At first I thought I had missed out on a mystery box purchase opportunity; however after watching the unboxings, I will probably never purchase a mystery box unless it know it contains a certain type of fabric. Like you, I am very particular about the type of fabrics that I sew with mainly linen. Thanks for the video :)
While I'm all for not buying clothes, especially fast fashion clothes, be gentle with yourself and focus on skill building rather than do or die goals. Buy the jeans and the fussy fabrics while you get a good skill set going with shirts and underwear (underwear is a great scrap buster). As you get more comfortable with the patterns, fabrics, your machine(s), and the processes, start adding to your skill set. One example would be starting with the scrap busting underwear and building to pj pants/shorts or leggings and then building that skill set to pants that fit and eventually pants that fit in fancier fabrics. One step at a time and you'll have a completely me made wardrobe and only check in at clothing stores for inspiration because you'll have the skills and patterns to do a bespoke wardrobe from their inspiration alone.
Awesome! One important thing that I feel is so important to say I'm going to butt in a little here to encourage you to keep it in mind as you "go forth" to learn much: 1) Keep the word "yet" handy! Incorporate it into your critiques of "failures," for example, "I can't sew this [yet]. I don't have the skill to sew this [yet]". Low spend year - what a neat thing to do. I can imagine that you will learn so much this year. I hope you'll share more about this journey.
@@Musicwarmsmysoul Thank you for that! I definitely will be sharing. I just finished 3 different tops and posted them to my IG if you’d like to see pics 😊.
Your rating of each box is way more generous than I would have given them. Your project sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing the unboxing because now I know never to buy a fabric mystery box.
I love the idea of getting a surprise and then being creative with whatever you're given! I wouldn't really call it sustainable, most people have their preferences. But if you just like experiencing and going wild with creativity then this seems like a really fun idea ! 💚
When my sewjo takes a vacation, sometimes challenging myself to a mystery box helps to get creative juices flowing. I definitely don't get them when I have a specific idea in mind except for maybe a tshirt binge.
It’s fun to open surprises. I love it and just received a Fabricmart bundle. But, I totally want to declutter and be intentional in my fabric purchases, so I think I just sabotaged myself. 🤪
I totally hear you! I have been on a "fabric management" journey for past few years, and I think this year I will get my fabric stash to 10yds! I am so excited for this, because the amount of fabric I had accumulated in past years really bothered me and the fact that it was sitting without use, so I haven't bought fabric without a particular project in mind in a year, maybe more. I am glad to say that these boxes aren't for me, otherwise just like you - I would have sabotaged myself :)
I have felt the need to challenge myself and have ordered a couple of mystery boxes. Then challenged myself to use them. I use lightweight chiffons for sleeves on my cotton spandex shirts. It dresses them up a bit while still retaining the comfort of the cotton. I have also used smaller pieces of fabric to make bias tape trim and a pocket. It jazzes up the solid colors that I prefer to wear. I use brighter prints for lining and pocket bags. They make me happy and nobody but I can see them. I agree with you that mystery boxes aren't my favorite way to purchase fabric for my own use.
We are on the same wave length, Irene! :) I just did a scrap busting video and mentioned that scraps are great for pocket bags and bias tape, a fun pop of color to make it more special, just like you said! :)
IDEA: for that light turquoise see-through floral fabric (netting), here's an idea: I have a womens round-neckline t-shirt that has similar see-through floral netting on only the front, not the sleeves nor back. If you can find a shirt that is close in color, then cut and sew that see-through netting on only the shirt front (it's sewn on all sides of the netting to the shirt, into the seams). It adds some fancy to an ordinary shirt!
This was a fun video. A mystery box might be fun for a beginner sewer to try out different fabrics and techniques (though would be better if the fabric content was known). The fabric you got would be great for sewing dress-up costumes for kids.
A Mystery Box Challenge! I would love to get a mystery box, then come up with something creative and fun using those fabrics. This could include garments, pillows, tote bags, curtains, placemats, decorations, toys, dolls and dresses, quilts, Halloween costumes….
I love mystery boxes. I know I am paying for the thrill of the surprise more than the merchandise itself. I'm a charity crafter so I do end up using most of my stash. I prefer the woven cottons so Box #1 would be my choice.
Great video. Like you I have specific fabrics and COLORS that I like. I tried a sewing subscription box, but the colors and prints or just not me. I bought a mystery box from Girl Charlee, they warned said the cuts under a yard, and they were indeed all around half a yard or less never again. I’ve bought a fabric Mart mystery box when they had a two for one sale. The quality and selection of fabric was surprisingly good. Thanks for sharing your experience.❤🧵
I would totally buy a mystery box because I like surprises 😊 and I usually get fabric and then think about what I'm going to use it for, so it works for me. I was laughing with you when you grabbed that fabric with two giant holes in it 😆 I did not see that coming 😆 thank you for that good laugh.
Omg....I cracked up every time I was editing that bit! I opened up all boxes on camera for the first time, so I had no clue what was coming! Glad it made you smile! 😁 He he
Hi Alisa, so good to see you again. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you have embraced Dress a Girl Around the World. When I first started watching your videos (several years ago now) I remember telling you that I sewed for DAG but hadn’t sewn for myself. Now I happily do both, and you’ve been such an inspiration. I had a rough year as I lost my 95 year old father (expected) and my husband of 30 years (unexpected) in the same week. I put DAG on the back burner, but am now looking forward to sewing dresses again. I have a big box of quilting cotton that I was given (free!) with larger cuts and smaller ones all in coordinating prints. I’m going to dig in and start now that you’ve (once again) inspired me. Thank you. 💕
Hi, I tried the Fabric Mart mystery box, and I was very pleased. The fabrics seemed to be good quality, and I liked that they were large pieces. I wanted to try sewing different types of fabric, and this was perfect. I used one to use for testing patterns as a "muslin."
Ah this was fun and also made me consider purchasing mystery boxes as well! I certainly have a huge stash to get through as it is, but this is a nice way to force myself to get creative with different fabrics and patterns that I may not usually pick out for myself (I tend to gravitate towards neutrals all the time)! I like the Fabric Mart box; I'm a big fan of purchasing from them in general too!
Color wise all the boxes had something of interest to me. What they were not is 100% cotton. I'm a quilter so none of these fabrics would work in quilts. But I am so impressed with what you have done with what you showed. You are amazing.
I purchased 2 mystery boxes this year. One from Missouri Star Quilt Co. and one from Hancock’s of Paducah. I was very happy with both. I mostly wanted quilting cotton, these did not disappoint! I enjoyed seeing all the fabrics you unboxed!
Many years ago before the internet there was a company that produced a catalogue and you would order samples from their description, then purchase the fabric and the sample costs taken off your total. It was very cheap and really good fabric, I made so many things, one item I remember making was a Chanel style suit. I have not sewn any clothes in years but you are inspiring me to start again.
This reminds me of when I was a kid, you could order assorted remnants from the Sears catalog. My mom made us a bunch of stuff from those. I think you could choose assorted dress weight, bottom weight, etc.
I definitely want to order a mystery box one day. I saw a sale online for a box containing African prints which I was obsessed with! I decided that if I do that then the intention of how I use it would be to either sell or donate to a charity. One of my 2023 sewing goals is to be intentional with my fabric purchases.
Ooooh, African prints can be so fun! Yes, I am with you on being intentional with our purchases, it has made a ton of difference in my sewing and other hobbies!
I love getting a mystery box for learning about diffrent types of fabrics. I have purchased from all but FWD. As a new sewer they came in handy . If the project didn't work out i don't feel so bad because it was just scraps!
I LOVE mystery boxes as long as it is a good price point! Even if you get something that is "oh my god I would never wear this" it is a fabulous way to get stuff for toiles! Like muslin/quilting cotton can't stand in for knit when making up a dress and then cutting it apart for another. I used a lot of these deals when I was first learning how to sew. (And thrifted bedsheets).
I've ordered the mystery box from Fabricmart and although I didn't like every single fabric, they were all great and I used them all. I prefer to buy the fabrics I like because I don't like to sew with polyester. Thanks for the mystery box reviews, they were great!
I have purchased a couple of mystery boxes from Fabric Mart just because it was fun thing to do. The anticipation and excitement when opening the boxes is like being a kid at Christmas.
Hello, I loved this mystery box thing! I did not know anything like this existed and from several companies, too. Please let us know about your upcoming project. Thank you! Happy new year. 🙂
I did Dress a Girl last year. Started in January and ended up sending 30 dresses. I have so much extra fabric to sew up, I thought I would do it again this year, too.
A tip based upon my stint as a grocery stocker: only use a sharp object on the side of the box top. You can then tear that top seam apart or peel the tape. It would be heartbreaking to accidentally cut your fabric!☺
I love the 'idea' of a mystery box, but I am also very picky about my purchases, I love all kinds of fabrics but like to choose my own colours and textures. I am also trying to sew only from my stash this year. So, I don't think I would have been very happy with any of the boxes, but I do have some sparkle envy! 😁🤣
I completely agree with your final assessment. I wouldn't have a use for ANY of it. I suppose it could be useful if you have sewing classes as many of those can be a challenge for the beginner to sew with, so the fact that is was (sorta) inexpensive would be a plus. No real $$ upset if you ruined some of it in the lessons, and the students would be better able to afford it.
I think the box that had the kids prints and plain cotton knits did really well. They seemed to have given some consideration to the colour choice that could mix with the prints. The little dresses were great 👍🏻
I think the shipping cost of anything we order online has to be considered in the total cost or breakdown. So I hope you got a good deal on the shipping too! 👍😊
I did not include for various reasons: 1) sometimes shops run promotions on shipping costs, like free shipping, or free shipping over certain amount 2) you might be ordering a mystery box combined with your existing fabric order, so then the shipping cost isn't for the box alone 3) when you order anything online, you see the cost per item and THEN add shipping for the whole order. Edited to add: (oops, pressed the button too fast) that I ordered these on Black Friday, so I tried to get the best shipping, some of them came with free shipping for me :) yay :)
For woven I like Fabric Mart mystery boxes. But for knits, which I prefer, it’s Olga’s Closet hands down. I love the fabric bundles because while the type of knit is a mystery it’s great quality and she typically have color schemes.
Oh I didn't know about mystery boxes. I like Fabric Universe one. Can't wait to see you using these colourful fabrics. The dresses are so beautiful and you too in today's video.
