Made by a Fabricista: You're Gonna Hear Me Roar!!

Helloooo!! I'm back and I'm still sewing with knits! Recently I made it my mission to find more TNT- tried and true patterns, those that I've mastered the fit on and I can come back to again and again for easy no fuss makes. One of the patterns I chose to master was a basic knit dress. What's not to love about knits I ask?? I'm quickly becoming obsessed! Knits are so comfy to wear...soft, breathable, stretchy and easy to launder, wash-dry-no iron involved!

I picked up this fun animal print jersey knit from Fabric Mart. (Exact fabric not available yet, but check out the other knits available!) It's lightweight and super comfy. For the pattern I used Kitschy Coo's Lady Skater pattern. This pattern is very functional, dress it up for work or play it down with some sneakers for shopping. It features a fitted bodice that ends at the natural waistline and flows into an easy breezy skirt. It's flattering on any body type.

I started with a tissue fitting of the pattern on my handmade dress form, then moved to a muslin. Very quickly (because I know fitting can be a real snooze to read about) my alterations were (I cut a size 3):

1. Shortened front and back bodice 2 1/2 inches

2. Shortened upper back bodice 3 inches, this really helped my swayback problem

3. Pinned out excess on front bodice, armpit to apex

4. Shortened the sleeves 5 inches.

5. Shortened hem line 1 inch

Once my muslin confirmed a good fit I moved on to the real deal. Using my serger allowed me to make this in a little over an hour. I always breathe a little easier after the neckline band is attached. I'm so paranoid I'm either going to stretch it too much resulting in a puckered neckline or stretch it not enough for a floppy neckline. This neck band was drafted to perfection, no holding my breath necessary!

The only time I used my sewing machine was when using the twin needle to finish the neckline and hem line.

I'm really pleased and excited to have one tried and true pattern to add to my stash. I've also made this up in a red ponte knit and think this striped print would be super cute.

Because the knit is lighter weight it will be perfect for spring or summer. But that's not gonna stop me from wearing it now with boots and a cardigan!

What's your TNT knit pattern?

~Shannon

Made By A Fabricista: Revisiting a Pattern After Five Years

Have you ever used a sewing pattern and then immediately vowed never to sew it again? Well, I have. It all began in the spring of 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown. I tackled sewing projects that were more challenging to help me grow as a seamstress. There was one pattern in particular that almost did me in, the Seamwork Penny shirt dress. The Penny dress pattern has a classic button-up dress shirt style bodice with a gathered skirt and pockets. It is a beautiful take on a shirt dress, and my sister and I loved it. The only downside is that it was recommended for intermediate-level sewists and I was only an adventurous beginner back then. I think I had only ever made one button-up shirt before attempting this Penny Dress and it didn’t even have a collar! Despite all of this, I thought “Why not try it, what’s the worst that can happen?” Thankfully the worst didn’t happen, and the dress turned out surprisingly wearable, but I had some intense frustration at the end. I...

Made By A Fabricista: A Simple Frock for Spring

Hello friends! I’m really into sewing and wearing tent dresses at the moment. A tent dress is basically a wide A-line style gown. For this month’s project, I’ve opted to try out The Assembly Line’s Square Neck Dress. This style is a little avant-garde in its enormity and shape, and boasts the squared neckline it’s named after, plus some cute hem side slits. All that volume is fun to move around in, plus there’s loads of air circulation which is cooling. This dress’s main feature–its wide and high squared neckline–really piqued my interest recently, and I added it to my Make Nine plans for 2025. I find it so satisfying to check off those boxes as I sew! This beautiful shirtweight linen is a color I simply adore; a muted medium blue. Stormy skies, worn-in denim, and ocean waves all come to mind, and that is exactly what I want to be all wrapped up in. While I think a wild or large print would be amazingly on display in this big canvas of a dress, I also thought that a subtle ...

Made By A Fabricista: Bold Aspen Dress for Spring

As I write this in mid-April, central New Jersey weather is showing small signs of spring. My neighbor’s daffodils are blooming and our magnolia tree is trying to unfold its vibrant magenta petals. I am in the midst of preparing my wardrobe for the warmer months, even if we are still huddling against windy 30 degree days. For me, warm weather means linen. I love breathable, floaty linen sundresses and drapey, loose linen wide-leg pants. My vision for a spring piece was something bold and bright, inspired by the natural colors of blooming flowers, but also something that could transition well between the warmer and cooler months. When I saw Fabric Godmother’s Apsen Dress, I knew that it had the sensible transitional opportunities I was looking for while also providing a blank canvas for fun prints, patterns and colors. With the pattern in mind, I then turned to the stunning linen collection that Fabric Mart always has on hand to see what colors or patterns would best suit my visio...

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