Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Summer Work Clothing

For July's blog post, I knew I needed some more work clothes for the summer months and that is exactly what I wanted to make!  I am going to be starting a more professional job at the end of the summer and need some additional clothes that are appropriate for my new position that I can wear now and in the future. 


I love maxi dresses, and have several for one of my daughters, but noticed I didn't have any maxi skirts.  What? I've made view A for her and now one for me!  I hoped to make a coordinating top and a little jacket, just in case it gets chilly in an air-conditioned office. The skirt pattern is a New Look TNT pattern for me.  

New Look Pattern 6288 Misses' Pull on Knit Skirts

It is super simple with two side seams and a waistband. It literally takes me an hour to make!  I don't like to string elastic through a casing so I ended up sewing the two elastic ends together, stuffing them into the waistband, and then stitching the waistband to the skirt. Super simple and no opening to fiddle with when you're done!



I fell in love with this sparkly black and white ITY knit.  I know, I know.  I use a lot of black and white when I sew but I love how effortless it is to put together.  This knit is soooo soft and that hint of sparkle is an added treat!  It doesn't seem to be available anymore but there are lovely other knits available, even in black and white!



For the top, this is a new to me pattern.  This is the StyleArc Seaside Sue top.  I love the v-neck, which I don't sew a lot of but I decided I needed more of this style in my wardrobe.

Seaside Sue Top Sewing Pattern By Style Arc - Great throw on tunic with interesting hemline

This knit was easy to work with.  It washes and dries beautifully, is comfortable and I am glad I made these into separates.  The top will work great with both black and white pants and the skirt will work with other tops as well.


I also wanted to make a very light little jacket to wear as everyone tells me my new office is very cold in the summer.  I am rarely cold, so I can't imagine being cold but wanted to make this little jacket just in case.  This is another StyleArc pattern called the Marley Woven Shirt. I thought it would be perfect for a lightweight shirt to wear over a sleeveless top or dress.


This is made from a light-weight crepe.  I love crepe.  It is easy to work with and is so awesome to wear.  I will probably keep this in my office for the warmer weather months to ward off the possible chill.



Both of these fabrics were great to sew with, washed and dried beautifully, and will make some very functional pieces in my wardrobe.


Thanks for reading!
Sue from Ilove2sew!

Comments

  1. Offices are like those giant walk-in coolers! Lol!

    Very cute ensemble Sue!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sue - could you be any cuter? I love the things you sew!

    ReplyDelete
  3. They look like great work wear basics! Thanks for sharing and best of luck with your new job!!

    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.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Summery Stripes Set

Warm weather and linen go hand in hand! Our summer has been slow to show up with the heat, but bright, sunny afternoons have me all ready for light, swingy garments to stay cool. Wearing matching sets has been one way to make getting dressed easier when I hit decision fatigue since reaching for two items that already go together removes the need to plan or do any rearranging.  This is a lovely lighter-end-of-mid-weight linen in the most beautiful and subtle seaglass hues of grays and greens. This color combo strikes me as so calm and sophisticated, and a little stripe-play is perfect for details.  My tank pattern is the brand-spankin’ new Matchy Matchy Sewing Club Sunny Side Tank, just released this week. It’s a perfect little cropped A-line shape for wearing with high waisted pants or showing some midriff.  I made no changes to the extra small. The wide neckline is so elegant and this shape still gives full bra coverage to boot.  These really cute pants are the Mat...

Made By A Fabricista: A Fresh Take on a Classic Shirt Dress

Summer has arrived! That means longer days, soaring temps, and the perfect excuse for me to add another linen garment to my wardrobe.  Lightweight linen and summer weather just go together, don’t you agree? That’s why I choose this striped linen for my next Fabricista make. Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews ready to share my summer dress with you.  The tiny blue and white stripes combined with navy buttons give it a bit of coastal charm, while the details make it anything but a traditional shirt dress.  The fabric is a Ralph Lauren 100% shirt weight linen. The stripes are so small that from a distance the fabric almost looks like a solid color. One advantage of those small stripes is that I didn’t worry about whether they matched as I would have with a wider stripe :-)  The pattern I choose is McCall’s 8556, a shirtdress that, instead of a typical straight silhouette, has a gathered bodice, a fitted waistband that sits just above the waist, short, c...

Made By A Fabricista: The Ultimate Secret Maternity Dress

When you find the perfect summer dress pattern that also happens to be 100% bump-friendly, you don't just celebrate—you immediately plan to make it in every single color of the rainbow. At least, that’s the executive decision I made after sewing my first Tilly and the Buttons Mabel Dress for the Fabricista Blog. It all started with a classic late-night scroll on the Fabric Mart website, where I fell hard for a gorgeous midnight blue cotton lawn block print. I knew I wanted an easy-to-wear, breezy summer dress that could accommodate a growing bump, but I didn't want to buy a pattern I’d only wear for a few months. So, I turned to the internet.  After researching bump-friendly patterns, the Tilly and the Buttons Mabel kept popping up. Sewists everywhere were praising it for its ability to adapt to a changing body. Could it really live up to the hype?  Now that I’ve made one, I can confidently say: Yes. Absolutely. Here is what makes the Mabel so magical: ● The Silhouette: A...

Made By A Fabricista: Art In Motion

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Tira from TIRACOOKS and I am so excited to share this project with you. When I first spotted this fabric, I was drawn in by how stunning it looked it reminded me of a living art piece. Then, when I looked closer, I noticed painted hanging plants in the print, which made it even more special. This fabric is one of my all-time favorites: chiffon. It cuts so smoothly, and the best part? Any wrinkles come out effortlessly with a steamer. Before cutting into anything, fabric prep is essential! Chiffon must be prewashed by hand in cold water with a gentle detergent or baby shampoo. Always serge or zigzag stitch the raw edges to prevent fraying. Submerge and gently swirl the fabric to wash never wring or twist it then air dry flat. I used a 70/10 needle in my Juki DDL, which is perfect for lightweight fabrics, alongside my Juki overlock machine. Look One: The Duster & Dress I was lucky enough to create two completely separate outfits from this fabric. The first...