Preston 3, Jenni 1... Grrrrr

Mum and I went on a much anticipated trip to Abhakan Fabrics in Preston today, and met RuthieK there. Or that was the plan. The routeplanner we were using seemed to be very inaccurate. The shop has moved since we last visited so I didn't know quite whereabouts it was in Preston. We were fine until the last two directions on the routeplanner, then we got completely and totally lost. Preston has a very annoying one way system and a large number of multi lane junctions with poor signage. It didn't help that the road we were looking for, which would lead us to the road we required, was described by the AA Routemaster as "unnamed". Err, yes, thanks Mr AA Routemaster.

We went down several roads and through multiple junctions. There was shouting, I am ashamed to say. About half an hour after we had said we would meet up with Ruth, we saw Abakhan..... sadly we were in the wrong lane, heading for a large intersection, with no signs that seemed to help, and saw the shop fifty yards AFTER we had passed the only entrance to the car park. To say that my stress levels were soaring in the boiling hot car would be a complete understatement. There was, I am afraid, even more shouting. I loathe being late. I had no calling credit on my phone to call Ruth to explain (something I only discovered when I tried to call Ruth to explain). We couldn't turn around for three miles, by which time I was totally lost. After asking for directions three times, we finally managed to arrive at the shop. One hour later than we had said. We'd left dogs at home and even without getting lost, the trip home was going to take one and a half hours. So we had one hour in the large, and very exciting shop, then we had to head home again. One hour in a large fabric shop is really a very small amount of time. Ya know what I mean?

But we did our very best to make the most of that hour. And boy, did we make the most of that hour.

Here is my haul. Not too bad for an hour is it?

The colours on the photo are a bit off here. Both fabrics are 100% cotton dress weight. The red is much less orange in real life, though the turquoise really is that bright.

These are all knits, all reasonably soft, possible viscose or cotton. The black, nude, bright pink and dark teal are all smallish bits. They will probably only make short sleeve tees, which is fine. Today has been unbelievably hot so even I was thinking of short sleeve things today. The cream is larger piece and I think I will manage to get two tops out of this bit.

Both these are suitings. The one on the left is a stretch wool. The right hand piece is pure wool, and so, so soft and luscious. Definitely expensive stuff, though both together they cost the dreadful sum of £13.62. (seriously that grey feels as though it would maybe cost £35 -£45 per metre normally... the piece measures 1.5 metres).

There are two more pieces. A bright blue lightweight linen which is currently soaking in water and vinegar since its bleeding dye so badly I've had to scrub my hands to get the blue off them, and a chocolate brown heavy linen, which I think is upholstery grade, which I want to use for an unlined summer jacket.