Fashion Challenge Week 1: Same Fabric, Different Look

I'm so excited to start this new season of the Fabricista Fashion Challenge! It is a reader favorite and I know it's fun, stressful, exciting and nerve-wracking for the contestants! So let's begin!

This week's challenge is called, "Same Fabric, Different Look."

This fabric is a polyester/lycra blend sweater knit. It is a large geometric print, printed on a heathered gray sweater knit fabric. It is 58/60" wide. Perfect deep colors and weight for fall!

Each contestant received 3 yards of the same sweater knit print. Use this fabric to create any garment for yourself, that is flattering, fun and perfect for fall. I get a lot of requests from customers asking how to use sweater knits and this is your chance to show them what to do! Along with making the garment, give the readers at least 3 tips on working/sewing with sweater knits. The tips can be very simple (good for beginners) and/or more complex for more advanced sewers. You could end up saying similar things, but I'm sure you will each have unique insight into sewing with sweater knits, whether you come up with them during the sewing process or through research you did online. If you find info online, please give credit to the place you found it. (Everyone deserves credit!)

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

Validity of Tips - Did you come up with valid tips for working with sweater knits? Is the wording easy to understand for all levels of sewers? Did you give credit to those who deserve it whether it came from a book or online source?

Fit – Does the garment proportionately fit you? Not too short, not too long, not too tight? If you made a top, does it fit in the shoulders? If there's something about the fit that you think we would challenge, please tell us why you chose to do what you did.

Craftsmanship - Did you put a lot of care into the construction? Top-stitching straight, seams match, careful overall construction, etc?

Presentation - While we totally understand not everyone has a professional camera and the perfect backdrop for photographing their creations, (Me included!!) you are in front of a world of other sewers. Make yourself look presentable. 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 the photos may be used in the blog post, but for judges reference. 

This week's guest judges are Dina and Ann, two of the Fabricista bloggers! Dina was the winner of the challenge two years ago. Ann was one of the challengers in the same year and we invited her to join the team later on. Both are very talented seamstresses.

Due Date: All photos, text, etc is due on Tuesday, September 13th. The finished projects will be revealed for reader voting Sept 14-15 and the winner will be announced on Friday, September 16th. 

Attention readers! Don't forget to vote for your favorite piece! A link for voting will be provided on reveal day.

Prizes: Winner of this challenge will receive 3 patterns of their choice from our hand-picked pattern collection of Independent Pattern Designers.

Reader Participation:
This week's challenge is a tough one for you to sew along with since you do not have the fabric. But we aren't going to leave you in the dust! Your challenge is to make a garment from any sweater knit. Post a photo on Facebook or Instagram using #FabricistaFabricMart by Sept 15 and 3 winners will be picked at random to receive their very own 3 yard piece of the gorgeous sweater knit the contestants used in the challenge.

Ready? Set, Go!