Lucy's Fashion, Fabrics (and Trims) by Lucysfabrics.com

New recycled & organic knits and sweatshirt fleeces!

2009-06-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-04-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T02:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-19T02:04:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

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!

On orders of $75 or more to the Continental USA.

$150 or more to AK, H I, PR and other Islands handled by USPS.

$200 or more to Canada.

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.

You asked for it! More Stretch Mesh Fabrics!

2009-02-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

A new shipment of power mesh in various weights and glissenet has just arrived.
The mill I used to work with had gone out of business, so our selection had run low, but I am happy to bring you several new styles and colors including a really nice, neutral, non-orangey fleshtone (far right).

So, now there is a good supply of it, but what is it used for?

Power mesh fabric is a stretch mesh with tiny but visible holes. The stronger varieties are good for bra backs. Read the descriptions for more details, since many differ from one another. Power mesh is also great for panties, thongs, and as an embellishment for day or night. I have seen many t-shirts with strips of power mesh around the neck and/or sleeves with the edges left raw (it does not ravel). Customers use this a lot for sleeves. And, I bought a skirt from Max Studio that has it sewn along the lining so that it peeks out at the bottom.

Glissenet (Glissenette, Glistenet, stretch illusion) fabric is very sheer and has holes that are basically invisible. It is like pantyhose, but stronger. You see this a lot on dance costumes, skating costumes or bridal dresses to fill in a low back or neckline for modesty. I don't know how they do it but I have many customers who make stockings for fashion dolls out of glissenet! Any of these meshes would be good for doll clothes and a variety of crafts. I use my scraps to make gift bags or bows. And finally, customers have used the stretch mesh fabrics to make wings for costumes - you can stretch them nice and tight. Some have dyed the white but honestly I am not sure how they did it, so you will need to experiment with a dye that can be used on a 100% synthetic fiber.

Check out all the mesh fabrics here.

Needles for Knit Fabrics

2009-01-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

It is not the most exciting thing I have ever bought, but for your convenience we now carry Schmetz needles for stretch knit fabrics. Twin needles too! They are on the Notions page.

When sewing with knits, it is important to use new, ball-point needles. Synthetic fibers are especially hard on needles and you will find yourself going through them pretty quickly. Otherwise, you will experience skipped stitches, needle holes, snags and runs. So next time you order some knits, pick up some extra needles, just in case.

A memo to our inventory: Please, please go away.

2008-12-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Almost the entire store is 20-50% off til 12-31-08!

Please don't make me count all this stuff! It's inventory time, and I would rather ship it than count it.

These specials don't show up under the "specials" tab. Almost everything is marked down temporarily, from 20%-50% off. Sale ends midnight, CST, 12-31-08 and is not retroactive. In addition to the big sale you also get:

Volume Discounts: Any Product, Any Time... No Codes!5% off $50 or more * 10% off $100 or more * 12.5% off $200 or moreDiscount will display at the order confirmation stage and does not apply to shipping.

Exception: for Google Checkout -only-, your discount will be manually refunded to your credit card.

Happy holidays!-Laura

Now We are on Facebook!

2008-12-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here is the Facebook page.
This blog will be uploaded to Facebook automatically.

2008-12-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

Holiday Shipping Schedule - New RL Solids!

2008-12-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays to you and yours. If you'll be getting some time off to sew, here are some new things that you might like.

Also please note our holiday shipping schedule: From Dec. 19-26, please allow an extra day or two of shipping time as there will be a reduced schedule. UPS will not run Ground packages at all on the 25th or 26th. Also we will be closed Jan. 7-11.

Check out these new products, including heavyweight cotton-lycra jersey, perfect for your activewear projects.

New Solids to go with your European Rayon-Lycra Jersey prints
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Some of you may already have these fabulous prints (a very limited amount is still in stock). Did you need some some coordinating solids? They are soft, much like the Modal we had previously. It may be Modal but since Modal is a licensed fiber, I don't want to say it's Modal without proof. At any rate, you will love it! These solids are unusually heavy for Rayon-Lycra jersey as well. The colors are deep olive and deep gray.

25 varieties available, so check out:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Fashion-Knits/Rayon-Jersey/

You asked for it: 22mm / 7/8" Rhinestone Buckle

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Here is a new buckle in between our 5/8" and 1" square. It fits a 22mm / 7/8" ribbon exactly.

Also check out our lower prices and improved quality on the 3/8" heart shaped buckle, and on the 1/2" round buckle.

We currently have a good supply of all the sizes for your holiday crafting needs, cards, doll clothes, ornaments and more.

Fun Facts about YOU

2008-11-23T05:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who has answered the survey so far.

Here are some fun facts about YOU:

A third of you sell or plan to sell at least some of your creations.
In the last year, or upcoming 6 months, most of you have or plan to sew home decor or quilting projects. Most of you are not scrapbooking (this surprised me, given the amount of attention scrapbooking gets in the media compared to sewing).
Most of you describe your style as "Classic". The second most popular is "Trendy." 17% of you are "Retro." 6% are "Gothic."

