Friday, October 28, 2011

Golightly Cashmere Knit-Goods at Common Thread

Snow has arrived, and Golightly Cashmere Featherweight Scarves, Wrist Warmers, and Footsies are here in delicious new colors for 2011-12. Handloomed in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico, Golightly Cashmere products are heirloom quality and make excellent gifts. Spot these amazing handknits at Common Thread today--while supplies last!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

At Common Thread We Never Run Out Of Fabric

You've seen it.  The last fluttering shred of fabric.
You once witnessed it unravel, until nothing was left--on a day of rejoice..

..the day you let your creative instincts wander into Common Thread

Friday, September 9, 2011

A Deeply Woven Lore

Find softness, warmth, and comfort in Pendleton Woolens
Common Thread has received Pendleton blanket-weight woolen fabrics in five exhilarating patterns, just in time for fall and winter in the Rockies! These are the same materials used in the famous Pendleton Trade blankets, dating back a century. Each is a fully reversible, double-faced design woven with fine, brightly colored wool yarns on a jacquard loom. 64" wide. 32 oz. We offer cuts as short as 1/8 yard. Need edging and piping? Common Thread carries Pendleton's 1.5" width wool felt trims in a range of coordinating colors. What's your project?
San Miguel / Grey
Holiday Canyon

spirit people

Common Thread introduces Pendleton's new Eco-Wise 54" heavy wool flannel in solid colors. Eco-Wise is a Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) certified 18 oz virgin wool. Cradle-to-Cradle means the product has been evaluated for it's environmental compatibity and renewability. Eco-Wise wools can be fully recycled--or composted.

Eco Wise Wool / Tobacco

Monday, August 22, 2011

The World as a Body of Folds

Is fabric an object, or a substance, or a material, or a tool? Our love of fabric is sometimes said to be a love of folds. Where, the fold may be perceived as a simple and readily accessible metaphor for how we are made and connected to the world.
A stack of folded fabric lends visual and tactile value to a thing that sometimes exists in the absence of immediate function. Looking closely at fabric in it's many different variations, we see an intertwinement of twisted fiber, folded and tucked in to itself, revealing texture, strength, and utilityAs a wholeness, fabric is found to behave like it's composite moving parts. As a uniquely human attribute, fabric is something we have for a very long time clothed ourselves in, shielded ourselves by, and contained things with. The fabric of our lives is not only a familiar working material, but it is also a trait, and--an affection.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Pleated Silk / Wearable Textiles

Common Thread has just received these luxurious thai silk wearable textiles. Measuring 72" long, these pieces are 16" wide overall, flare to 30" on either end where the pleats let out, and finish out with twisted fringe. Pleating adds strength and substance. Available in a range of solid colors, or tie-dyed combinations. These sturdy wearable textiles may be worn as a scarf, a sash, or a simple shawl. You get to decide!


Saturday, August 6, 2011

The Iconic and Functional Beauty of Woodblocks


Woodblock printing is an artisanal hand-process of printing patterns on textiles (or other materials, such as paper), by using carved wooden blocks. Woodblocks for textile printing are often carved out of box, lime, holly, sycamore, or pear wood. A substantial thickness of wood is required to prevent warping. A design for a single or repeatable pattern in a single color, is drawn or transferred onto the finely planed surface of a wood block that is then cut and shaped to reflect the design's form factor. A blockcutter carves the wood, beginning with the intended design's heavier elements, and gradually moving to it's finer elements. A finished block has the appearance of a bas relief, or letterpress type. The most intricate details require the greatest skill and control to produce, and are the first to wear down during printing production. A handle often made of a softer wood, such as pine, is typically attached to the block.


Kalamkari-style block-printed cotton textiles, such as those found at Common Thread, are produced in India using these types of woodblocks. The word Kalamkari consists of the Persian words kalam (pen) and kari (craftmanship), meaning to draw with a pen. Today, the traditional hand-drawn surface designs using vegetable dyes have been supplemented and replaced by printing production with woodblocks. This is in a sense, taking a hand-drawn image and creating patterns by repeating it. The term Kalamkari often still applies. An example of how words and meanings may evolve over time.


Discarded tools of an ancient and thriving trade, woodblocks are simple one-of-a-kind objects of archetypal beauty. Common Thread has just received over 100 woodblocks--many of which are still functional for printing on fabric, paper, or wood. These blocks are also popular with ceramicists for producing patterns and textures in clay. Come see. Come let your creative instincts wander--into Common Thread!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Rayon Tassel Shawls

These silky rayon shawls from Guatemala are posh! Hand-dyed and hand-loomed, these shawls (or wraps) measure 26" (66cm) x 72" (183cm) and are finished-out with either pom-poms or tassel fringe. A variety of rich colors and ikat patterning to choose from. Perfect for the patio on a cool mountain evening, or to wrap up with after a swim in the river..

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Vintage Backstrap-Loomed Runners

Common Thread has received a collection of vintage Maya backstrap woven runners, featuring intricate weft-faced ikat designs in precise compositions not often seen today. Many of these pieces are from the Totonicapan area. These textile panels average about 20" (50cm) wide by around 70" (178cm) long, and are fringed on either end. They can alternatively be worn--as a wrap, a scarf, or a shawl..

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Open Weave Hand Loomed Cotton Scarves at Common Thread

Light and breathable, these open weave 100% cotton scarves are handwoven in Guatemala. The pieces measure 14"x72", and can also serve as table runners. As is the case with many artisan-made textiles, these weavings are simply beautiful to look at. The mostly undyed warp threads yield a natural fringe, and provide for cool muted colors. 

Monday, July 18, 2011

huipil (tunic)

Witness cultural design at it's best in the form of these lovingly handwoven and embroidered, functional works of art. Huipil are tops worn by traditional women of the Central America highlands. We have recieved a limited number of previously worn huipil. Discover these and other extraordinary one-of-a-kind textiles from the Western Hemisphere, at Common Thread!

A huipil (from the Nahuatal uipilli, meaning "blouse"`- "dress") is a form of Maya textile and tunic or blouse worn by indigenous Mayan, Zapotec, and other women in central to southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Elsalvador, and western Honduras, in the northern part of Central America. The elaborate design and patterns of a traditional woman's huipil may convey the wearer's village, marital status, and personal beliefs. They are usually made from two or three woven panels joined with decorative stitching, then doubled over and a hole cut in the center panel for the neck (unless woven in during the weaving) and decorated with stitchery. The sides are joined together with more decorative stitching, allowing openings for the arms and in the more ceremonial pieces, ribbons run down the length of the sides of the middle panel, sometimes with the ribbon forming a serrated collar ornament with two loose lengths of ribbons in the front, often in two colors. The length of the huipil varies from a simple sleeveless top extending to the waist or slightly below to a knee- or calf-length tunic forming draping scapular sleeves because of the width.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Super Colorful All Purpose Running Stitch Covers



These cheerful Kantha embroidery-style/running-stitch spreads consist of richly printed 100% cotton layered with a coordinating solid color reverse. Available in two sizes and a range of colors. Suitable as a bedspread or throw, a tablecloth--or as a delightfully soft ground cover for picnic and swimming!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

A Scarf for Wandering the High Desert

Casually pleated and stitch-laced, our new scarves are woven in rayon. Designed to channel the desert breeze, they offer ventilation, protection--and otherwise ample technical reassurance. Check out the exquisite fringe work!

colors shown: oyster / pewter

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Zen View / Cultivating Inner Sanctity


Swathe and swaddle your inner secrets, and sacred and nurturing objects in their private spaces, with unbound lengths of fabric. Explore the architectures of light and form. Many weights, textures, and colors of fabric are yours for the choosing. No need to cut and sew..
(shown in photo: silk habotai with sulphur crystals)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Zen View / Shrouding and Revealing the Sky Corridor

In Southwest high elevations, sky is near the center of attention. While an awareness of sky is a pleasurable facet of life here, over-exposure to sun can be detrimental. The conventional window-darkening treatment of an abruptness of drapery, tends to interrupt--disconnect--our attention, from the exterior world of living. An alternative and more transparent approach to interior shading can be achieved by modulating sunlight from high intensity to soft shadow through suspended layers of fabric. Looping and layering with ultra-light to medium weight silks, cottons, and linens can create delightful and unpredictable iridesces, reveals, and patterns of moire.  Encounter subtle gradients of illumination, pattern, and color through the creative use of unmanipulated fabrics. No need to cut and sew. By preserving a fabric's wholeness, it can easily be changed, removed, laundered, folded--and ultimately re-purposed..

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Zen View / The Wholeness Intimacy and Allure of Fabric

Experience the essence of woven fabric by allowing it to hang informally. Generously loop fabrics over a suspended rod or a bough. Allow each fabric to drape and break according to it's unique weight, texture, and quality of construction. No need for cutting and sewing. Work with fabrics as you would a color palatte. Combine and layer. Play with placement. Discover the nature of an unadorned fabric's weave, and the beauty of it's selvages. Feel it's wholeness. Behold the intimacy and allure of fabric!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Translucent Fabric / Elevated Sunlight

experience creases, folds, and imperfection as part and parcel--of what is handmade

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

"The April's in her Eyes: it is Love’s Spring”

avril abrir  apre apricot 
Praecoquus  ~ precocious  “early, ripe” 
apricare : to bask in the sun

Incoming Goods for April 
Cotton Embroidery Thread (Pearl Cotton / 6-Ply and #5)
Hoops!
Fabric Yard Goods: Silk Brocade, Habotai, Dupioni, and Hand-Block-Printed Cottons
Vintage Toweling Material with Cherries
Dyed Coconut Buttons 
Woven Cotton Rugs, Handbags, and Aprons.  
Silk Habotai and Chiffon Scarves. Fresh Spring Colors
Kantha Embroidery Shawls & Scarves in Cotton and Silk 
Cotton Voile Sarongs
Handmade "Silkworm" Pincushions
Vintage: Wood Printing Blocks, Wooden Clothes Pins, Cigar Boxes, Towels, and Tablecloths...

Your Friendly Neighborhood Fabric Shop

Monday, March 21, 2011

See-Sew-Go / 2 Minimalist Projects


Cut, fold and sew vintage french ribbon to make a sleek wallet..

Cut, fold, sew, and attach silk organza and organza ribbon to make a wearable smart phone satchel. Touchscreen can be easily activated (at checkout) through the fabric!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Running Stitch Tote Bags

"The bees don't know it's Sunday,
They tote and store and go for more, 
The bees don't know it's Sunday, 
And neither does the rose" / Malvina Reynolds
This pleated and quilted cotton tote resembles a miniature duffel bag--or a wearable jar. An expandable catch-all for everyday use.  Designed with a narrow diameter opening to eliminate the need for closure, the bag's intensive running stitch quilted construction binds layers of cotton to provide cushion and durability. Inside zip pocket. We offer this bag in a range of vibrant colors!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Block Printed Cotton Voile Sarongs (Vaquero Style)

Wrap yourself in a big beautiful bandana! Ultra-soft, lightweight cotton voile sarongs are here. Sheer. Versatile. Hand block printed. Available in pink, hunter green, and yellow. Finished with roll stitched edging. (45"x72") $24.95. While they last! Check out how to tie a Sarong, here