October Haul 2018

[@seamsuneven7824]

Nikki....You are sooo Hilarious!!! I am living vicariously through you and your shopping trips!!!!☺☺😍 You are my kinda girl! I love your personality!

[@SewingatMidnight]

Oh, get ready for the last haul of the year, should be posting it right around Christmas. Bear with me, I am trying to keep the content coming while I pack up an entire house by myself! I am so glad to have you with me!

[@StitchesSeams]

Oh my, loads of yummy fabrics. That purple basket weave would be an amazing jacket, I can picture it in my head 🤣.

[@SewingatMidnight]

I am definitely on board with jackets, I love them! I wonder about a sheath dress/jacket combo suit type of deal... I don't need that sort of stuff, but it certainly would be cool if my life ever changes... I will think on it.

[@teresacasteel6106]

It’s Thursday !!!!! My favorite day I get to watch Niki!!!!!!!!!

[@SewingatMidnight]

Welcome to the party Teresa! Hope you had a blast with me!

[@SewAndCher]

Awesome fabric haul! I love all the colorful fabric in the background!

[@SewingatMidnight]

I do too! I find it inspiring when I am looking at new projects to try.

[@couturehelvetica1261]

Hello! A highly entertaining video, as always! That story about your job, thought... :D I laughed out loud while watching it. The people on the bus looked at me, like I was slightly crazy. Note for posterity - only watch/listen to boring stuff while commuting to work... The fabrics look awesome - the steel grey one is so pretty! I don't know why, but I instantly thought of a Toaster Sweater-like make. There is a new-ish off the shoulder Burda pattern that I would love to make in that colour - so automnal! I can't wait to see what you make from the double sided fabric - it will be such an interesting piece.

[@SewingatMidnight]

I am looking at a bunch of fabric manipulation stuff on Pinterest for that jacket. I saw some really interesting techniques on there that I wanted to try. I love that gray ponte, and its shockingly soft for a ponte, the texture is really nice. Although I don't want people to think you're crazy, I am glad that I was able to cause an outburst like that. I love it! Laughing keeps us sane.

[@donnamcknight4561]

Your back stories for each piece of fabric you purchase is comical! You have your work cut out for you! Good luck and God Bless!

[@SewingatMidnight]

Donna, there is always a story to explain it, isn't there! I think its a coping mechanism for my hopeless addiction!

[@loriannpayne4483]

I have Wiggle Weights too (2 sets). I was thinking that they were around $20 per set. I feel your anxiousness about “getting it all done” before the end of October. My England trips starts in TEN DAYS and I have yet to make my fancy dress for the two Soirées. I did cut it out and it’s on my cutting table ready to sew now. Love listening to your waffle. OK, I’m going in...

[@SewingatMidnight]

Oh, how exciting! I hope you have an absolute blast! I don't know why we do this to ourselves, maybe its the excitement of being down to the wire... Good luck and I hope you get it done in time!

[@lindabiron7924]

Loved seeing your "haul"! What a lucky dad you have! The wiggle weights really intrigued me, so I Googled it, and on pattern review they had a tutorial of sorts, which was helpful. It said for the weights to go to a hunting/fishing store and get steel "shot"--steel being safer than lead.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Linda, that's a really good plan, I saw bits of the tutorial as well, I think that's the best we can do until the lady who makes them sells them online. I asked about the lead in the weights and she said she used coated pellets, so I should be ok, but I wouldn't recommend using lead unless you knew it was the exact right stuff. I hope you figure it out!

[@donnamcknight4561]

Thanks all! I definitely will reach out!

[@fallgirl07]

The black and white double face fabric would be a cute waterfall jacket/coat. And you can underline (instead of lining) the itchy fabric for pants if you end up choosing to make that with it.