So I sew dresses and reusable sanitary pads and small toys (to fill with my scraps) for operation Christmas child. I too have started making toys and pads. It's great to get a head start. I get my fabric from local thrift shops throughout the year. I did get approximately 10 large garage bags of free fabric from an estate sale. The lady was Russian and a seamstress. I have so much knit and suiting fabric. I love watching your channel fir your great ideas on using different types of fabric. My favorite was the one with cotton. So inspiring!
I ordered from FWD early fall and received knits, linen, taffeta, chiffon and scuba material. I will be able to use it all but it was definitly a variety.
I sew clothes mainly for my 2 year old daughter, I'd like to start trying different types of fabrics so I went ahead and ordered a box from Fabric Marts Fabric.
I think getting a mystery box is exciting but also disappointing because I wouldn’t use pretty much any of those fabrics because I mostly use cotton. But thanks for showing us what’s out there! 👍🏻
Just watched this again purely because of these two arm cuts in the box number 4 😆😅 Also I think I liked the box no.4 the best, the colours of them fabrics were beautiful.
I love your channel. I think out of the mystery boxes you bought I like number one. I liked that they had tried to coordinate the colours with the patterned fabric. Like you I probably wouldn’t buy a mystery box because I’m particular and I’d end up wasting to much fabric. Lisa.
I'm so happy you did this video. I have wondered about the quality of online fabrics. This gives me an idea of what types of fabrics they sell,as well as the mystery packages. Are you planning to do more dress a girl dresses this year? I have a lot of 100% cotton woven fabric, purchased for quilting, I would gladly send to you some . I love your videos. They are so inspiring.
This was so informative. The first box was my fav. I agree w your assessment. I'd rather look for sales and know what I'm getting. That said, I make quite a few costumes so the fabric could be put to use.
As I was watching you unpack the mystery boxes, when you got to the shinny, leathery fabrics, I was thinking that they would be perfect for bulletin boards. If you don't know what to do with them, I suggest you donate them to a school. As a teacher I can tell you that they make the perfect background, and they last for many years! I love your videos and your creativity!
I have only bought one mystery box. It was from Fabric Mart. I liked everything but one piece, which was a color I didn’t care for. I will try it again, because I know I will use it all, except the one.
I’m a beginner so a mystery box would work awesome for me. I just need to sew. I have no favorite types or styles of fabric, so this video helps me tremendously! Getting a mystery box will help me learn how to use different fabrics, so it’s a big WIN! Thanks so much 😊
Thank you! My motto for Dress A Girl is that If I would not want to put it on my own child, then it is not good enough. Need to get pink ribbing and make those bows for the front of the dresses :)
You are so sweet. I look forward to the weekends because I know that you will be posting. Now that I am retired and the holidays are DONE I am planning on creating 'via' your tutorials......Bless you and your family for a wonderful New Year ....
I just found your channel!!! I LOVE it! And I love that you sew for Dress A Girl. I do too and I am even more inspired right now to get back to sewing. :)
Sabrina, hello there! Yay! I just saw your previous comment! DAG is wonderful, check out Mari Sews, she is the mastermind behind DAG in the youtube community, that's how I got involved :) she has a ton of info on her channel and you can find inspiration, free patterns for dresses (including mine) and more ;)
Love the concept of a mystery box, loved watching your unboxing and the dress project. This would not be for me, too much dance/athletic fabric, and too random small pieces. I wear a plus size so need to get exactly what is required if a project.
Wow! You are such a great seamstress! Practice makes perfect! Which I don't do enough of. With that being said, my skills are only so good so none of the boxes would work for me because I only do projects that I don't wear like pillows, placemats, curtains, stuff like that. I guess if it was a home decorating mystery box I could figure out something with the fabric. Love the dresses!!! So cute!
Ah, yes, totally hear you, and when it comes to sewing items for kitchen use - lots of times you want it to be 100% cotton, so not knowing fiber content for sure is another minus point for the mystery boxes. Thank you for watching! I am excited for the dresses as well :)
So glad you bought these boxes and reviewed them. I get tempted but don’t have a use for a Or of fabric The dresses are cute. Some little girls will be lucky to receive them.
I've bought several mystery boxes from Mood fabrics and have been very pleased with the choices they sent. The selections are typically one cut of fabric, around 5 yds plus coordinating thread, findings and suggested items.
You know, good that you mentioned MOOD. I wanted to order from them as well but they only have those boxes available sporadically, 10lbs mystery boxes, and at the time they were not available :( but I am super happy to hear you were happy with them!
I feel about the same as you do. I would rather pick my fabric then have sp much I wouldn't know what I wanted it for. Love your dresses. I have 3 done so far.
It was fun watching you open theses mystery boxes!!I would never order one because, like you, I have special taste when it comes to fabric. Can you share the dress pattern you use for these dresses? Would prefer ones that work well with cotton wovens. Thanks so much for letting us live vicariously through you in the mystery boxes.
Hello Cindy, glad you enjoyed it and now I have plenty of fun fabric for my community projects :) for the dresses - as pretty much everything in my channel they are self drafted, every year I make a free sewing g pattern available for Dress a Girl Around the world, you can find free patterns (from previous years) and videos for them on my channel :) edited to add: there is a video link in the description of this video that tells you everything you need to know about project dress a girl.
The 2 big holes are simply the way they mark the end of a curtain length in the continuous production of fabric 😅. Yes, it was very funny they included such a piece.
I don’t recall other channel doing a mystery unboxing, so this video is quite interesting. Good value, but not for me. I would have an unwanted stash of fabric. I have to touch and know what I am getting. Sewing is time consuming. There would be no joy in making something that isn’t right for me. However, if I had your talent and creativity, I would love the fabric and sew something wonderful. Those little dresses are beautiful!
I really love the fabric mart boxes, but I only buy them when it's a specific fiber type. I have also purchased scrap by fiber type from Dharma Trading and had great experiences
Very exciting, you got some pretty fabrics. I personally find black fabric very useful but also like all the glossy and sparkling ones. Nice surprise boxes. The rest is okay.
Since watching one of your past video's regarding Project Dress A Girl, I got in touch with the the UK charity. So, I was informed what type of fabric, prints, etc. to use. Now, my question is the dressed you made with the fish print, which are lovely, but I have a lot of fabric with octupus, which was suggested I didn't use it and was thought to be more of a boy's pattern. Wondering what everyone thinks? I'm female and I would wear that design!
Angel, hello there! Oh... what I found from doing "Dress a girl" is that every ambassador and location/office sometimes has slightly different rules or what they like, preferences. Some allow one button on the dresses, some are okay with ties at the shoulders, some think it is not modest enough... some are okay with adding pockets themselves, some only want dresses with pockets. The way I go about making dresses for little ones is with a question: "Would I want my child to wear it?" if the answer is yes - then I make it, because I know I want to treat those in need just like my own child. So in my opinion if you would wear the octopus fabric - then do it :) I would totally put my little one in octopus print, especially for kids it is so fun! They love all creatures, and 8 arms is such a fun topic - he he :) I hope this helps! :) and thank YOU for doing this!
Man, I've got all the ideas and none of the skills to implement them. 😶😁If we were neighbors, I'd ask to collaborate or something. This was such a fun video to watch! (And informative- I didn't know that fabric stores sold scrap boxes like that!
I have gotten a mystery box from Fabric Mart. I got it on sale for 1/2 price. It was really good. I made a shacket out of a piece of black denim & have plans to use several other pieces. I think I got lucky with it. What is the jacket(pattern) that is hanging on your dress form? I'm wanting to make something similar. As always, I really enjoy your videos.
The jacket pattern is the same as I was wearing at the beginning of this video and is self -drafted from my knit bodice block sweater modification (both videos are on the channel, for knit bodice block and how to turn it into a sweater) and then added zipper with facing, pockets and neckline (tutorials for those are for Membera Only) :) inlove this jacket a lot!
Dear Sewing Friends, which mystery box you would be happy to get?
None really.
At first I thought I had missed out on a mystery box purchase opportunity; however after watching the unboxings, I will probably never purchase a mystery box unless it know it contains a certain type of fabric. Like you, I am very particular about the type of fabrics that I sew with mainly linen. Thanks for the video :)
I like box 5 the most.
Not really crazy about any of them. Ive always been curious about them. Thank you for saving me the money on them. 😁
I really liked the Fabric Mart Fabrics mystery box. I won't waste my money on the other boxes. FMF has awesome sales too.
Your videos have inspired me to ONLY sew any clothing this year: no purchasing. I’m a novice, but I KNOW I can do this.
Yay, Deb, so fun to hear this! Step by step, starting with smaller projects and moving up - you can totally do it!
While I'm all for not buying clothes, especially fast fashion clothes, be gentle with yourself and focus on skill building rather than do or die goals. Buy the jeans and the fussy fabrics while you get a good skill set going with shirts and underwear (underwear is a great scrap buster). As you get more comfortable with the patterns, fabrics, your machine(s), and the processes, start adding to your skill set. One example would be starting with the scrap busting underwear and building to pj pants/shorts or leggings and then building that skill set to pants that fit and eventually pants that fit in fancier fabrics. One step at a time and you'll have a completely me made wardrobe and only check in at clothing stores for inspiration because you'll have the skills and patterns to do a bespoke wardrobe from their inspiration alone.
@@karenfranceslewis1513 Absolutely agree! But, this also coincides with my very low/no buy year 😉
Awesome! One important thing that I feel is so important to say I'm going to butt in a little here to encourage you to keep it in mind as you "go forth" to learn much: 1) Keep the word "yet" handy! Incorporate it into your critiques of "failures," for example, "I can't sew this [yet]. I don't have the skill to sew this [yet]". Low spend year - what a neat thing to do. I can imagine that you will learn so much this year. I hope you'll share more about this journey.
@@Musicwarmsmysoul Thank you for that! I definitely will be sharing. I just finished 3 different tops and posted them to my IG if you’d like to see pics 😊.
Your rating of each box is way more generous than I would have given them. Your project sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing the unboxing because now I know never to buy a fabric mystery box.
I love the idea of getting a surprise and then being creative with whatever you're given! I wouldn't really call it sustainable, most people have their preferences. But if you just like experiencing and going wild with creativity then this seems like a really fun idea ! 💚
When my sewjo takes a vacation, sometimes challenging myself to a mystery box helps to get creative juices flowing. I definitely don't get them when I have a specific idea in mind except for maybe a tshirt binge.
I don’t think I would buy a mystery box. The dress project is wonderful!
Yeah, for my personal use - it is not for me either.
I agree, the dress projects were really cute
It’s fun to open surprises. I love it and just received a Fabricmart bundle. But, I totally want to declutter and be intentional in my fabric purchases, so I think I just sabotaged myself. 🤪
I totally hear you! I have been on a "fabric management" journey for past few years, and I think this year I will get my fabric stash to 10yds! I am so excited for this, because the amount of fabric I had accumulated in past years really bothered me and the fact that it was sitting without use, so I haven't bought fabric without a particular project in mind in a year, maybe more. I am glad to say that these boxes aren't for me, otherwise just like you - I would have sabotaged myself :)
😆
I have felt the need to challenge myself and have ordered a couple of mystery boxes. Then challenged myself to use them. I use lightweight chiffons for sleeves on my cotton spandex shirts. It dresses them up a bit while still retaining the comfort of the cotton. I have also used smaller pieces of fabric to make bias tape trim and a pocket. It jazzes up the solid colors that I prefer to wear. I use brighter prints for lining and pocket bags. They make me happy and nobody but I can see them. I agree with you that mystery boxes aren't my favorite way to purchase fabric for my own use.
We are on the same wave length, Irene! :) I just did a scrap busting video and mentioned that scraps are great for pocket bags and bias tape, a fun pop of color to make it more special, just like you said! :)
IDEA: for that light turquoise see-through floral fabric (netting), here's an idea: I have a womens round-neckline t-shirt that has similar see-through floral netting on only the front, not the sleeves nor back. If you can find a shirt that is close in color, then cut and sew that see-through netting on only the shirt front (it's sewn on all sides of the netting to the shirt, into the seams). It adds some fancy to an ordinary shirt!
Very fun idea!
This was a fun video. A mystery box might be fun for a beginner sewer to try out different fabrics and techniques (though would be better if the fabric content was known). The fabric you got would be great for sewing dress-up costumes for kids.
A Mystery Box Challenge! I would love to get a mystery box, then come up with something creative and fun using those fabrics. This could include garments, pillows, tote bags, curtains, placemats, decorations, toys, dolls and dresses, quilts, Halloween costumes….
I love mystery boxes. I know I am paying for the thrill of the surprise more than the merchandise itself. I'm a charity crafter so I do end up using most of my stash. I prefer the woven cottons so Box #1 would be my choice.
I like seeing some so excited when they are into their elements.
Great video. Like you I have specific fabrics and COLORS that I like. I tried a sewing subscription box, but the colors and prints or just not me. I bought a mystery box from Girl Charlee, they warned said the cuts under a yard, and they were indeed all around half a yard or less never again. I’ve bought a fabric Mart mystery box when they had a two for one sale. The quality and selection of fabric was surprisingly good. Thanks for sharing your experience.❤🧵
I would totally buy a mystery box because I like surprises 😊 and I usually get fabric and then think about what I'm going to use it for, so it works for me.
I was laughing with you when you grabbed that fabric with two giant holes in it 😆 I did not see that coming 😆 thank you for that good laugh.
Omg....I cracked up every time I was editing that bit! I opened up all boxes on camera for the first time, so I had no clue what was coming! Glad it made you smile! 😁 He he
@@ThoughtfulCreativity I believe you 😆 it was really funny.
You were so adorable , especially when you framed your face with one of the holes !!😂😂😂
Hi Alisa, so good to see you again. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you have embraced Dress a Girl Around the World. When I first started watching your videos (several years ago now) I remember telling you that I sewed for DAG but hadn’t sewn for myself. Now I happily do both, and you’ve been such an inspiration. I had a rough year as I lost my 95 year old father (expected) and my husband of 30 years (unexpected) in the same week. I put DAG on the back burner, but am now looking forward to sewing dresses again. I have a big box of quilting cotton that I was given (free!) with larger cuts and smaller ones all in coordinating prints. I’m going to dig in and start now that you’ve (once again) inspired me. Thank you. 💕
I'm so sorry for your losses. How very difficult it must have been. Praying for peace and comfort for you.
@@debbiefarner1688 Thank you so much. Prayer does work!
So sorry for you loss, it must have been terrible ☹ I'm praying for you right now
Hi, I tried the Fabric Mart mystery box, and I was very pleased. The fabrics seemed to be good quality, and I liked that they were large pieces. I wanted to try sewing different types of fabric, and this was perfect. I used one to use for testing patterns as a "muslin."
This was a great video! I think I'll stick with fabric Mart if I decide to try this again...
Yes, I am with you, Fabric Mart is a good one. I usually buy regular fabric from them 1-2 per year when they have big discounts.
Totally agree about Fabric Mart- they seem to have quality fabric in general and their mystery bundles reflect that .
Ah this was fun and also made me consider purchasing mystery boxes as well! I certainly have a huge stash to get through as it is, but this is a nice way to force myself to get creative with different fabrics and patterns that I may not usually pick out for myself (I tend to gravitate towards neutrals all the time)! I like the Fabric Mart box; I'm a big fan of purchasing from them in general too!
Color wise all the boxes had something of interest to me. What they were not is 100% cotton. I'm a quilter so none of these fabrics would work in quilts. But I am so impressed with what you have done with what you showed. You are amazing.
I purchased 2 mystery boxes this year. One from Missouri Star Quilt Co. and one from Hancock’s of Paducah. I was very happy with both. I mostly wanted quilting cotton, these did not disappoint! I enjoyed seeing all the fabrics you unboxed!
Many years ago before the internet there was a company that produced a catalogue and you would order samples from their description, then purchase the fabric and the sample costs taken off your total. It was very cheap and really good fabric, I made so many things, one item I remember making was a Chanel style suit. I have not sewn any clothes in years but you are inspiring me to start again.
I loved 4 personally.
This reminds me of when I was a kid, you could order assorted remnants from the Sears catalog. My mom made us a bunch of stuff from those. I think you could choose assorted dress weight, bottom weight, etc.
I loved the last box with the shimmery fabrics! I can't wait to see your videos this year ❤️
I definitely want to order a mystery box one day. I saw a sale online for a box containing African prints which I was obsessed with!
I decided that if I do that then the intention of how I use it would be to either sell or donate to a charity.
One of my 2023 sewing goals is to be intentional with my fabric purchases.
Ooooh, African prints can be so fun! Yes, I am with you on being intentional with our purchases, it has made a ton of difference in my sewing and other hobbies!
I would def like to see the box with african prints.
I love getting a mystery box for learning about diffrent types of fabrics. I have purchased from all but FWD. As a new sewer they came in handy . If the project didn't work out i don't feel so bad because it was just scraps!
Thanks for sharing, which one of your mystery boxes was your favorite so far? :)
@@ThoughtfulCreativity Faricmart! It had the most useable pieces. In fact because of that, 80 to 95% of my fabric stash is from them.
I used mystery box to learn about fabrics of today. I haven't sewn clothing in 25+ years so they were great for that.
I LOVE mystery boxes as long as it is a good price point! Even if you get something that is "oh my god I would never wear this" it is a fabulous way to get stuff for toiles! Like muslin/quilting cotton can't stand in for knit when making up a dress and then cutting it apart for another. I used a lot of these deals when I was first learning how to sew. (And thrifted bedsheets).
I've ordered the mystery box from Fabricmart and although I didn't like every single fabric, they were all great and I used them all. I prefer to buy the fabrics I like because I don't like to sew with polyester. Thanks for the mystery box reviews, they were great!
LOVE your honesty! I've bought mystery boxes too, and I agree with you 100%. Great video!
I have purchased a couple of mystery boxes from Fabric Mart just because it was fun thing to do. The anticipation and excitement when opening the boxes is like being a kid at Christmas.
Hello, I loved this mystery box thing! I did not know anything like this existed and from several companies, too. Please let us know about your upcoming project. Thank you! Happy new year. 🙂
I did Dress a Girl last year. Started in January and ended up sending 30 dresses. I have so much extra fabric to sew up, I thought I would do it again this year, too.
That is AWESOME!
Fun! Not anything I would ever take a chance with, but it was fun to watch the unboxing and the little dresses are so sweet!
Olga’s closet has great mystery bundles. Never got a bad one!!
A tip based upon my stint as a grocery stocker: only use a sharp object on the side of the box top. You can then tear that top seam apart or peel the tape. It would be heartbreaking to accidentally cut your fabric!☺
I agree with you on passing the mystery boxes for personal use. I am particular about my fabrics and it would be a waste of money iny opinion.
Yep, I am with you!
I love the 'idea' of a mystery box, but I am also very picky about my purchases, I love all kinds of fabrics but like to choose my own colours and textures. I am also trying to sew only from my stash this year. So, I don't think I would have been very happy with any of the boxes, but I do have some sparkle envy! 😁🤣
I do like all the materials. The green is good for house robe.
Thank you for sharing, and laughing about the fabric with the holes in it! 🤣 I swap/trade fabrics with friends. Sustainable and fun!
I completely agree with your final assessment. I wouldn't have a use for ANY of it. I suppose it could be useful if you have sewing classes as many of those can be a challenge for the beginner to sew with, so the fact that is was (sorta) inexpensive would be a plus. No real $$ upset if you ruined some of it in the lessons, and the students would be better able to afford it.
I think the box that had the kids prints and plain cotton knits did really well. They seemed to have given some consideration to the colour choice that could mix with the prints. The little dresses were great 👍🏻
This is so fun! I agree with you, I don’t think I’ll order a mystery box! I like to pick my own. The dresses are adorable!
I think the shipping cost of anything we order online has to be considered in the total cost or breakdown. So I hope you got a good deal on the shipping too! 👍😊
I did not include for various reasons: 1) sometimes shops run promotions on shipping costs, like free shipping, or free shipping over certain amount 2) you might be ordering a mystery box combined with your existing fabric order, so then the shipping cost isn't for the box alone 3) when you order anything online, you see the cost per item and THEN add shipping for the whole order. Edited to add: (oops, pressed the button too fast) that I ordered these on Black Friday, so I tried to get the best shipping, some of them came with free shipping for me :) yay :)
#1 by far. That gold and pink stuff seemed pretty cool. I have ideas.
For woven I like Fabric Mart mystery boxes. But for knits, which I prefer, it’s Olga’s Closet hands down. I love the fabric bundles because while the type of knit is a mystery it’s great quality and she typically have color schemes.
Lots of those make great dress up or costume fabrics!
You’re so thoughtful! What a great cause!! 🤗
The little dresses are darling! Bless your heart for using your skills for needy little ones.
Oh I didn't know about mystery boxes. I like Fabric Universe one. Can't wait to see you using these colourful fabrics. The dresses are so beautiful and you too in today's video.
I learned to tell fabric apart by feel by going into lots of fabric stores and feeling the fabric with my eyes closed and guessing the percentage.
You are back!!!Happy new year!!!
I am, thank you for being here :) Happy New Year, wishing you all the best!
So I sew dresses and reusable sanitary pads and small toys (to fill with my scraps) for operation Christmas child. I too have started making toys and pads. It's great to get a head start. I get my fabric from local thrift shops throughout the year. I did get approximately 10 large garage bags of free fabric from an estate sale. The lady was Russian and a seamstress. I have so much knit and suiting fabric. I love watching your channel fir your great ideas on using different types of fabric. My favorite was the one with cotton. So inspiring!
I like the first mystery box
The fabrics were great for what you needed them for, and perhaps a few of the others for your own use. The dresses were super cute.
I have purchased a few mystery boxes from Olga’s closet and was pleased with what I received.
That's awesome! thank you for sharing!
I ordered from FWD early fall and received knits, linen, taffeta, chiffon and scuba material. I will be able to use it all but it was definitly a variety.
I sew clothes mainly for my 2 year old daughter, I'd like to start trying different types of fabrics so I went ahead and ordered a box from Fabric Marts Fabric.
I think getting a mystery box is exciting but also disappointing because I wouldn’t use pretty much any of those fabrics because I mostly use cotton. But thanks for showing us what’s out there! 👍🏻
The most expensive fabrics i think ive ever gotten were faux rabbit fur to make weighted blankets and a cocoon onesie for myself
Oh my goodness! Those dresses are adorable!!! It's so nice of you to make all those; I'm SURE the little girls who receive them will love them! 💕
Just watched this again purely because of these two arm cuts in the box number 4 😆😅 Also I think I liked the box no.4 the best, the colours of them fabrics were beautiful.
I love your channel. I think out of the mystery boxes you bought I like number one. I liked that they had tried to coordinate the colours with the patterned fabric. Like you I probably wouldn’t buy a mystery box because I’m particular and I’d end up wasting to much fabric. Lisa.
I made my daughters wedding dress out of $20+ per yard dupioni silk. Definitely the most expensive fabric. But beautiful.
Such fun! I have a lot of cotton yardage. Most of it was given to me.
I'm so happy you did this video. I have wondered about the quality of online fabrics. This gives me an idea of what types of fabrics they sell,as well as the mystery packages. Are you planning to do more dress a girl dresses this year? I have a lot of 100% cotton woven fabric, purchased for quilting, I would gladly send to you some . I love your videos. They are so inspiring.
This was so informative. The first box was my fav. I agree w your assessment. I'd rather look for sales and know what I'm getting. That said, I make quite a few costumes so the fabric could be put to use.
As I was watching you unpack the mystery boxes, when you got to the shinny, leathery fabrics, I was thinking that they would be perfect for bulletin boards. If you don't know what to do with them, I suggest you donate them to a school. As a teacher I can tell you that they make the perfect background, and they last for many years! I love your videos and your creativity!
I have only bought one mystery box. It was from Fabric Mart. I liked everything but one piece, which was a color I didn’t care for. I will try it again, because I know I will use it all, except the one.
I agree with your ending assessment. I don't think I'll go that route for fabric. Too many fabrics and colors I'd never use.
I’m a beginner so a mystery box would work awesome for me. I just need to sew. I have no favorite types or styles of fabric, so this video helps me tremendously! Getting a mystery box will help me learn how to use different fabrics, so it’s a big WIN! Thanks so much 😊
Fun Video! Your ‘dress a girl’ dresses are beautiful. I LOVE that you take the time to add the perfect neckline and pockets.
Thank you! My motto for Dress A Girl is that If I would not want to put it on my own child, then it is not good enough. Need to get pink ribbing and make those bows for the front of the dresses :)
You are so sweet. I look forward to the weekends because I know that you will be posting. Now that I am retired and the holidays are DONE I am planning on creating 'via' your tutorials......Bless you and your family for a wonderful New Year ....
I just found your channel!!! I LOVE it! And I love that you sew for Dress A Girl. I do too and I am even more inspired right now to get back to sewing. :)
Sabrina, hello there! Yay! I just saw your previous comment! DAG is wonderful, check out Mari Sews, she is the mastermind behind DAG in the youtube community, that's how I got involved :) she has a ton of info on her channel and you can find inspiration, free patterns for dresses (including mine) and more ;)
@@ThoughtfulCreativity Yes! I already found her and subscribed so I will look around there for her ideas. And I’ll look for yours too. :)
Had to look up that charity and we may do a drive too!
Love the concept of a mystery box, loved watching your unboxing and the dress project. This would not be for me, too much dance/athletic fabric, and too random small pieces. I wear a plus size so need to get exactly what is required if a project.
You are inspiring I love your informative videos.
Happy new year! 😀
Happy New Year to You as well!
Wow! You are such a great seamstress! Practice makes perfect! Which I don't do enough of. With that being said, my skills are only so good so none of the boxes would work for me because I only do projects that I don't wear like pillows, placemats, curtains, stuff like that. I guess if it was a home decorating mystery box I could figure out something with the fabric. Love the dresses!!! So cute!
