Sewing Vloggers

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Banksville Fabrics, NAYY....

The journey to make a Chanel jacket has been challenging. First there was the pattern. Then there was the fabric. Then there was Summerset. She kindly sent me her Vogue 8259 to trace off. ( I am halfway done that job.) Then when I mentioned my frustration in finding a choice of boucles, she stepped up to the plate again. She suggested I try Banksville Fabrics in Norwalk, CT. I will be eternally greatful. I now feel that my little square of the Adirondacks has access to wonderful, wonderful fabrics. Thank you so much, Summerset.

I must first tell you all the only thing I knew of Banksville Fabrics was that they were often used by designers featured in Threads. So the name was not unfamiliar. What I didn't know is that they are a "swatching service" as opposed to an on-line fabric e-tailer. For ten dollars you sign up and that entitles you to 36 swatches. You can e-mail, fax, or phone them about your request. They prefer phone calls. When you call, you get either the wonderful Margo or the equally special Lori. I dealt with Margo and she was just as excited about my project as I was. She was in no hurry to get me off the phone. We talked about my project, the pattern, the colors, what I didn't want, what I did want, the linings, etc. I got the feeling she knew exactly what I wanted and was so excited to go pick fabrics for me. Today I received my swatches.


Lots of swatches. I have many choices of the color boucles I wanted. Margo picked out coordinating silk charmeuse for the linings as well. DH and I poured over the options, ending up wanting about 4 different jackets made! I will hone in on one shortly.

It is so good to know I have choices. So now I am on my way to make my Chanel jacket. I will definitely be asking for help and have joined the Go Chanel or Go Home blog for additional support. I love doing handwork so this should be right up my alley and I am looking forward to all the stitching. Next step is to buy my fabric, finish tracing the pattern and get it back where it belongs, and make a muslin. I'm excited....Bunny


16 comments:

  1. What a choice! Some really nice ones :) I have that pattern (somewhere, can't seem to find it since the move) and fabric to go. So when I find the pattern.....

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  2. They are a really nice company to deal with. If you know what you want to make they are the perfect source and no one sends as many choices. It's like having the store in your house.

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  3. Wow! They are generous with their time, fabric (big swatches), and options! Amazing. Sounds like wonderful customer service! Good luck, I'm sure your jacket will be gorgeous!

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  4. Thank you for sharing your experience with Banksville. I've considered trying the swatching service for a project. Now that I see all the wonderful options they sent you, I can't wait to try them.

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  5. Gorgeous selection of fabrics. The swatches look large enought to get a good feel for the fabric, too.
    Good luck getting your decision made! I bet it won't be easy to pick just one.

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  6. Lucky you - those are some really amazing swatches.

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  7. You're welcome! I've worked with Margo, and she is really wonderful. She even called me back when a lining wasn't going to be quite right, after checking in different lights and with other colleagues, wanting to know if I wanted the better matched lining. I have a student working on her Chanel jacket at the moment, so this will be exciting to see yours take shape.

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  8. Great customer service, that is something that is almost extinct. Looking forward to see your Channel jacket.

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  9. Isn't it the best feeling when you're excited about a project? I love that feeling. I know you wil make a beautiful thing, because you always do.

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  10. Ooh yummy swatches! I can't wait to see which fabric choices you make.

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  11. I can't wait to see your jacket. It would be hard for me to choose just one from those beautiful swatches!!! They are all gorgeous. I know your jacket will be stunning!!
    Sara

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  12. Gorgeous choices!!! Which one will you choose? I'm excited :)

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  13. Questioning the title - shouldn't that be YAYY rather than NAYY? It sounds like you're deliriously happy and the swatches look stunning. I like that they are arranged in color groupings, too.

    I've never gotten their swatches because I live so close that I can just drive there. Unbelievable in person! They have exquisite taste and all the fabrics are stunning and the quality is always top rate. If you ever have the chance to go there, do some major saving first because you won't be able to resist all the goodies.

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  14. Lovely swatches and thank you for the reference to the swatching service. I will have to keep them in mind. Looking forward to sewing the jacket.

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  15. You have some amazing possibilities here...it will be interesting to see which one you choose!

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  16. I came across this and had to add something - I first encountered Banksville fabric when - well, they were in the Quonset hut on Banksville Rd .. I introduced my SIL from San Diego - a better seamstress - and she summed it up: usually when you are searching for a special fabric - you have to look at innumerable fabrics that - well, just don't make it. You might settle for the something almost what you had in mind. At Banksville - you have the other problem - how do you rule out all the wonderful possibilities before you? And it takes a tough woman to stop from overbuying.

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