[@SewingatMidnight]

I like the premise of the waterfall jacket, but that fabric has almost no drape at all. Its like a very stiff woven scuba? I don't know how to describe it, its got the drape of a printed canvas, so I don't think it would work. I think underlining is an awesome idea, I have done it on a jacket before and while it was a pain in the ass, I would totally do it again! Great ideas Cierra!

[@karina543]

😂😂😂 sorry for laughing 😆 you really deserve that beer 😂 great haul! Those pattern weighs look perfect! Think I have to try to make some one day. Thank you so much 😊

[@SewingatMidnight]

They really are great, I was pretty impressed with them. I drank that beer and enjoyed every minute of it!

[@barbarasews2799]

A lot of great fabric. I enjoyed watching. Happy sewing.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Thank you, I had a good time showing you guys.

[@vivmomsews4962]

Awww a shoutout for me! Thanks ever so much, what a sweetie.💕 Sorry your Walmart let you down. And that you don’t have a Hobby Lobby in proximity (I really don’t either, but I’ll make the drive) as their pattern sales whip up on tired old Joann. I adore the riot of colors on the shelves behind you!! You had wonderful, beautiful things to show us! Expo goods! A Fabric Mart field trip! (I totally agree about the store being more trouble than the website. But they are so nice in there. And if you hit sales, it’s heaven.) Fabric standouts for me: I would sew that blue/green lining print into a dress, stat. I adore the pink stripe rayon challis. Btw, you are a stripe rock star. You pick ‘em well and you sew ‘em well and of course you wear ‘em well.👏👏 I love the heathered charcoal ponte. Also wanted to say that your dad is a lucky guy! He’s going to love all the items you’ve chosen to sew for him and he will TREASURE them!💝 I’ve never ordered from fabric.com (although I erroneously said I did in a video a while back) - they just irk me. Inflated prices, minimum yardage required, and I’ve heard some horror stories, so I’m not terribly surprised that the ponte from them is not stellar. Oh! And I love your herringbone denim. All in all another fab video! Thank you!! (The story about work was quite telling. I will pray for your fortitude on the job. Whoa. It can’t be easy!)

[@SewingatMidnight]

Of course a shoutout for you! I live out in the middle of nowhere so I should have known that they would have NOTHING!! Luckily, Joann came through for me in the end, but just barely. I ended up with what I needed to bust this costume out and now I just need to buckle down and get through it. I will only have a week to make it happen! I think that blue green would make a cute dress, it certainly would feel nice, I am just such a sissy about the cold in the winter, I don't know if I could bear it. I may wait till summer and make it a dress, it would be very floaty and pretty. My poor pops has been waiting for one shirt since last spring! I figure I owe him a few more items just to make up for it. I use fabric.com when I need something very specific, and yellow ponte was about as specific as it gets for me! I am glad it will be a one time use type of thing, I cant imagine having that stuff touch my skin for much longer than that!

[@AdirondackRuby]

Hey now, farts are super glamorous! LOL! Love the new angle. All the primary colors behind you made me feel happy. "Yes! No no no no." I have a cat, so I can totally relate.

[@SewingatMidnight]

She only likes to get into things when I am clearly in the middle of doing something else!! She is a rascal and I love her. I rarely ever let the sewing room get cluttered enough to have to sit there, but I am in the middle of some craziness and I needed the space. I will be back to my chair next time, but I may be able to shuffle the fabric around to keep it more exciting.

[@AdirondackRuby]

It's a cats perogative. Ignore you when you talk to them, but then absolutely need to invade your personal space while try to talk on the phone, eat dinner, type out a message, drink a hot beverage. And on and on.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Its what makes them so loveable.

[@Hide_and_silk]

Great haul! That boucle is just gorgeous - I really want to make a little jacket in boucle...have the pattern but can't find the fabric! Can't wait to see what you make with the B&W fabric! Love the colour of that striped jersey. Love the purple with the little black crosses - super cool! The black linen is stunning!

