Creating: Fabric stores in Miami Dade and Broward County, Florida

One question  new Fashion Design students ask  is:  Where are the fabric  stores?

I decided to compile a list of the ones  I have visited with pictures and comments.  This list will be growing as I learn of more.

Arnold's Fabrics and Trim 12918 NW 7th Ave North Miami, FL 33168

Located off of 441 in North Miami, Arnold's Fabrics and Trim is easy to miss, as it is in a small and narrow strip store block.  The parking lot is difficult to maneuver in and the side lot  has broken glass and trash.

Inside are piles of bolts, all unlabeled.  If you need to know the fiber content of your fabrics, this is not the store to shop. And don't ask the help to tell you what the fabrics are they will look at the fabric from afar and just say anything, don't believe the answer- they don't know what it is. Tables are labeled  $1, $3, $4 and they have some notions and zippers.  The quality of fabric is definitely - you get what you pay for. 

Fabrics for Less 19954 NW 2nd Ave Miami, FL 33169-2904

This is a small fabric store that doesn't have a clearance or red tag section.  I noticed, swimsuit fabrics, special occasion fabrics, suitings, and home decor fabrics.  Prices range from 5.99 to 12.99 a yard on average.  The selection of fabrics is very small compared to the other fabric stores I have visited so far.

Isa Couture Fabrics 200 NE 30th St Miami, FL 33137

If you want to have fine fabrics from Valentino and other couture designers, then this is the place you want to shop.  There are tags that list the fiber content of each fabric. Each section is divided and labeled according to type of fabric.  There are no price tags and if you are shopping here then price is no object.  While I was there a customer asked  how much for a yard.  I heard  $65.. and I walked out of the store.

Parking is on the street and the when you go inside there is a big sign reminding you of this.

Joann Fabrics 4700 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33021

In this picture the store looks neat.  I complimented an employee about it and she said  they were rolling the fabric for inventory.  I wish they always did this.  The store is usually beyond messy and hard to shop the fabric section because there are fabrics on the floor and in the wrong place. The new employees are not that helpful, nice, or knowledgeable about sewing and crafts.  However  you can get free samples of the fabric at this store.  Parking is ample and free.

Joann Fabrics 7706 N Kendall Dr, Miami, FL

This is a big Joann's with plenty of apparel fabrics.  The rows and rows of fabrics are neatly organized and priced.  Each section has a lot of each type of fabric.  For example the selection of suiting materials is more extensive than the Joann Hollywood, Florida store.

There is a wide range of notions as well.  The stores appears clean and the customers were quiet on the day I went.

Ultra Fabrics 8584 SW 40th St Miami, FL 33155

This store is a dream.  Gorgeous prints!  Good prices  5.99- to 12 dollars on average.
Plenty of fabrics to choose from and they have clearance fabrics. I didn't have time to shop, but I will soon!

Joann's Fabrics

Joann's Fabrics
Joann's Fabrics
Joann's Fabrics

Nunez
Carol
Rosa
Rex Fabrics

Creating: Patternmaking class Week 1

Well,  I finally got to meet Jill Odermann.  She is the teacher for the patternmaking class I am taking on Sundays this summer.  Now I am definitely sad  the fashion design class was cancelled, but at the same time  still  remember  it was for the best.   Jill Odermann  definitely is a WIZ KID at pattern drafting..  She can  whip up a bodice in about 5 minutes... even.less if she wasn't talking to us. A girl in my class drove two hours  to take this class and this is her second time taking it!  I am excited  to see what  I can create  after  having slopers to use for pattern drafting.  Here is a picture of the paper pattern  from class.  For homework  I have to sew a muslin..

Creating: Learn to Sew week 5

This week everyone brought in their patterns and the teacher helped everyone trace them and cut out the fabric pieces.  I couldn't believe that we actually were going to start a project.  I was still working on my Aline skirt  and trying to remember how to do sports seams.  We also  learned button holes and  how to sew a button- a very valuable skill that was more difficult than I thought it would be to learn.  For homework  we have to do three button holes and buttons and actually  close with one another.