EU Customers: Most Orders Import Duty Free!
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We ship worldwide daily and value our International customers. Now that the European Union has lowered the duty threshold, you can bring in more fabric & trim for less!

Customs duty is currently payable on goods worth e22 (about £19) or more bought online from non-EU countries. But from December 1, the new limit of e150, or about £130, will apply.

I am not a duty expert, but please note that your country VAT will still apply. We declare the amount of the goods (not including shipping) on our customs form.

Unfortunately, the USPS is raising international shipping rates an average of 8.5% on January 1. So, now is the time to shop!

For more info please see:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/71897/Customs-duty-cut-for-online-shoppers

Prints you can't live without!

2008-10-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

Prints you cannot live without! Seriously!

Some great new knit prints have just arrived.

Do you need some tops and dresses that can go to work and to holiday parties? Check out our great selection of wonderful European rayon-lycra jersey prints are ready to be worn now. There are some softer colors perfect for resort wear as well.

And, for your tank tops, workout tops and other cases where you would like a little more stretch in your cotton, we have some new cotton-lycra prints. Many of these would be great for kids too!

For all the latest products please see;
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

(there is * 3 pages! * of new stuff!)

2008-10-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

NEW Rhinestone Slide Buckle colors have just arrived-
Classy Black Diamond and Aqua Blue (shown with the clear crystal) Both are in the popular round, 1" (25mm) style. On all the buckles, the dimension in the title is the dimension in the center bar. The blue will go well with a Tiffany Blue theme, although it is a bit darker than Tiffany Blue.

The 3 colors look great together! I could see them used for table decorations for a sparkling holiday party - put around candles, napkin rings, or placeholders. Or use them for those holiday cards.

2008-09-25T03:51:00.001-07:00

Eco-fabrics you won't find anywhere else
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Organic cotton is in extremely high demand right now and it comes with a signficant price premium. Pre-consumer recycled cotton is a resource-saving, less costly alternative. I love the end result, because the colors and textures are richer than conventional cotton knits, allowing for a more boutique look (i.e., Flax, J. Jill). It can go into work or casual wear very easily.

We have several jersey knits, rib knits, and 4 kinds of sweatshirt fleece. Some are a combination of recycled and organic cotton. Bulk discounts are available automatically on the website, where quantities allow.

Three pages of sustainable, organic and recycled fabrics and still growing:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Organic-Sustainable/

2008-09-07T10:48:00.001-07:00

I have a lot of new stuff on order and I have no idea where I am going to put it. Seriously. Help!

All activewear fabrics are 50% off our already low prices.
This includes lycra, swimwear fabric, heavier duty cotton-lycra, fabric for dancewear, ice skating, equestrian, etc.

There are many other fabrics on sale starting at $3. These are mostly summer fashion fabrics

http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Activewear-Knits/
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/specials.php

Thank you for helping me clear room!!

2008-09-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

NEW Knit Skull Fabrics and Rhinestone Buckles at lucysfabrics.com!

Reasons to check Lucysfabrics.com out again:
1) BABY PINK rhinestone buckles.
2) GARNET RED rhinestone buckles. (and more new stuff too)
3) New and improved czech crystal quality on our most popular sizes....
4)...with no increase in price.
5) The highest volume price break now starts at 100 pcs., down from 125.

6) Additional Volume Discounts based on order size: Any Product, Any Time... No Codes!
5% off $50 or more * 10% off $100 or more * 12.5% off $200 or more

New Skull Prints -- in cotton!

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Just in time for Fall - a light cotton French Terry with pink and black skulls. Automatic volume discounts will apply at checkout. It goes great with our hot pink and black eyelet tapes.

And try some white cotton baby rib knit with blue and navy skulls -- it coordinates with our navy and white nautical striped fabric.

2008-08-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

New Rhinestone Slide Buckle Styles at lucysfabrics.com:

Now we have pink and red crystal buckles. And a 1" square, which has the same center bar size as the round, but it looks bigger because there are more crystals on it due to the shape.
Also, we have dropped our highest-volume price break from 125 pc. to 99 pcs.

2008-08-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

$3 flat rate shipping special - now through Friday 8/29 only!

For a limited time, enjoy $3.00 flat rate shipping anywhere in the USA.
This special ends at midnight CST on Friday, August 29.

When you check out, select "WORLD ZONE RATES $3.00".

Shipping method is Lucy's choice, however, express (ex. 2-day)
is still available.


check out the newest items here: 
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

This special applies to sale items, too:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/specials.php

Sales, Specials and Coupons: Are valid only for website, telephone and in-store
sales. They are limited to stock on-hand and not on special orders.
Shipping specials exclude "oversize" packages (i.e. rolls).

Did you know.... Lucy's Fabrics has a wide selection of bottom-weight fabrics?
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And now, just in time for fall, 3 new colors of our very popular rayon-poly-spandex blend double knit fabric. Plum, heathered plum, and royal blue-

There are 20 kinds of bottom-weight double knit fabrics to choose from, so check them out. http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Bottom-Weight-Fabrics/

2008-08-09T20:02:00.001-07:00

New Rhinestone buckle styles! I am so excited.
Here is an important tip when shopping for rhinestone buckles. Be sure you read all of the measurements in the product description. I have seen a lot of sites that only give one measurement and does not specify what this means -- is this the inside or the outside? If it's not listed, ask before buying.

