Liberty Fabrics and a few other important updates

Good Afternoon,

First of all, I wanted to thank you all for your patience over the last few months. I know we have been opening and closing at irregular hours and that has not been ideal. I am hoping that I can return to the business properly by the end of June. We have one more date that you need to note -

Thursday 26 June both shops will be closed.

I also want to say an enormous thank you to Ian, Crystal, Vicky and Sarah who have picked up many of my jobs, worked extended hours and enabled me to spend mums' final moments with her. You all made this much easier for me, thank you.

On a happier note ..... fabric !!

In recent months there has been a change in the Australian distributor for Liberty Fabrics. In future months we hope to be able to offer you both the Lasenby Cottons as well as the Tana Lawns.

The Legacy of Liberty Fabrics

Liberty of London, an iconic brand known for its floral and graphic prints, has been at the forefront of fabric innovation since 1875. They are synonymous with high-quality prints and textiles. Their Tana Lawn cotton is a testament to their legacy, boasting an exquisite feel and exceptional quality.

150 years ago, the adventurous and disruptive spirit of Arthur Lasenby Liberty laid plans for a London emporium laden with beautiful wares sourced from across the globe. In 1875, he named Regent Street his home where he built the iconic Liberty store. With a history hidden amongst six floors of cutting-edge design, to this day, Liberty remains a voyage of discovery.

Used as a byword for the very best of textiles and design, Liberty is famed for its original curation, cultural collaborations, and celebration of excellent craftsmanship. Located in the heart of London, the Liberty Design Studio is occupied by highly skilled artists who conceptualise, rework, and hand-draw hundreds of artworks. World-renowned for its historic 60,000-strong design archive, Liberty’s in-house team of archivists work tirelessly to collate the latest artworks whilst cataloguing its vast wealth of 19th and 20th century designs.

Since 1875, Liberty has paved the way for a movement dedicated to discovery, animated by arts, culture, and design. In the spirit of its founder, Arthur Lasenby Liberty, Liberty remains unapologetically eccentric and committed to bringing good design to all.

Lasenby Cotton was introduced to Liberty Fabrics in 2017 and is named after Liberty's founder Arthur Lasenby Liberty. The 100% cotton fabric has been especially developed for quilters. The new substrate is a little heavier than Tana Lawn which makes is perfect for craft projects and classic patchwork quilting.

We are looking at getting some of the lawn in stock, so if this is of interest to you, please reach out. While this stock is more expensive it is exquisite and can be used in small amounts in patchwork and quilting or on scale for dressmaking.

Composition: 100% COTTON TANA LAWN 76GSM 136cm wide

Composition: 100% LASENBY COTTON 112cm wide

One range we do have on the bolt in Sylvania and in smaller pieces in Lindfield is Lasenby Cotton - A Postcard from the Highlands. Journey northwards from their London Studio to explore the breathtaking beauty and splendor and of the Scottish Highlands. Renowned for its natural wonders and unrivalled tranquility, this region in Northern Scotland will captivate you with awe-inspiring mountains and scenic coastlines, diverse plant life, vast lochs and cascading rivers. The collection is traditionally screen printed on to Lasenby Cotton, a base specifically developed for quilting and craft projects. We have also seen it used in clothing.

As this range is limited in stock and as such, we have not put it on our website. Please phone either the Lindfield or Sylvania store if you can't get in and would like it posted.

What is Tana Lawn?

Tana Lawn is named after Lake Tana in Ethiopia where the original cotton grows. Known for its fine thread count, it mimics silk’s properties with its soft, durable, and wrinkle-resistant nature. It is very popular for English Paper Piecing, smocking, quilting, clothing and other small projects.

Sewing Tips

Working with Lasenby Cotton

• if sewing by machine we recommend a jeans 80 needle. It is a standard size, but is nice and sharp

• use fine good quality pins, such as a silk pins

• cut with a rotary cutter to prevent shifting and give a crisp cut edge

• use a straight stitch plate, if you can, on your sewing machine

• use a warm (not hot iron)

Working with Tana Lawn

• this can be a little more challenging

• if you keep the following tips in mind you will love using it

  - use a sharp, fine needle 70 microtex

  - use a clear starch alternative such as Best Press before pressing to stabilise your fabric prior to cutting.

  - use French seams for a clean finish and neatness, or a very fine overlocked edge

  - use fine good quality pins, such as a silk pin

  - cut with a rotary cutter to prevent shifting and give a crisp cut edge

  - use a straight stitch plate, if you can, on your sewing machine

  - use a warm (not hot iron)

  - always test machine stitches on a scrap – some sewing machines may need a finer thread tension or adjusted presser foot pressure to sew Lawn more smoothly.

We are looking forward to stocking more of these fabrics and hope that you enjoy them too.

Regards

Bernadette (Ian, Crystal, Vicky and Sarah)