Fabric Mart Fabricistas

We had a lovely, warm September in central New Jersey but as of last week, fall has finally started to set in. While I’m no longer operating on a school calendar, I always look forward to the return of fall, the crisp air, the colorful leaves, and the opportunity to “turn over a new leaf.” While exploring the Fabric Mart website, browsing all their gorgeous cottons, I was incredibly inspired by the Eggshell/Black 100% Cotton Horizontal Stripe Weave Lawn . It looks exactly like a lined piece of paper. I thought it would make a fun top for work during this transitional season, one that sparks “blank page” creativity. I wanted to pair the top with a simple yet classic pair of pants, allowing each piece to be a quality addition to my work and loungewear wardrobe, working together and as separates. I picked up the beautiful Midnight Navy/White 100% Tencel Chambray , which has a fun denim-look while being quite soft and flowy. When designing the top, I wanted to play with the stripes. I chos...

Hooray, the best season has finally arrived again! I don’t know about you, but I spend all summer sweaty and wishing for cooler weather despite my massive appreciation for sundresses. I prefer a chill in the air, a breeze rustling my skirt, and layered garments for coziness!  Would you believe I have never sewn a wrap pinafore dress in all my hundreds of garments? It’s shocking, I know. I’ve had one on my mind for at least a year or two, but narrowing down the final pattern wasn’t easy. In the end, I chose the Fibre Mood Khloe Pinafore because I really like the straight, high neckline and the finishes at the wrapped bodice.  So here we are, combining the best of all possible worlds, a wrap pinafore that is utterly magnificent for summer, BUT adding a long sleeved layer underneath to take it seamlessly right into autumn.  On the dress, my only change was to widen the shoulder straps by doubling their width for better bra concealment when I wear it alone. I do wish I’d adde...

Crisp, crunchy leaves, rows of colorful mums, and a harvest of pumpkins are how I envision fall. The rich colors of red, gold, and orange fill my mind with visions of fun fall outings and wearing autumnal hues. Fabric Mart’s website is stocked with fabrics perfect for autumn sewing projects. With every type of fabric imaginable, in every desirable color, I knew I was shopping at the perfect time. When I started browsing the site, I found two fabrics that screamed “FALL!” The first fabric was a black, pumpkin, and cream, ornate, floral lattice print on polyester crepe in a blouse-weight . I loved the floral motif inside the lattice diamonds, and of course, the colors. Paired with the Assembly Line Puff Shirt pattern, I knew this would make a super cute fall top. The next fabric I found was a black stretch twill fabric with soft yellow polka dots. I envisioned a traditional denim-style jacket with this fabric. To warm up the black fabric base and accentuate the soft yellow polka dots, I...

Is we too many people?  Am I the only one making halter dresses in the fall? I’m not quite ready to start my fall/winter sewing, so I’ll keep summer going.  My summer was pretty eventful, and I didn’t get to sew much and now I’m trying to do a little catching up.  I’ve had this dress on my mind for a while now and I thought now is as good a time as any to sew it up and I’m so glad I did. For this month’s post, I decided to make the Julia Dress from Viki Sews.  This dress features a semi-fitted bodice with a full gathered skirt and a deep V-shaped back. The dress fastens at the neck and back with ties and of course it has pockets! I love the length of this dress. It’s not too short and it’s not too long, which is usually an issue for me because I’m so short. Based on my body measurements, I purchased a size 52, which is their largest size. Before I made a muslin, I measured the pattern at the waist and realized I needed to add a few inches. This might seem a little in...