[@SewingatMidnight]

Kathie, apparently I was in a very plum kind of mood these past months! I have so much fabric and so little time, I have no idea when I am going to get to any of it! Lucky for me, being surrounded by fabric is more inspiring than it is overwhelming, so I will figure it out. I need to start tackling these projects one at a time and just knuckle down and get a move on!

[@donnamcknight4561]

Both you and Mimi g have me hoarding fabric and I can’t even sew! LOL!

[@SewingatMidnight]

I like to think of it as filling my sewing room with inspiration for the future! Stash away, but I highly recommend giving sewing a try, you know I think you can do anything!

[@StayStitching]

Get started, sister! You can learn everything you need to know right here on YT! If you get stuck, ask one of us, we'll help!!

[@StitchesSeams]

Welcome friend!

[@paulamattsson99]

Hi Niki what a haul ☺ for the Boucle fabric I would have that moore colorful side as the right side 🤔

[@SewingatMidnight]

I may do something where the wrong side shows, how fun would that be. Then I get the best of both worlds! Thanks for watching Paula!

[@rachelwible6070]

I feel ya!!!! I used to work with all retired cops....... loved them but ...... man was it a little hard!

[@SewingatMidnight]

It wears on you sometimes, other times it can be very refreshing. I have learned a lot from observing the male species over the years!

[@christinemartin9449]

Hi from U.K. Enjoyed your video, as usual. Have you noticed? You have a definite stripe thing going on! I am with you on the chocking thing, pepper will hit the back of my throat at the most inopportune times! Look forward to your next video.

[@SewingatMidnight]

I do have a stripe thing Christine! I notice it all the time, but what I am really noticing is that I need to use the stripes more often. I have made a conscious resolution to go after my striped fabrics more often. I tend more toward geometric prints and stripes than florals. God, the pepper situation is a trial, isn't it? I am usually the most embarrassing person in a restaurant, good to know I am in good company with you!

[@lilolmecj]

I always need to add length on menswear, I usually don’t do muslins per se, more I make a pattern the first time in something I don’t “love”. That chevron type is cool!

[@SewingatMidnight]

I love that chevron too, I think it would look cool peeking out from a coat or jacket! I sometimes do a wearable test, but I keep a closet full of trash fabric for things that truly are a test. I have never made men's clothing before, so I figure I'll use the junk fabrics and see how it goes!

[@laurajones4088]

Great haul! Love the reversible black & white-can't wait to see what you do with it.😍The striped linen is gorgeous- something with the stripes changing direction? Love all of it. Vivmom buys New Look at Walmart for $2.97. Hobby Lobby has sales of Simplicity for .99 . I seem to miss it every time so wait for sales at JoAnn's. Happy sewing 😊

[@SewingatMidnight]

Laura, I cant shop at hobby lobby and my Walmart has no patterns, so I am at the mercy of the Joann pattern sale cycle. Normally they have a sale all the time, except when I desperately need something, then of course there is absolutely nothing. That's just my luck, right? I like your thinking with the striped linen, maybe a little paneled dress where I could bias cut the panels and make chevrons? Maybe a shirt with diagonal stripes on the yoke and button placket? What are you thinking, any good ideas I can pick out of your brain?

[@laurajones4088]

I don't have anything specific-was thinking it would look cool with chevron stripes or vertical/horizontal. I'm making S8601 in a stripe. If you try this pattern, check the shoulder fit- I had to do a forward shoulder adjustment because my muslin was wonky. Happy sewing 😊

[@conniebuchner4715]

Great finds! 💞

[@SewingatMidnight]

Thanks Connie, I had a good time shopping these past few months!

[@beverlygiesbrecht1604]

The weights we use here are not so large around but they are make of the same black nylon tube material ;furthermore, they remind me of the weights I used when I went salmon fishing here in Oregon They keep you from snagging the bottom of the rivers,

[@SewingatMidnight]

Ha! Maybe salmon fishing is where this gal got the idea! I think it wouldn't be too hard to make them yourself, if you could find lead pellets that were coated to keep them safe, it would just be a matter of sewing up some little tricot tubes for them.