The industry standard is to primarily use the inside center bar measurement (as listed below). That way you know right away what size ribbon or strap will go through it. For example, in the square buckle shown below, a 5/8" ribbon slides through exactly. Of course you could use a wider ribbon for a gathered effect (the one in the photo is 7/8"), but the inside center bar measurement is the minimum you would want to use. Our online product catalog lists this dimension first, and gives all the other measurements in the detailed product description.

15mm / 5/8" square rhinestone slide buckle:
Heart-shaped rhinestone buckle with a horizontal bar - this way you can put them on straps and ribbons that go up and down. This is little and dainty - very cute. It would make good hair bows for small dogs. This is a one-time purchase at this special price.

25mm / 1" round rhinestone buckle .

2008-07-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

Special Stuff at lucysfabrics.com!
Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more - only through Friday
Sizzling Summer Sale - 1st quality knit fabrics as low as $3 / yd.

Brand New Additions -- Check out 5 pages of new stuff!
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Here are some fun cotton knit prints for your summer pleasure... just added in the last couple of days and only $5.50/yd. Quantities are limited. These include cotton baby jersey, 100% cotton interlock, and soft cotton baby rib.

See all the new products here: (5 pages) http://www.lucysfabrics.com/products_new.php

Less than 2 days left.... FREE SHIPPING
on orders of $75 or more
in the Continental USA! 

Offer is only through midnight CST Friday, July 25.

This includes sale items. Be sure to check out all 3 pages:
http://www.lucysfabrics.com/specials.php


Many are summer fabrics that you can wear now.

And on top of all of this you still have
volume discounts which apply
automatically at checkout.
Volume Discounts: Any Product, Any Time... No Codes!
5% off $50 or more
10% off $100 or more
12.5% off $200 or more

2008-07-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, Lucy? Where is your eBay store?

OK, we did not get kicked off eBay or anything. I decided to suspend our eBay store (only), lucysfabrics, from July 15-August 15. We are still very much in business, still shipping orders and accepting payment for items that have not gone out yet, and still available to answer any questions.

Since many of my customers are also former, current or prospective eBay sellers, I wanted to give you some background. I have met many wonderful and highly valued customers through eBay, but as many of you may know, eBay is not the place it once was two years ago. And neither is Lucysfabrics.com. Our website revenue far dwarfs the eBay business. It also takes a fraction of the time to list products and fulfill orders compared to eBay.

I always say, "Never underestimate the ability of people to kill the goose that laid the golden egg," and eBay is a perfect example. eBay has made a lot of changes lately, which while irritating, I can live with -- if they were bringing in eyeballs like they did even a year ago. eBay is the most expensive selling venue on the Internet, which is why you will see 15% higher prices on eBay compared to lucysfabrics.com. That does not even cover the additional labor eBay orders take. In the past the additional traffic made the cost worthwhile, but my website pages actually have more traffic than my eBay pages do now.

When you own your own business, and you are not happy or inspired, you have only one person to blame. Something has to go. What is stressing me out the most? I have to say it's eBay. There is a threat of having to revise and re-revise over 100 listings due to constant policy revisions, as well as a significant pricing change looming "before the holidays." Uh, has anyone at eBay ever looked at a merchandising calendar? From a retail buying perspective this IS the holidays.

So, maybe in a month I will discover that the stress is worth it, that I really do need eBay. Or maybe, since they are constantly revising and re-revising their new policies, they will settle on some changes, pricing or otherwise, that make business sense.

We are still here to support our customers 100%, in a fast, friendly and professional manner - as always since 2004.

2008-07-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

Click on the above link to see the specials - there are 3 pages worth!
I have gotten in so much new stuff, please help me make some room!

Now on to the NEW STUFF!
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I have acquired several European rayon-jersey prints and solids, which won't last long. Nothing beats the comfort of this luxurious fabric for summer. Some of the prints are extremely groovy.

See the full selection here: (2 pages) http://www.lucysfabrics.com/Fashion-Knits/Rayon-Jersey/

2008-07-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

CONTEST TIME!

Enter the "One Fabric: Knits" Contest on Patternreview.com

Check out the Patternreview.com website for the rules and instructions. Mainly, it needs to be made of A KNIT fabric (only the best, of course). And, you must have been a member of Pattern Review for at least 90 days by the contest starting date. Free or paying membership qualifies. (So in this case, April 2nd or earlier qualifies).

So unfortunately if you are not already a member, you can't enter, but I highly suggest becoming a member anyway because you will get lots of cool ideas and support from the group.

First prize is a $75 gift certificate, second prize is a $50 gift certificate from yours truly. Thank goodness, it is not I who decides. The members will vote. I sponsored the costume contest too, and it was amazing! The winners made costume ensembles that could have been in movies.

So, get goin' since the deadline is the end of this month. Here are some new knit fabrics to get you started...