Winner of 5th Challenge & FINAL Challenge Announced: Inspired by Artwork

The winner of the 5th challenge is...

Nakisha from Sew Crafty Chemist

Congratulations Nakisha! You are moving into the final round! You are also the winner of a special fabric bundle including an Italian coating with a laminated surface (VERY couture!), a water repellent linen, a printed linen and a paisley striped cotton shirting. You will also receive Dana Marie Design's Contemporary Classic Jacket Pattern and an assortment of Gutermann Cotton Thread.

Unfortunately, Ann from SewBaby will be leaving the challenge. Great job in making it this far! You (and all the other contestants that participated) are extremely talented sewers!!

Winner from the Flickr Page: Deb M. is the winner of two free patterns from the Fabric Mart Sewing Pattern Collection. This was a randomly selected drawing. Please email me
(fabricmartblog{@}gmail.com) to claim your prize.

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It's time to get out of you comfort zone!

Throughout time, fashion and art have come hand in hand. You couldn't have one without the other or we would look really boring. This week's challenge I'm asking you to pick an artwork, an art movement, an architectural design, etc. and create a garment or outfit that is reminiscent of what you chose. Your garment should be wearable in your life, but it's ok if you stand out, as long as you're ok with that! I just don't want you to create a "costume" that you will never wear. You can dye, paint, or do nothing to alter your fabric. The possibilities are endless.

Here are some ideas I found:

Yves Saint Laurent was inspired by Piet Mondrian's line art with primary colors.

The Art Deco Movement has inspired everything from fashion and illustration to buildings and fixtures.

When submitting your information, please include the following as well: Tell us what artwork, movement, etc. you chose and why you chose it. Include a photo of the inspiration too. Explain what fabrics you chose and why. Then also tell us about your garment, why you created what you did and how you can use it in your life.

We will be judging on a 1-10 scale (10 being the highest) using the following criteria:

Creativity - Did you put a lot of thought into your garment/outfit? Is there something that sets it apart from your average everyday garment?

Wear-ability - Is your garment/outfit wearable in your life? If you can pull off avant garde, go for it. But if you can't make sure it's tasteful to your life.

Craftsmanship - Were you careful in the overall construction of the garment?

Presentation - Stage your outfit in a setting that will go with your vision. Think of yourself as a model in a fashion spread. Submit a photo of the front, back and side view of the garment, as well as a "presentation photo" (this should be the best photo!) Detail photos are also requested so we can be better judges. So if you do some embellishing or a specific technique, zoom in and share with us! (Not all photos may be used in the final blog post, but shared with the judges.)

Guest Judges will be Angela Wolf and Sarah Bibb. Angela Wolf is known for her pattern line, Angela Wolf Designs and online classes on Pattern Review and Craftsy. Sarab Bibb is a designer/boutique owner in Portland, OR. You can check out her website HERE.

Left: Angela Wolf, Right: Sarah Bibb

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Entries are due by Wednesday, October 15th by 3pm, with viewer judging on Thursday, October 16 and Friday, October 17th. The winners will be announced Saturday, October 18th! (Contestants have had the challenge since October 7th.)

PRIZES!! --- Everyone wins something!

Grand Prize Winner will receive: $25 a month for one year to spend on fabric, plus be a Fabric Mart Fabricista for 6 months writing guest posts for the blog. (A $300 value with media exposure). You will also receive a Julie's Picks Membership.

Second place will receive: $100 gift certificate to spend at Fabric Mart, plus a Julie's Picks Membership to receive exclusive deals on select fabrics each month.

Third place will receive: $50 gift certificate to spend at Fabric Mart, plus a Julie's Picks Membership.

Reader Participation!

Don't forget!! If you are watching from the sidelines, you can participate in the challenge too! Head on over to our Flickr page and upload your finished garment! Follow the same rules as the Challenge participants. Upload a photo of your finished garment by Thursday, October 16st (made during the challenge please, no previously made items!) We will have a random drawing for the Flickr winner! They will win a $25 gift certificate for Fabricmartfabrics.com.

Ready, set, go!!

Made By A Fabricista: Sheer Elegance and Everyday Comfort with my Two New Tops

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with my last Fabricista make for 2025. While many sew a special holiday outfit at year’s end, I went in another direction sewing two tops that couldn’t be more different. One is sheer and elegant while the other is easy comfort for everyday wear. These tops reflect how I dress at this stage of life. As an over-50 sewist, these two tops reflect how I dress at this point in my life. Sometimes I want something a bit special, other times more basic. Either way, sewing them in beautiful fabrics, custom fit to my body, makes all the difference in how I feel when I wear them. Even though I’m quite pleased with my two tops, my original plan was to sew a jacket with the tropical print stretch twill and pair it with a top sewn from the soutache mesh knit . Sadly, I wasn’t quick enough to get enough of the stretch twill to make a jacket, so a top it was! You do know you have to act fast when you see something you love on Fabric ...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing for a Florida Cold Snap with Fabric Mart Fabrics

Even here in Florida, we get the occasional cold weather surprise, and when temperatures dipped recently, I was very glad to have the perfect handmade outfit ready to go. For this month’s Fabricista make, I sewed up New Look pattern 6771, using two beautiful fabrics sent to me by Fabric Mart Fabrics. The Fabric & Pattern Choice New Look 6771 is a cozy two-piece set featuring a relaxed-fit top and pull-on pants—exactly the kind of pattern that works well for transitional weather. I chose to start with the top, using a brown animal print French terry from Fabric Mart, and it turned out to be an absolute dream to work with. The French terry was soft, substantial without being heavy, and handled beautifully at the machine . It had just the right amount of structure to highlight the pattern’s design details while still feeling comfortable and wearable. From cutting to pressing, this fabric behaved perfectly and elevated the final garment. The Top: A Total Win The top from New Look 677...

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

Twirling in a me-made outfit! I live in a small town where the nearest fabric shop is a road trip away, so I almost exclusively shop for fabric online. Having access to an online shop like Fabric Mart with a solid search engine is incredibly helpful. But by far my favorite aspect of Fabric Mart is what I call the “Drape Picture” included in each listing! This picture gives me all the information I need and I find it more helpful than the exact weight per yard/square meter. Seeing how the fabric falls close or away from the body gives me a clear idea of how it will behave and inspires me to make it into something that will highlight the fabric’s nature. When I saw the drape of this “Baked Plum” wool suiting , I immediately wanted to immortalize those beautiful folds into a skirt! I opted for a simple self-drafted pleated skirt with a deep hem. I wear my dresses year-round and rely on wool skirts that I layer under or over my dresses for warmth. I cut two panels for the front ...

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