Helen

Our Fabric shop, Calico Laine Textiles started off over 45 years ago as a small market stall in Neston, Wirral. We sold small remnants and roll ends but the fabrics we had were beautiful and a fabulous quality. Despite our humble beginnings we became a well known stall, with a great loyal customer base and in turn we grew. Not...

If you're new to the world of Dressmaking it can be a bit of a daunting task choosing the right dressmaking fabric for your project. Here are a few tips to guide you through the maze to your perfect dress. Beginners guide to Dressmaking Fabric The Dressmaking Fabrics you'll be looking at will either be woven or knitted, and range from fabrics made from animal fibres...

So the sun is shining, the weather is starting to improve and you're feeling inspired to do a bit of Dressmaking to brighten up your summer wardrobe. The only problem is you have about a dozen half finished projects in your cupboard that you really must complete before starting something new. Am I right? Don't worry, you're not alone, we're...

Satin Fabric first became popular in the middle ages in China. The cloth is named after the port where it was originated, Zaitum. Satin was considered a luxury item which was used for commercial trading purposes throughout China and the Arab world during the 12th century. The fabric didn't become popular throughout Europe until the 14th century. Satin Fabric was reserved for royalty and...

Like many other brides, my sister in law (to be) has just realised with great excitement that she’s getting married this year! Obviously with my Dressmaking background the bridesmaid dresses have fallen to me.  I love dressmaking so I’m honoured she’s asked. It’s a summer wedding with 5 bridesmaids ranging in age from 2 up to 35 years. I initially...

There are so many reasons why you should buy Haberdashery Online, firstly, why leave the comfort of your own home when you can peruse the net 24 hours a day. Many companies like ourselves reward our loyal customers with money off vouchers and special offers which are available to use at our online shop, which in turn gives you the...

Chiffon Fabric is one of my favourite fabrics and here at Calico Laine we have a fabulous selection. Many people are deterred from using this fabric because of its floaty and slippery nature. Today we’re going to look at some of the uses for Chiffon Fabric as well as examining a few methods for making this particular fabric a little...

As any bride to be will tell you, the dress is the single most important aspect of any wedding. Your wedding dress is the most important thing you’ll ever wear, you want to look and feel sensational, it’s one of the biggest and most important days of your life after all! Your guests, predominately the women, will attend your wedding...

Being a parent I know the school holidays can be quite stressful. As much as I love my children, it's hard work keeping them occupied without breaking the bank. Today I’ve come up with some relatively cheap Craft ideas to keep the kids occupied with the help of Calico Laine! I find that Youtube, Pinterest and google are an excellent...

Well it's getting to that time of year again, the nights are slowly getting lighter and spring is in the air. The thought of summer fills me with delight, I can't wait to get started on some summer sewing projects. Having just booked my family summer holiday I can't wait to get started and as always choosing my Dress Fabric...