for women? Nonetheless, when I need a dress in a hurry I can find something there as the selection is better than the name implies.

I was delighted to find a sheath dress in my best selling rayon-poly-spandex double knit but the style wasn't for me. The sales lady said that they had a lot of Jackie Kennedy-type sheath dresses in and I said something about how Michelle Obama must be driving up demand for those. Then the lady said, "Ugh, Michelle Obama. I wish someone would teach her how to dress! She doesn't dress like a First Lady."

Oh, here we go. Once again, I am going to get in trouble for gushing about the Obamas while too close to the Red River. "Michelle is the best thing to happen to the fashion industry since 'Sex in the City.' It's been a long time since the general public has even been interested in fashion. Besides, she's young and fit and wears it well."

Well, the sales lady and I probably came to an impasse but hopefully I gave her some thought about which side her bread is buttered on.

I tried on a dress but it hit the fattest part of my knee, so the search continues at the outlet mall down in the big city. But my quest has given me more appreciation for our gracious First Lady and her impact on the industry. Even though, in almost-Oklahoma-Texas, Michelle's impact might never be fully recognized or appreciated.

Announcing Lucy 3.0 - Now offering Free Shipping!
Monday morning, the third iteration of Lucysfabrics.com launched and we are up and running at full speed. Credit cards and PayPal are working via secure server. The only thing not hooked up yet is Google Checkout. However, we will be happy to send a Google Checkout invoice to anyone who wants to use it.

We hope that you will find the checkout runs much faster and more smoothly.

We now offer FREE SHIPPING!

There are several new features:

• Wish List.
• Ability to get RSS Feeds for new products.
• Deeper volume discounts for rhinestone buckles.
• Automatically saves your account at checkout if you choose. Your account includes all order info and communications from us.
• Save your shopping cart for much longer (but don't save it too long in case it sells out!).
  
• Better navigation - easy to get back to previously viewed products.

I could go on but I will go ahead and let you try it out!

If there are any questions or glitches please do not hesitate to contact us.