My Autumn Fabric Haul (from Stoffen Spektakel)

This week I got to go to the Stoffen Spektakel at the Martini Plaza in Groningen, and what fun was had! I went with my friend Chiara again – I’ve been about five times in total, but we went together in the spring – and while I didn’t plan to buy what I bought, it did turn out to be a well curated selection of fabrics for upcoming projects.

So, let me take you through what I got in my autumn fabric haul and what I am thinking of making from them – and yes, pictures are included, but I also have a vlog over on my YouTube channel if you’d like more detail, and the short video embedded further down just under the “My Autumn Fabric Haul” has snippets of the day including the fabrics moving… enjoy!

The Stoffen Spektakel in Groningen

Imagine a hall full of stalls selling fabrics – and that is what you’ll see at Stoffen Spektakel, which happens across the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. I love the variety available to us at these kinds of events, all housed under the roof, and often with specials offers on the day.

Above left, the vendor where I purchased some knit fabrics for my autumn sewing plans, and above right the bolts of fabric I lingered over but did not buy due to poor service.

The stall above is one that has a very curated selection of fabrics, that work together in a variety of different fabric types, while the vendor below had a big variety of fabric options that did not feel as cohesive.

If you can get to a fabric fair, it is a great way to see in person what fabrics are available for your sewing projects.

My Autumn Fabric Haul

Now that you know a little bout the Stoffen Spektakel in Groningen, let me share the fabrics I did buy in my autumn fabric haul and some that I didn’t!

The Knit Fabrics

The first stall I purchased from was an accidentally expensive purchase. Chiara was looking at some French Terry with polar bears on and I spotted the floral print French terry fabric below right. I don’t know why, but I’m really drawn to pinks at the moment, so when I spotted the pink tee shirt fabric further down, I cross checked that they worked together, but I did not check the price. Hey ho.

Both fabrics were precut 1.4m by 1.4m so I think I’ll use my joggers pattern to make some bright and cosy joggers from the floral fabric and then a cowl neck top perhaps from the tee shirt fabric?

You can see that the fabrics work well together, though excuse the colour shift between the two photos, they’re the same fabric, under different lighting.

I can also use the tee short fabric for the cuffs and waistband on the joggers which will make me very colourful this autumn for sure!

The Textured Woven Fabrics

On the opposite side of the hall I spotted the orange tweed-like fabric and thought it would make a gorgeous autumnal something for my husband. And then I saw the purple, which is lighter in weight but with a gorgeous mottled purple colour, and I realised I could use both to make samples for the waistcoat pattern I’ve been working on.

I ended up with 1.25m of each, and cannot recall whether I asked for 1m or 1.5… so I’ve either been given a little extra, or sold a little less than paid for. 🤷‍♀️

David is not keen on either fabrics – he thinks the colours aren’t right for him – so I’ll make the purple up for the women’s pattern and the orange for the men’s and then see if he can be persuaded to try it… and if not, I’ll have two!

After all, they both work with the colours in floral French terry, though perhaps a waistcoat isn’t the right garment to pair with knit joggers…

The Drapey Woven Fabric

I’m not sure of the fiber content for this fabric – I suspect rayon but will need to do a test to be sure – but I LOVED the colours and felt like they would work with the two heavier woven fabrics I’d picked up.

I bought 2m of this, so I’m thinking it would make a lovely dress or even a shirt perhaps… but a simple gathered skirt could also work well too.

The Woven Cotton Peacock Fabric

I had no intention of buying anything else, but as I was about to call it a day I spotted this stunning fabric draped from a rail to close off access to the stall.

I know it’s not intended for garments, because LOOK at all the detail. But can you imagine this as a statement piece of some sort? I know I can!

And as I missed out on the statement fabric that I DID want – €130 per meter was out of the question! – I ended up snagging 1.5m of this cotton to do something with. What do you think it should become? Drop your wearable suggestions in the comments!

The Bargain of The Day

A fabric haul wouldn’t be one without a real bargain right? Mine was this – suspected – wool blend fabric I found in the €5 per meter pile on a stall near the exit. It’s felted so won’t fray and I thought it would work perfectly for the Cape theme for this month in my Creative Dressmaking membership.

So I asked for 1.5m and there was a little left over (so the stall holder said) when she unrolled it, and asked me if I’d take the whole piece. I figured it wouldn’t be more than €10 total…

People, she gave me the full piece measuring 2.5m for just €7.50. And did I mentioned it is ITCHY wool? 😂

I’m excited because now I could make the cropped cape I’ve been thinking about and pair it with a skirt or bag of some sort? We shall see!

The Fabrics That Got Away

Finally, it seems fair to also share the fabrics I did not take home, though there are very few of them.

The one I most regret, but could not justify buying, was the blue, pale gold and olive yellow Alberta Ferretti fabric I spotted on a “designer deadstock” stall… It was €129 per meter, and while I could see it as a cropped jacket with pouffy sleeves, my bank account did not agree with me and thus it got left behind.

And these two also got away. The bright floral again for the price, and the tartan on the right because I waited to long to get seen that I gave up waiting and left.

To be fair, neither were on point in terms of adding to the existing cohesive colour palette that I had accidentally curated while there. So all is well.

And that dear reader is the last of my fabrics. I did pick up another 4 rolls of pattern drafting paper – they’re 10m per roll, and I had one remaining from my spring visit, so I should be set until next spring now.

I would love to hear what you think about my fabrics in the comments below. Perhaps share what you’d make with each of them?

In the meantime you can check out my other recent posts here, learn more about different fabrics for sewing here and if you’re not looking forward to the colder months and want some fabric inspo to combat the cold.. check our my fluffy fabric types post too!