Buying US Imported Designer Cotton Fabric in Malaysia

Amy Butler, Ann Kelle, Robert Kaufman, Michael Miller, Alexander Henry. You've read and heard them all online and yes, consumed by jealousy over those gorgeous prints on craft blogs from overseas. Here's where I bring you the happy news, there are shops in Malaysia that carry those designers as well!

There are plenty of shops selling printed cotton somewhat similar to these fabric designs and cost cheaper. But really, once you're seen, felt and bought these designer fabrics of high quality, there's no turning back! Colours are more vibrant with unique patterns and thicker in weight. Currently priced at about RM40-RM50 per yard (about 10 cm less than a meter)

Here's a little list of my places to go to quench my designer cotton thirst.

Checkout that selection of chevron fabric =D

1. Yee Button SS2 Petaling Jaya
They do have a facebook page and you're able to buy online but I personally love to drop by their brightly lit fabric and craft shop just cause it inspires me! They even sell fat quarters of those fabrics, pricing about RM10 a piece. This is also your go to place to buy Minky fabric and also cashel fabric for cross stitching!

2. Shambijoux Shop
This little lady from Terengganu has quite an extensive imported cotton catalogue on her site http://shambijoux.com/ and one of my favourite shops cause there are just too many choices and yo can even ask her if she has those not on the list. But she normally takes pre-orders and it takes about 2 weeks for the stuff to arrive. That's when I drop by other places on my list.

3. Fabric Fanatics
Situated in Subang Summit, this is the go to place to get loads of craft supplies and even attend classes like book binding and bad making. They normally have zakka fabric (Japanese feel fabrics) but are bringing in the big ones like Ann Kelly and Michael Miller.


4. D'Amani Cotton Therapy
Visit http://damanicottontherapy.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/DAmani-Cottontherapy/ for a list of their fabric supplies

5. Cottage Patch, Ampang
Across Ampang Point. This is a really old establishment and has a really big collection of fabric on hand. It may remind you of your granny's place but you really need to stay a while and take out fabrics one at a time to really see its treasures. Not sure if you can find recent designers there, but it's a great place for quilters an fabric lovers!

So there you are, a list of my suggested places to shop for designer cotton fabric. If you know more places, I'd love to know where. Always on the search for new fabric places.

P/S: Good news is, I'm in dealing to bringing in juicy imported Korean Designer fabric soon. So stay tuned by subscribing to my blog or on my Instagram @dzaltastic OR my facebook page :)

Toddler Bookpack DIY

Aidi's really into books and I have to make sure I have at least one kids book in my (enormous) purse to entertain him when we're on the go. Decided it's about time that he carried his own books and bags, cause really, add that to mummy's gadgets (and even dad's sometimes), it's a load too much!

Rummaged through my kiddy fabric stash and found these coordinating fabrics and a zipper to match. Score! Came up with my own toddler backpack pattern and made this square bag just the right size for his board books and his little water bottle.

That feeling you get when you make something for your kid and he doesn't want to take it off? Sheer bliss~

Much love, 

The Malaysian Batik Purse Clutch

Malaysian batik never seems to bore me. I think they're beautiful in their own unique way differentiating itself from the Indonesian batik and the designers' popping up now a days. So I took out my stash of Malaysian printed batik, made a purse pattern for a 7 inch zip and tada! Will add on a strap to turn it into a wrislet cause my smart phone fits nicely in it.

More colours will be added to this collection cause it just looks to pretty and vintage-y. Aidi, on the other hand, decided that the purse would work better as a remote control holder.

How I Made the Snap Clutch Handbag Purse

I've been keeping this set of Korean Imported fabric for a while now. Ordered it directly from Korea from a friend of mine. Been waiting for the right time to use it. And it came. Yes it did! For someone extremely important in my life. (Will update more on that once I give the bag to her!)

Now, I'm no purse maker. This was my first time buying a metal snap frame and I just wasn't sure how to do it. Luckily, there's the internet and I found this wonderful tutorial at Guthrie & Ghani. I started off by making a pattern for the frame since mine measured bigger than in the tute.

The frame I bought measured about 10 inches across and I wanted it to be 6 inches deep. Normally I'd go all experimente and just cut the fabric without making a dummy, but this fabric was just too pretty to make any mistakes and I only had fat quarters of each material. So I carefully cut out my pattern using some remnant linen and once I was satisfied, cut out all the pieces for the purse. I also added some batting and interfacing to give the purse some body.

I coaxed hubs to get me some fabric/metal glue cause that was the one thing I left out. Duh! Luckily he can never say no to a trip to the hardware store. Once I got the glue, I secured the completed purse body to the metal frame. It took me a while to get use to gluing the fabric into place. Plus, the glue didn't come with a nozzle so I had to use a wooden stick to get the glue in the right place. Cloth pegs and paper clips came in real handy at certain places. The purse turned out so pretty once the glue set that now I feel like I need to make another one for myself. 

Credit goes to hubs for getting me the glue and to my little wear and tear tester. Yes, mummy makes things with her hands and you destroy them with your little ones. We make a great team baby! 

My first time with knit fabric

Received my little pack of sewing stuff and fabric from Japan a while back. Happy happy as can be!

It's been super hard to find cute knit fabric in Malaysia, so was looking forward to get these knit fabric for the little one (If you do know of a place, please tell me and I'd forever be grateful >.<). Couldn't personally choose the fabric patterns but I asked for boyish designs from my relative who was coming back from Japan, just so I could make something for Aidi.

I was expecting a thinner type of knit, more t-shirt like, but I love the designs nonetheless. Was informed that they had cute girly designs but I still don't have a little girl to splurge my money on and part of the fun is making stuff for my baby. To be on the safe side, I only bought 1 meter of each design and my first knit project was a simple 'shorts' project.

My first impression of knit? The heavier weight of the fabric made serging (jahit tepi) easy. Yet, when the edges rolled up, I came to realise why the shape of the footer was in the shape of an L. To unravel the rolled edge causing it to travel flat under the needle.

I don't know about you but I found it much easier to serge twice. The first stitches helped bind the fabric thus no more edge rolls on the second round. Made this in about 15 minutes! Inserted the elastic band for the waist and my boy now has his own knit shorts. Ta daa! 

Hubby came home and was jealous of the little pumpkin's shorts and demanded one for him too. Well, will have to see what I can whip up next with the fabric I have left.