The one thing I wanted to get while out of the country was fabric, so a quick Google search landed me at SewChic with listings for several stores in the area. I didn't make it to Luzern, but took the short 15 minute walk from our apartment with the kids to the Bernina store. By the time we got there, the little one wanted his boots off (then on...then off...) and the older one couldn't have been more unhappy to be stuck in a tiny fabric store instead of at the zoo, so I made a quick selection and paid for my purchase:
In my haste, I didn't look at the designer or other important information on the bolt, so I know almost nothing about this fabric other than that it's cotton, very thin, with a permanent wrinkle to it. Coming from the US, I'm accustomed to a certain price range for fabrics, but at the equivalent of $29/meter, I was pretty floored. And it was the cheapest price tag I looked at. But it was my souvenir of the trip (well, along with a ceramic fondue pot...:), so no regrets! I only bought a meter, so it's going to be a top, and likely sleeveless because I'm not sure I have enough yardage for even cap sleeves. We'll see!
On our last full day in Zurich, after a shopping excursion on the famed Bahnhofstrasse, our walk home took us past what looked to be another fabric store. It also had gorgeous gowns in the window, so it was unclear to me if you could buy the fabric by the yard or just order something custom made. When I walked in with my 7 year old, someone was instantaneously by our side insisting "Do not touch anything!". Perhaps they were only warning my child, but I truly felt that it might be directed at both of us. Since it would be flat-out impossible for me to buy apparel fabric without touching it, I browsed for a few more obligatory seconds and then left. Plus, the one price tag I saw was $250 CHF/meter (about $250 USD), so it was an order of magnitude out of my price range!
While I was away, I had my sewing machine serviced, so both the machine and I are ready to start sewing again. Now I just have to figure out on which project to start...
So did you like Zurich?! Did you get to do much touristy stuff? I know it's hard to do much with little ones. Oh, I want to go back to Switzerland so badly....reading your post brought the memories back. Aren't you glad we don't have to pay such steep prices for fabric here?! I still have not yet sewn up my $35 chf/meter fabric yet. And like you, I only bought one meter...had to talk myself out of feeling guilty, lol.
ReplyDeleteZurich (and all of Switzerland) is so beautiful, tidy, and family-friendly--I continue to beg my husband to be transferred to the Zurich office! On this trip, I saw almost every wild animal park and zoo within a hour's drive, but no castles or touristy locations. But this was actually our second trip to Switzerland--we spent a month in Zurich, nearby Hirzel, and Klosters 3 years ago--and we saw more of that last time around (like the incredible bridge in Luzern!).
Deletep.s. I love your fabric selection!
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