[@nancywaines8871]

Wow, love all the colours behind you! How about a video on your diy seam binding please?

[@SewingatMidnight]

Nancy, I am a huge fan of bold bright colors. I can do a tutorial on the method I use, I make continuous bias tape, I find it easier to make large quantities that way.

[@nancywaines8871]

That would be greatly appreciated! I love the look and would love to accent with it. Thanks Nikki. ✌️✌️

[@crumpetsteaandsewing]

Nikki, how is it that your Walmart don’t have Simplicity Patterns? This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this! Those pattern weights are so cute and fun looking! Love the haul! I love the chevron/stripe material! How fun! And that Boucle fabric is beautiful! I’ve been looking for a good boucle piece! You got a good one! Very nice haul! Thanks for sharing!

[@SewingatMidnight]

I live in the middle of nowhere! Basically, they have a little bit of fabric, mostly the type of stuff you would need for crafts or costumes and stuff like that. They don't have a single pattern there! I was really disappointed. I am a boucle fanatic! I love sewing with it (except for the fraying) and I think the riot of colors and textures you get is amazing! I highly recommend boucle!

[@SewNaturalDane]

Oh my gosh...that is HILARIOUS about work. Makes you just want to hit them with something! I LOVE your haul, lots of goodies...hmmm, those pattern weights look interesting. Is it an online shop, I think I put the name in wrong. I'm excited to hear what you are going to do with the black and white fabric. I agree about Ponte's some feel like it's full of polyester and others feel like you want to just roll around in it. Sounds like you are going to be busy making for your dad and Halloween costume!

[@SewingatMidnight]

These boys are such idiots sometimes. I keep a very strong room spray in my backpack for when my shop's idiots fart, I spray the room and they all hate the smell so much that they eventually just quit farting while I'm around. Kind of like training pets with a squirt bottle. The wiggle weights were only available in person at the expo, I did some online digging and I was sad that she doesn't have a shop. I think there was a forum on pattern review where someone got ahold of her email address. If you want it, let me know, but your best bet is to wait for the expo to show up in your neck of the woods and go find her!

[@StayStitching]

Two of my cats like to eat plastic then throw up on the carpet. Why do I love cats so much? Mine are all such a__holes! Lots of fun fabrics here! I look forward to seeing the things you make with all of it, you'd better start sewing! Well, it you ever have sons, you won't be surprised by anything they do!

[@SewingatMidnight]

Carla, cats are the best, that's why. They love us and leave us and wreck our stuff and then want ear scratches, what's not to love? You're right, I need to get going on the sewing! I have such a busy October, I don't know how I am going to make it all happen! No kids for me, but I have been working in this male dominated environment for so long that this sort of behavior seems normal to me now. Its a strange thing.

[@StayStitching]

Plus, they let us look at them! I love to watch them do virtually anything. They are so beautiful and graceful, except when they're not, then that's hilarious. They also sound like a herd of elephants when they are chasing each other around upstairs.

[@sagepreaumx9903]

Out of the Herringbone denim I would make a classy bomber jacket; maybe with a trim of faux fur. For the boucle, the heavier loopy textured side is the right side. I have some also and I think I'm making a jacket, though I'm not sure of the pattern yet. So what numerous ideas do you have for the black/white heavy fabric? LOL, this and your Halloween costume have left us hanging. For the last fabric you showed, with the wide black speckled stripes would make a nice bulky sweater, like S8738? The fabric looked rather thin so maybe line it with a soft fleece, I think it's called "cuddly fleece," it's the softest ever.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Oh, a bomber jacket, Sage, you always have such interesting ideas, I love it! I have been all over Pinterest looking at fabric slashing and manipulating and I am really interested in trying it with that black and white fabric. I just have a ton of stuff that needs to get done first and not nearly enough time to do it!

