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.

_________________________________________________________

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

_________________________________________________________________

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: Closing 2025 with a Lined Jacket

Hello again, sewing friends! It seems we have arrived yet again in the grandest season for layering, all this oncoming cold weather. I like ending the year with something warm and very useful. Seems based on my past Fabricista posts, I love to sew year-end outerwear, and this round is no different! I challenged myself with a new lined coat (wait, jacket? Coat? I feel like the presence of wool changes things?). Anyhoo, since the lovely Chalk & Notch Den Jacket has been in my queue, I proceeded ahead. I like the large pockets, the option to line or not, and the extra bodice and sleeve seams for topstitching. Sewing this coat is not at all difficult, but the many pieces and loads of topstitching will take a bit of time. My version took me a few multiple-hour sessions to complete. I sewed a size 2, which matches my measurements, and I made no alterations. Hint: for a quick size test, just employ the lining pieces. Gorgeous, muted blue as a soft wool flannel ? This is ...

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: Chalk and Notch Wren Dress: My Buffet dress for the Christmas season!

I recently sewed the Chalk and Notch Wren dress using a beautifully soft black voile from Fabric Mart, and it turned into such a satisfying, enjoyable project. The pattern itself is very easy to understand and straightforward with clear instructions, intuitive construction, and a relaxed fit that makes the sewing process easy. A buffet dress in the sewing community is a dress that is loose fitting, so you can eat at the buffet without your dress being uncomfortable afterwards, lol! Because the voile I chose is extremely thin and transparent, I opted to line the bodice and first tier. Adding a lining not only provided modesty but also gave the delicate fabric a bit more stability, especially around the neckline and button placket. A helpful tip when sewing a lining into a lightweight bodice is to treat the lining and the main fabric as one. I sewed the bodice as you would for a lined bodice, and the first tier I sewed the pieces together with a basting stitch to make the process...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog