If there's one thing that keeps me in my sewing comfort zone, it's my reliance on stable, easy-to-handle fabrics. Just look at all my cotton poplin tops and twill pants. That these materials are low-maintenance in terms of care and laundering, and casual enough for daily wear are huge factors for why I pick them in the first place. It's not that I feel guilty for not challenging myself with more difficult fabrics, but I do lament that I don't often let myself use them because realistically, I will not wear the clothes I make with them. I would still like the opportunity to work with them for the sake of learning something new.
I went looking for and found a woven, 100% cotton velveteen because I thought it might give me a vague idea of what sewing real velvet made from silk would be like. And having both the luxe look of velvet and the ability to machine wash and dry (absolutely huge, so crucial, a necessary attribute) was too attractive to resist. The fabric is 44" wide which gave me a great excuse to make my second pair of Jones Trousers. And in purple, because it's the one color that's not already in my wardrobe. I'm happy with what I ended up with.
