Showing posts with label fabric. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fabric. Show all posts

Friday, March 11, 2016

Stoffe Markt Kaiserslautern

Fabric is very expensive here in Germany so whenever I hear about a Stoffe Markt (Fabric Market) I do my best to go and buy some fabric at cheaper prices. Here is a link to the one I went to this week so you can keep an eye out for the next one coming up. 
Tips for the Stoffe Markt
-Be sure to do a lap before buying. Many vendors had the same prints but prices varied. One print I bought was 12€ a meter. A few vendors down, I saw the same print for 9€
-Bring cash
-Go early! I got there right when they opened and no one was there. About 15 minutes later it started to get busy and 30 minutes later it was crazy packed!
-Bring a bag to carry your new fabric
-Know some German

Here are some words or phrases you can keep on a pad of paper to read aloud
excuse me ..... entschuldigen
half ..... hälfte
1..... eins
2 ..... zwei
3 ..... drei
meter ..... meter
please ..... bitte
thank you .... danke


Thursday, November 19, 2015

DIY Burlap Banner

It is almost time to break out the mistletoe and decorate for Christmas so in preparation I am making burlap banners to hang on the walls. I also make them to sell on my Etsy and Facebook page. If you feel like trying your hand at making your own, here are the instructions.

You will need:
-burlap
-glue
-water
-a bowl
-a paint brush
-a drying rack (optional but will help a lot)
-scissors
-a sheet of paper
-stencil (optional but very useful, especially if you don't have the nicest penmanship)
-paint or a permanent marker
-twine
-glue gun and glue sticks

First, you need to cut the burlap into strips. I already created a template for my pendants so I used my sheet of paper for a guide to cut out the height of my strips. Be sure to cut in between the weave. This is to help prevent it from unraveling. 
You can either cut right in between the weaves or pull up a string of twine and pull it all the way out of the weave to use as a guide to cut. 
Next, mix water and glue into a bowl. Paint the water/glue mixture onto the strips of burlap. This helps prevent the banner from fraying and falling apart and will help this banner last more than one holiday ;)
 After I hang them up, I usually let mine dry overnight. 

After they are dry, I cut out my pendants. Below you can see the templates I cut out. I use these to help cut out my pendants. Be sure to cut between the weave again to prevent it from fraying. You will be cutting across the grain for the detail on the bottom of the pendants, this is why it is important to paint them with the water/glue mixture. Next, I use my stencil and write out my letters. 
The last step is to glue each pendant on twine. 
 All done and ready for the holidays!

Friday, March 13, 2015

Fabric Market

Stoffe Markt!!! Fabric is hard to find in Germany and when you do find it, be prepared to pay A LOT! A couple times a year, a fabric market happens in Kaiserslautern and that is when you stock pile your fabric collection. I have always missed the ones in the past but I was able to go to the one this year. The market is in Stiftsplatz and you honestly can not miss it. I bought some great fabrics and adorable buttons. I ended up chatting with another American at the market who said she has gone to this for many years and this year the prices have almost doubled front the previous :( After hearing that I decided to head home.