Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricistas: Summer Staples

By
Hi Fashionistas!

 Summer is in full effect and we have had some really hot days.

 I sewed up a couple quick summer tops. I wanted something basic but cute, to wear with shorts, skirts, or jeans. So I decided on two summer tops. The first one is in a gray jersey knit. This fabric is so soft and comfortable. I ordered one yard and that was enough and I have a little bit leftover fabric.



This is seriously the most comfortable thing in my wardrobe right now. 

I self-drafted this top. The drafting took about 30 minutes. The sleeves are dolman, which means there is no setting in the sleeve, which also makes the sewing very quick. 


Also, I  love the clean cover stitch on here.  I used my Brother Coverstitch machine, which I absolutely love and have been using for over two years


I drafted cuffs for the sleeves and a band for the waist.


Here is the back view. I made the neckline on the front and back exactly the same, and gave it a boat neck shape, which is one of my favorite.



 Now moving on to the next top, I also made a white top in a white french terry. This was my 1st time working with a french terry. It is also very soft and is a stable knit. It is thicker, more like a double knit.

 Since this fabric had more structure, I decided to play with the sleeves a bit, and create some pleats/gathers.  I call them pleats/ gathers because although they are technically pleats facing up, they look more like gathers because the fabric is a knit. This same pattern manipulation on a woven would look very structured, like pleats.


I chose the McCalls M6886 pattern and changed up the sleeves and the hem, and also turned the dress into a top. I do this often. 


I did a curved hem. 


On the sleeves and neck, I once again used my Brother Coverstitch machine, which I highly recommend. 


I hope you enjoyed reading about my latest makes. Next I am working on creating a custom dressform cover for myself. A custom dressform is something I have wanted for a very long time. I'll be sewing up my custom shell using this online class on Craftsy, but instead of using a commercial pattern, I plan on creating my shell from my custom sloper, which can be drafted using this Bodice Sloper Class

 So lots of sewing and fitting for me in the near future, but a custom dressform has been a life long dream :) I'll share my progress with you once that is done.
See you in July!
XOXO

Comments

  1. Linda TJune 21, 2017 at 7:22 AM

    Love them all but especially the little white one with the pleated sleeves! Of course, you look great in anything you make; such a great figure!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LindaJune 21, 2017 at 11:45 AM

    You look very sad in your photos today. I hope you feel as beautiful as you look. Your tops are quite lovely and I am particularly fond on the neckline on the white, pleated sleeve top. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJune 28, 2017 at 1:18 PM

      Thanks Linda! I do feel as beautiful as I look ;) We are all going through a shared human experience called life, and some days I do feel sad! But I am very happy today and thanks for your sweet comment.

      Delete
  3. Monica DJune 21, 2017 at 11:53 AM

    Don't you look CUTE as always ... FIESTA :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

By
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 ...
12 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Which comes first – the fabric or the pattern?

By
Ah, the age old question garment sewers are often asked – do you choose the pattern first and then look for fabric, or do you buy fabric and then later decide what it will be when it grows up? If you are a sewist with a large fabric stash (like myself), then perhaps you are on Team Fabric. I would say I definitely lean that way, but there are also times when I land somewhere in the middle – I see a fabric and I think, I’ve just seen a pattern and these two would be perfect together! And that’s how gorgeous dusty rose stretch velvet and a recently released cardigan pattern came together to create the newest addition to my wardrobe. And had me improvising a few things along the way. First. I have to admit - I have a stretch velvet problem. I see it pop up on the website and I almost always grab it, especially if I see a sale. It’s not the easiest fabric to sew (it’s slippery as heck!), but I love it so much and I especially love using it in non-traditional ways. In my last blog post, I...
4 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Simplicity 8847

By
Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make!  Is it too early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? Because this fabric is giving all the heart vibes. With rich red hearts scattered across a dark base, it feels festive without being over-the-top—and completely wearable well beyond February. This time around, the fabric completely stole the show. I used a Dark Navy/Crimson/White Polyester/Lycra Hearts Print Brushed Sweater Knit by a NY Designer , and it was love at first sight. Even though it’s labeled navy, in person it reads more like a deep black base with these beautiful red hearts throughout. When you zoom in, you’ll also spot the designer’s name and a tiny smiley face woven into the print - such a fun, unexpected detail. This fabric immediately spoke my name when I saw it online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Before sewing, let’s talk fabric care and prep - because it matters. This sweater knit is wash and dry friendly, which makes it practical for e...
4 comments
Continue Reading »