[@ladyhamilton5179]

Well there's much fabric to keep you busy for some time. Have fun sewing, later

[@SewingatMidnight]

I agree! Thank you for watching Lady Hamilton!

[@sallydingle321]

Oh my gosh....that poor secretary 😮....not to mention you having to witness it 😏😁. Loving the idea of the wiggle weights and like you say...so useful for curves👍. The thread snips are very cool 👌. Lovely fabrics and I would call the denim a herringbone like you 😉. Doesn't Mimi G's chap look cool in that t-shirt and you should definitely make one for your cool man 😉. I think I should stop using so many Imoji's.....it's becoming a bit of a habit 😁. Really looking forward to seeing your Halloween costume 🎃 and your contest between indie and the big four patterns, but only if you have time....we can wait 😁👍😘

[@SewingatMidnight]

Im glad you liked what I managed to pick up! I think Tim is still on the fence about me sewing him anything, but I can test out my man sewing skills on my pops, he will be a good sport and at least he is currently in the same country, though not the same state. There will be some back and forth and Facetime fitting sessions, I'm sure. I love the emojis!

[@tammiethompson7648]

What is the brand name of those weights? Do you know if they have a website? They look awesome.

[@meacelestin]

I'm interested also!

[@SewingatMidnight]

Tammie, I just searched high and low online and I couldn't find any listing where you could buy them. However, on pattern review there is an old forum where people were asking how to get them and I found this gals email address and phone number. I don't know if you are interested in that, but for now, the only way to buy them is if you go to the Expo and see the lady who makes them in person.

[@brendalindsay5419]

Loved your haul, is there somewhere on line we can buy the pattern weights. I Love Love the fabric behind you.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Brenda, she doesn't appear to have a website. I saw a forum where they gave out her email address, so if you want it, I can let you know, but the forum is a couple of years old. If you are able to catch a sewing expo in your area, I believe she has a booth at all of them. I wish I had know that before I showed everyone, now I feel terrible!

[@kathleenbarron7654]

Maybe you should send me some of that fabric behind you since you’ll need to store the fabric haul purchases.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Oooohh, Kathleen! You're sneaking up on my stash! I have a feeling that I will have to severely curtail my buying habits after the new year. Tim and I may be making a move and I wont have such a lucrative job anymore. So, I am calling this my stockpiling year for lean times, you know, like squirrels store nuts for the winter. I will say, I get verrrry generous when it comes to giveaways though...

[@deanalovessewn6117]

Great haul, Niki!!!! I know all to well about men being immature... I have a Class A CDL (I’ve driven (OTR) over the road & locally), don’t drive now (but when I first started boy the BS I got for being a woman driver)..When I got BS, I’d immediately ask them, was I a better driver or could I backup into tight parking/delivery spots(always it dead on 1st shot) better than them?? That would shut them up right quick....Sorry about the rant!!!!

[@SewingatMidnight]

They like to conveniently forget when we are better at stuff and only point out when we make a mistake. I fit into much tighter spots and my hands can reach things that theirs cant. They are the first ones to volunteer to stuff me in a cramped space to get the job done.

[@jennifermanners4014]

You just described my husband and teenage boy....hahaha I just farted and it smells then wofts it my way. So I get ya! Not fun boys

[@SewingatMidnight]

It comes with the job unfortunately. They were trying to be funny and while I may have thought it was funny, albeit childish, she certainly did not find it funny.

[@SaturdaySewing]

This was a fun vlog but now I'm no longer fascinated with your job! That assault makes me glad I work at an consulting firm. You've collected some nice fabrics there, love the herringbone and the boucle. That black/white fabric was made for color blocking and I'm sure you'll bring us something special with that one. Please consider adding a tag to your next competition with your Mom and posting on Instragram so we can keep up with you both real-time. Here's a question for you. Did the fabric that Fabric Mart have on their shop floor match their website offerings? Or was there more fabrics we'll never know about? I'm curious as Meowser about that. Happy stitching.