Here is a picture of the french seam that I did in Organdy for homework  from last class.

I have so much to do now.  I have to get fabric for my final project, cut it and  get ready to sew it for next class!!  Plus all my homework for fashion design class.

Creating: Learn to Sew week 4

So  it is week four  of learn to sew and this week was strange to say the least.  We were locked out of our class for an hour because security  didn't open the door.  Another teacher stole our classroom in the rudest  way possible..And two student  from another class came to our session and took most of the teacher's energy.

I finally learned how to do a French seam on the upside..

Step one to a french seam- sew a seam with the wrong side facing together and the right sides of the fabric facing outward.

Miami Dade non credit courses seem disorganized.  I dropped one class  I was going to take.  I called and they said it was under enrolled... and I am hoping to take one more course that Starts on Sunday, I am hoping that the teacher has assignments  in which we produce something right away.

Creating: Learn to Sew Class Week 3

June 8, 2013, class thinned out a little bit - less people showed up.  I really  don't blame them.  All we are doing is drill and kill assignments.  If are super new to sewing  I could see how this could be a turn off.  I thankfully know a little  something about sewing,  so these drill and kill assignments  are more like  tests  of my ability  to be accurate.  It tests my patience too, and I have re-named the class  "The Zen of Sewing."  The teacher Rucht  is getting more strict.  Even though it is a noncredit class, she checks the homework  and expects  that you give it your all.

Last week was about  sewing hems.  This week  I thought  was about  seams..  which is what I really  wanted to learn, but she changed it to pleats.  Yes, pleats!!! So  we did  one inch side pleats  and box pleats..  and the homework is  to practice.  I just might rebel  and show up with my first  made from scratch skirt instead, because that is really  what I want to do this week.

one inch side pleats

half inch side pleats

box pleat

Creating: Learn to Sew Class Week 2

The homework  from last week also included  taking measurements. Again this week  the homework included taking measurements.  Nothing is being made in the class; it is just sewing straight lines so far.

The homework and classwork this week  included  working on creating hems.  Getting the stitches as close to the edge as possible.

 My goal is to try to the get the stitches as consistently spaced from the edge as possible.

Creating: Learn to Sew Class Week 1

I got into the Miami Dade College sewing class Learn to Sew Summer 2013.  The original teacher scheduled for the class decided  not to teach it and lucky for me  the new teacher Rucht D'Oleo decided to take the class.  When I found out she was the teacher I was excited!  She is a professional in the fashion industry.

The class supply list is as follows:

1. Pins and hand sewing needles with cushion
2. Dotted pattern paper (this one has been challenging to find a source, so I don't have any yet.)
3. Fabric scissors and paper scissors
4. Seam ripper
5. Threads
6. Thread clipper
7.  Curve and straight rulers
8. Tape measurement
9. Transparent tape
10. Mechanical pencil 07
11. Notcher ( still need to get this)
12. Tailor chalk
13.  5 yards of Muslin fabric
14. Tracing wheel (plan on getting a better one)

*Loop tuner

*Awl

*3 yards of your favorite fabric for the last project

* pattern hangers

*suggested but not required 

The homework is to practice measuring figures and  sewing straight lines on muslin.

Creating: Fashion Design Class Miami Dade College a dud

I signed up for the  Fashion Design class with Jill Odermann as the teacher  at Hammock Middle  and the class was cancelled  2 hours and 45 minutes  before the class!  To me that is not cool  -I have things  I had planned out  to go there. And I was already there, I drove an hour to get there.  I missed the email  that was sent cancelling the class because I was driving there.  I just  thought Miami Dade College's policy to cancel  that  last  minute  is disrespectful to everyone's time. it is making me rethink the other  class I signed  up for.  i know the universe is doing me a favor though and for that  I am thankful, even though it doesn't feel good  now  because I was looking forward to the class.