Made by A Fabricista: Polyester Plaids

Spring is just around the corner, and I am still obsessed with plaids! I wanted to officially end my journey with the color combination that originally lit the fire of plaids in my life this season. The fabric used for these pants is a poly novelty weave suiting found (HERE). I actually used the wrong side of this fabric because the lines seemed more in line with my taste (grainy and broken vs the other side)

Right Side

Wrong Side

I used Simplicity 8056/S0652 to create these pants. It is part of the Amazing Fit series and had alternate back pieces for different body types. I used the curvy option. Unlike many of my other projects, I created this garment as per the manufacturer instructions with one minor adjustment, which was added 3 inches to the length. The construction took a tad bit longer vs some of my go to slopers. The level of detail is not that far off from constructing jeans. I plan on converting this into a sloper as well for future jumpsuits/rompers and pants suits. The pattern also contained some great tips on interfacing and the waistband which also has facing.

I used my inseam as the dominant stripe for these pants.

My top is a basic peplum in painted leather (originally green) and was created using Vogue 8815 with an additional breast dart.

The polyester was just light enough to wear today! I hope each and every one of you have an awesome week. Until next time......

Happy Sewing!!

- Jenese

Needles and Fashion

Made By A Fabricista: The Sheer Volume Of It All!

This garment was inspired by a dress I saw in an ad, and when I went to purchase it (which I rarely do)…I realized that the dress didn’t come in my size. Ticked off and with $300 back in my pocket, I decided to draft it myself. The description listed the fabrication as a silk cotton voile, so I used that as a starting point to recreate the simple yet elegant silhouette. My drafting experience is limited; I’ve only ever made garments that are pleated rectangles that fit into an elasticated waist. No darts, no complicated calculations, and definitely no sleeves. But I’d have that dress if it’s the last thing I do! I made a drawing, created a Pinterest board to document my inspiration, and narrowed down the features I really wanted to have: billowy bubble-hemmed bishop sleeves (say it three times fast!), a fitted and lined bodice, and a gathered tiered skirt. Finally, it was time to shop for fabric. I knew I wanted a silk blend of some kind, without breaking the bank. For weeks, I ke...

Made By A Fabricista: Just Wear It Out!

Originally I wasn’t happy with my make this time around. I put it on fresh off the sewing machine and didn’t love how it fit. My elastic was slightly too narrow for what the pattern called for. I did end up putting a stitch to close up the v-neck on the top. I thought my sewing on the waistband looked sloppy and I looked kind of frumpy in the outfit. I was going to put the project down to fix later but decided to wear it out for some feedback from our web manager and one of the describers. I ended up pleasantly surprised! The fabric is super comfortable and I felt really good wearing it. All the things I didn’t like kind of melted away wearing it out. The flaws were so small that only I noticed them. I think it’s important to remember that while striving for perfect seams and flawless construction is good, a handmade garment doesn’t have to be perfect to be wearable. This isn’t the first time I’ve softened on a garment after wearing, and it certainly won’t be the last! The 100% c...

Made By A Fabricista: In Love with Linen

Linen is the best fabric to sew and wear. I selected a beautiful 100% linen from Fabric Mart that is a steel blue and cream floral linen to sew up a By Hand London Hannah Wrap Dress pattern. The flowers look like Dahlias. I originally sewed a Toile from a black and white cotton bedsheet, wore the dress a lot but never made it again. I gave the Toile away to a friend who always commented on how much she loved the dress. When I saw this fabric, I knew I wanted to make the Hannah again. Linen is so easy to sew the entire experience reminded me why linen remains one of my favorite fabrics to sew. I look for a light to medium weight European linen for a dress. I like a rayon or cotton blend with linen because it seems to have more drape and be more soft. Linen gets softer with washing and wearing it. This particular linen feels crisp and after ironing and washing, softens up. I like how Fabric Mart describes the fabrics as top, dress, blouse, shirt weight under “Use” and will describe...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog