In 2008, at the launch of Alabama Stitch Book and before The School of Making was established, we began receiving questions about where to purchase organic materials and sewing supplies like the ones were using at Alabama Chanin. As some of the items were difficult to source, we began offering a small selection of our fabrics and notions for sale, so organic cotton jersey and great sewing needles were available to all. Over the years, we expanded our offerings, creating five books, hosting workshops, developing patterns, and sourcing sustainable tools and notions, and in 2014, The School of Making was officially born.

Over the last decade, we have continually updated our tools and materials according to changes in supply chain and raw cotton availability. The same is true for our cotton jersey fabric colors. With dye houses closing across the nation as the decline in American production accelerated, we dug in and worked to provide an extensive range of core colors for our maker community. In 2016, with the loss of a trusted dye house partner, we reduced the number of fabric colors we carried to match new production necessities. These colors continued to find resonance with the maker community and as The School of Making grew, we noticed trends in which colors our makers loved, responded to, and purchased.  Recently, and after a great deal of research and discussion about sustainability, supply, demand, and inventory, we are excited to announce that we are updating our offerings, updating our core 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey color selection to 12 essential and most-requested guest favorites. These twelve favorite core colors include: White, Natural, Sand, Baby Blue, Dove, Peacock, Navy, Ochre, Plum, Blue Slate, Earth, and Black. These colors will remain (to the very best of our ability) stocked year-round.

Because of this change in our structure, we will be able to offer expanded and exciting Limited-Edition Colors on a revolving basis. We currently offer five limited-edition colors:  Forest, Salmon, Verdant, Parchment, and Terracotta. Look for this number to grow in the coming months. Our design team is always looking for new ways to work and experiment with color, so we are excited for the opportunity to play with new shades and seasonal palettes that inspire.

With this new structure, the following colors, which we have clearly loved over the years, will be retired: Doeskin, Ballet, Ruby, Carmine, Camel, Pewter, Grape, Twilight, Storm Blue, Burgundy, and Apple. While it is sad to see these beloved beauties take a rest, they may appear again in limited-edition seasonal color palettes. Until that time, there are limited stocks available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additionally, we will be phasing out our Lightweight Organic Cotton Jersey offerings due to lack of interest and the additional difficulty in hand-sewing.

Evolution, while not always easy, is a natural part of running a sustainable business and is inherent in the design process.  We learn from our processes and work every day to grow our mission, find better ways to use our materials and supplies, and to provide elevated experiences. This new system helps The School of Making reduce waste, enhance design, and aids in keeping our production processes lean and responsible.

We look forward to continue providing materials that are unique to The School of Making. Let us know what colors you’d like to see in our rotation and, as always, please reach out with any questions about our products, our business, and our business model. Please remember that our colors are offered on a first-come, first-served, rotating basis. Dye lots can change and vary; this is part of the process of making beautiful textile. For this reason, purchase the full quantity of fabric you require (or desire) for any given project at the same time.

In lieu of a color card, our core and limited-edition organic cotton jersey colors are now available in 5” x 5” swatches for $1.00 per swatch. 

Thank you for always coming along on our journey.

Natalie