[@spatch1000]

Labeling it an assault is extreme.

[@SewingatMidnight]

As soon as mom and I work out the details and my sewing schedule clears up enough, we will let you all know what our next contest will be, hopefully she will allow me to actually show her work this time and hopefully some of you out there may want to participate as well! I will absolutely hashtag it and I will make sure to give you all my Instagram handle. I am just terrible at Instagram, I need to work on that. Fabric mart had a ton of things I recognized and a lot that I didn't. I will say that I found the online shopping process to have the better deals. I think its worth a trip if you are nearby, but if you have to drive more than 3 hours to get to it, don't bother. I had a good time, but I didn't have very long to took around because I was so short on time.

[@SaturdaySewing]

Thanks for answering my question about Fabric Mart, Nikki. I appreciate it. I follow you on Instagram already and am trying to get better at posting myself. Social media tends to take up a lot of sewing time. Tell your Mom she can stay off or mostly off camera and just talk, whatever she's comfortable with. That might help. Unless it's an indie patterns challenge, I'm game to participate.

[@kimberlygray227]

Camera focus is better

[@SewingatMidnight]

I think you're right, had a couple of times where it took a while, but all in all, much more clear than usual. I will go with this from here on out. Thanks for the feedback!

[@sxychoc]

Wow...that's a new low. Assault with farts.

[@spatch1000]

It is obnoxious, juvenile acting out not assault.

[@SewingatMidnight]

Tell me about it Karla, I keep a very strong cinnamon room spray in my bag and if anyone farts while I'm around I spray. They all hate the spray, so they know if they fart, they get cinnamoned. Its like using a spray bottle on a misbehaving cat, eventually they learn.

[@variationsonaseam6939]

I used to do soils and concrete testing and I was always the only woman out there. The men used to do things like find snakes and try to scare me with it. Well I'll be damned if I'd let them rattle me (besides I'm not afraid of snakes or anything really.) They said I was "no fun." I guess that was an insult but my job was to make sure buildings didn't sink into the ground or crumble. I wasn't interested in playing the squealing schoolgirl for a bunch of men that should have been working. After I had to shut their jobsite down they finally got the message. So, I agree, you deserve that beer!

[@SewingatMidnight]

I generally ignore these sorts of shenanigans, but my girl in the office was not having it. She had every right to complain and they caught some hell for it. I keep a cinnamon room spray in my bag for when the guys in my shop fart, although they aren't specifically doing it to get a rise out of me. They know they get the spray if they fart while I'm around.

[@variationsonaseam6939]

@@SewingatMidnight Oh yeah I'd have to draw the line at that...and good on her that she did. Seriously. Just so gross. I read recently a guy got charged with assault for flatulating in a cop car. So I think I'd start making some citizens arrests!

[@SewingatMidnight]

I might do that!

[@lornanash453]

You don't know how lucky you are , even paying full price your patterns cost a fraction of what is charged in the U.K. We pay the equivalent of $15 - $18 for Vogue patterns and about $10 - $12 for Simplicity, McCalls and Butterick., and don't get me started on the cost of fabric, I get reduced to tears when I hear you talk about anything costing less than $20 a yard. Feel my pain ! ! !

[@SewingatMidnight]

Lorna, I absolutely feel your pain! I think that's why a lot of Americans are exclusively sewing with indie patterns. I am always astonished at how much you would have to pay, I can see why its better to buy indie over there. I would just absolutely die if all of the fabric was that expensive! I hemmed and hawed over that bamboo jersey and I think it was only 12/yd!!! I kept thinking it was so pricey and I didn't even realize how lucky I was! My deepest sympathies go out to you and all of my other UK sewing sisters. May you one day get to go on an American shopping spree, Joann's and Fabric Mart will welcome you with open arms.