I used almost all of the fabric, what remained was a tiny patch measuring 7 cm x 3 cm! I drew the pattern myself, and it's actually really simple if you measure the pieces carefully. You need two long strips for the straps (one of them is split into two for the zipper), and two larger pieces for the sides. Sewing was a bit more complicated due to the fraying fabric. If I did it all over again, I'd start with the serger and sew around all the pieces before starting to sew them together.
A visit to Marimekko's factory outlet was also scheduled for this week. I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw the huge bags full of striped knit, costing only 12 Euro! (When I got home, I put the bag on scale, and it weighed more than six kilos - all that knit for almost nothing.) And then things got completely out of hand: a big selection of knits, rain cloth, wax cloth and lots of other things for 6 Euro per meter. I had two really big bags in my hands when I finally made my way out, and didn't even have the car with me ;) So, what you're going to see is a lot of Marimekko clothing in the future!
My childhood was filled with Marimekko fabrics. My mom made most of our curtains, bedspreads and tablecloths from Marimekko, and I still recognize many of their patterns: “Wow, I had ___ (insert an item from my childhood home here) from that fabric!”.
I still have some of the fabrics with me, and I thought I'd write a bit about them whenever there aren't any new crafty projects going on.
Here's my most favorite item: the quilt my mom made for me when I was around five or six years old (my brother has another one made from different fabrics, I'll try and get it photographed as well). It's really simple, just two Marimekko fabrics quilted together and a basting in between. I still sleep with it during summer, since it's nice and heavy without being too hot.
The two fabrics are original prints from the 60s, and the colors are still amazingly strong! The quilt has been washed time and time again, but it's still bright and lovely. The first one is called "Istuva härkä" (Sitting Bull) and the second is "Pioni", both by the famous Maija Isola (1967 and 1970 respectively).
If you’re curious about Marimekko, the best place to go to is of course their own website. If you’re interested in the designers (who are a huge inspiration to me) and the history of Marimekko, go directly to http://www.marimekko.com/who-we-are/designers/
