Close to being stumped with this one!

 Don't go shopping at quilt shops, even if they are the high end types like Quilted Threads of Henniker, NH. With tongue in cheek, I will tell you why in a moment! I loved this store and sorely miss them. Their owner retired. They were filled with the most glorious textiles, including a small room of Japanese fabrics, oh , my. There were gorgeous garment fabrics as well, not many, but very nice quality. 

The above two pics are the last fabric I purchased at this gem of a store. Their colors and ombre effect blew me away. I saw a shirt, oversize button down, in its future. I found the pattern and it's time has come. Here I go ready to cut.

SURPRISE! The exquisite plants are directional, going one way up the warp of the fabric. The ombre effect goes a different way, dark to light across the weft of the fabric. I spent two entire afternoons trying to make this work. I was using my favorite button down shirt. I could not get it to work. I gave up and went digging for another shirt pattern, any. The fabric is a very nice quality cotton broadcloth so right there many shirt/blouse patterns didn't make the cut, too heavy, too structured, too quilty. Ugh. I kept looking. Eventually I found a second pattern. one sort of color blocked and oversized style. It was still a button down, too. 

I liked how I could color block the sections and maybe make this fabric work.  Another afternoon and more playing around. About an hour into it I made a decision. I ditched the idea of a solid back and decided if I put a seam down CB, this would allow me some leeway. It really didn't. Back to square one! I knew what parts of the textile I wanted where. It was the bodice that was giving me grief. Finally I decided I would not make any effort to be directional. It was just impossible.  Try again, no. Let's just go to bed and sleep on it. 

Next day I got up  with a Eureka moment. After giving up yesterday I decided to clean up a huge old cupboard I have in my sewing area. I found all my heirloom trims and so much more, lots of amazing things. I got it all organized, back in perfect order. Best yet, I got an idea and I think it will work.  Organizing and sorting has always brought me to inspiration. 

I cut the pattern pieces out paying attention to the ombre coloring only and as best I could. I totally disregarded the direction of the plants. The print is so busy, you don't notice much. I laid out my pieces as they would be worn.  Then I stared. 

Next move was to go back to the old cupboard and pull out my trims. I thought if I had something cohesive to pull the disparate colors and directions together it might be the trick. I dumped out my treasures and started to play. I definitely found this to be a good solution. 

This trim, at least 80 years old, as I know the full history of its source, looked lovely. It is a hand made lace from my hoarding great aunt.  But what you see above is not the final story. I will save that for the surprise. At least I am happy and hopefully won't look like I am on my way to a Jimmy Buffet concert in my beautiful botanical print, which I actually wouldn't mind right about this mid February.  This top will have a collar and stand  and button band down the fron. The dark blue is a deep double hem. I'm excited and can't wait to show you all the results. Fingers crossed.

Oh, why not shop in quilt shops? Because this project  taught me that the fabric in quilt shops is designed to be cut up for quilts, not clothing. Think of this fabric being cut into squares or other shapes that are all different colors and once cut they perfectly coordinate, all from one piece of fabric.  Brilliant, right? This was never meant to be a garment. I'll show'em!

Happy sewing.....Bunny