Ah, yes, totally hear you, and when it comes to sewing items for kitchen use - lots of times you want it to be 100% cotton, so not knowing fiber content for sure is another minus point for the mystery boxes. Thank you for watching! I am excited for the dresses as well :)
So glad you bought these boxes and reviewed them. I get tempted but don’t have a use for a
Or of fabric
The dresses are cute. Some little girls will be lucky to receive them.
I love nick of time. They are limited to what they have but they are great to work with.
Great to hear that you have a good experience with them! :)
I wouldn't be able to wear most of those fabrics, but I think they might be good for some home decor and gift projects.
You surely entertain me with your beautiful personality and inspire me at the same time. 😅
I've bought several mystery boxes from Mood fabrics and have been very pleased with the choices they sent. The selections are typically one cut of fabric, around 5 yds plus coordinating thread, findings and suggested items.
You know, good that you mentioned MOOD. I wanted to order from them as well but they only have those boxes available sporadically, 10lbs mystery boxes, and at the time they were not available :( but I am super happy to hear you were happy with them!
I feel about the same as you do. I would rather pick my fabric then have sp much I wouldn't know what I wanted it for. Love your dresses. I have 3 done so far.
Oh my gosh. I do t think I could ever do a mystery box. It makes me nervous. And how cute are those dresses!!!
It was fun watching you open theses mystery boxes!!I would never order one because, like you, I have special taste when it comes to fabric. Can you share the dress pattern you use for these dresses? Would prefer ones that work well with cotton wovens. Thanks so much for letting us live vicariously through you in the mystery boxes.
Hello Cindy, glad you enjoyed it and now I have plenty of fun fabric for my community projects :) for the dresses - as pretty much everything in my channel they are self drafted, every year I make a free sewing g pattern available for Dress a Girl Around the world, you can find free patterns (from previous years) and videos for them on my channel :) edited to add: there is a video link in the description of this video that tells you everything you need to know about project dress a girl.
The 2 big holes are simply the way they mark the end of a curtain length in the continuous production of fabric 😅.
Yes, it was very funny they included such a piece.
Thanks for the info, Iris! Good to know :) It took me by surprise :) he he :)
Isn’t it some kind of quality controll?
I got a denim mystery bundle from nick of time, I was happy with it
I don’t recall other channel doing a mystery unboxing, so this video is quite interesting. Good value, but not for me. I would have an unwanted stash of fabric. I have to touch and know what I am getting. Sewing is time consuming. There would be no joy in making something that isn’t right for me.
However, if I had your talent and creativity, I would love the fabric and sew something wonderful. Those little dresses are beautiful!
Number four was my favorite :)
I really love the fabric mart boxes, but I only buy them when it's a specific fiber type. I have also purchased scrap by fiber type from Dharma Trading and had great experiences
Very exciting, you got some pretty fabrics. I personally find black fabric very useful but also like all the glossy and sparkling ones. Nice surprise boxes. The rest is okay.
This is a cool video. It also taught me that mystery boxes are not for me. I’m way too picky and don’t even know anyone to give my unwanted fabric to.
So cool! I didn't even know mystery fabric boxes was a thing. I might try one now.
Happy New Year to you my sewing friend
Thank you for this video! I had never heard of the charity Dress a Girl Around the World. Looking into participating with them myself.
Since watching one of your past video's regarding Project Dress A Girl, I got in touch with the the UK charity. So, I was informed what type of fabric, prints, etc. to use. Now, my question is the dressed you made with the fish print, which are lovely, but I have a lot of fabric with octupus, which was suggested I didn't use it and was thought to be more of a boy's pattern. Wondering what everyone thinks? I'm female and I would wear that design!
Angel, hello there! Oh... what I found from doing "Dress a girl" is that every ambassador and location/office sometimes has slightly different rules or what they like, preferences. Some allow one button on the dresses, some are okay with ties at the shoulders, some think it is not modest enough... some are okay with adding pockets themselves, some only want dresses with pockets. The way I go about making dresses for little ones is with a question: "Would I want my child to wear it?" if the answer is yes - then I make it, because I know I want to treat those in need just like my own child. So in my opinion if you would wear the octopus fabric - then do it :) I would totally put my little one in octopus print, especially for kids it is so fun! They love all creatures, and 8 arms is such a fun topic - he he :) I hope this helps! :) and thank YOU for doing this!
@@ThoughtfulCreativity I first found out about Dress A Girl from one of your video's :)
Man, I've got all the ideas and none of the skills to implement them. 😶😁If we were neighbors, I'd ask to collaborate or something. This was such a fun video to watch! (And informative- I didn't know that fabric stores sold scrap boxes like that!
I have gotten a mystery box from Fabric Mart. I got it on sale for 1/2 price. It was really good. I made a shacket out of a piece of black denim & have plans to use several other pieces. I think I got lucky with it. What is the jacket(pattern) that is hanging on your dress form? I'm wanting to make something similar. As always, I really enjoy your videos.
The jacket pattern is the same as I was wearing at the beginning of this video and is self -drafted from my knit bodice block sweater modification (both videos are on the channel, for knit bodice block and how to turn it into a sweater) and then added zipper with facing, pockets and neckline (tutorials for those are for Membera Only) :) inlove this jacket a lot!