Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: A Love Affair with Leopard Print and Black

Happy Saturday ALL!!

Hope you are all READY for HOLIDAYS! I am super excited as I am on break for 2 weeks and can't wait to finish up a few sewing projects before 2017 is over.  For the holidays this year, I opted and plan to make garments that can be worn year round, creating staple pieces in my closet rather than focusing on seasonal items or prints.  I have always wanted to create a leopard print cardigan or sweater and when I came across this beautiful print on sale, I had to grab it.


I love any animal print which is less of a trend and is more of a classic print.  I have always grabbed anything in cheetah or leopard print that catches my eyes. My favorite sweater in cheetah print has been worn so many times the last 4 years and is now in a dump pile.  When I found this print, I knew it was perfect to replace the sweater that I loved so much.




 I wanted to mix the print with the black ponte knit and add my own twist to it.  I opted to use the print only in the front and on the cuffs.


I wanted to create a  wearable muslin and a simple view from one of McCall Winter Holiday collection pattern M7688 (here) and wore it over my little black dress. I created view A without the pocket as I wanted the remaining black ponte knit to create the dress below.


Can you believe for the last 3 years of sewing, I have never made a black dress?


I have been looking for a thick ponte knit fabric for the last 2 months and came across this great find on sale for 50% with a pre-cut cardigan kit (here).  I was so happy to grab the last kit with almost 3 yards.  Based on the amount left over from my sweater, I knew it was just enough to create a little black dress without sleeves so instead, I used some black polyester sheer lace from my stash to jazz it up. Fabric Mart has a similar lace available in stock. (here)


The pattern that I hacked is Mimi G's - Georgia knit long sleeve turtle neck top pattern (here).  I decided to create a midi dress instead of the top and omitted the ruffles from the sleeves.  

This dress is so perfect for a NEW YEAR'S EVE party!


I am totally in love with my first lace sleeve dress and plan to add my own flare to future sewing projects and take more fashion risk with commercial and self drafted patterns.  I can't wait to cut into some amazing fabric the next 2 weeks while I am off.  I am super excited about 2018 and plan to step out of my comfort zone and sew more often than I did in 2017.

Thanks for stopping!
Happy Holidays and Cheers to the New Year!  

Comments

  1. Both are gorgeous Marcia! Happy holiday sewing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. U go Marica.... Very talented. Looks gorgeous

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love them... No more ready-made...you go girl....

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great idea to make the sweatshirt to give a completely different look to your LBD! And I liked how you only used the leopard print for part of it. You look amazing in this dress. Happy Holidays to you as well!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Both items are really nice looking on you. You did a fabulous job. Hope your Holidays are Merry and Bright.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Stunning! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for sharing Marica. You did a great job and you look amazing. Love the pattern, hacks and fabric choices. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much. Happy Holidays to you too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Simply beautiful! The lace sleeves are so chic!

    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: Pattern Emporium’s Lyrical Top Featuring Fabric Mart Fabrics

 Sewn in a lightweight  rayon challis , this top combines style, comfort, and fluidity. There’s one thing I love in a summer sew: effortless drape—and the Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium delivered just that. This pattern is a new release, and when I spotted this dreamy rayon challis from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew it was the perfect pairing. Lightweight, breathable, and with just the right amount of movement, the fabric really brought the pattern to life. Today, I’m sharing all the details—from fabric choice and construction to styling and fit—plus a few thoughts on why this top might just become a repeat sew. Pattern Overview: The Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium The Lyrical Top is a relaxed-fit design with bloused sleeves and a gently flared frill cuff. It comes with three sleeve lengths and two neckline variations. I chose the tie-neck view, but there’s also a collar option for a slightly different vibe. I’ve been looking to add more stylish tops to my wardrobe this year, a...

Made By A Fabricista: A matching set and a happy error.

 Hi sewing friends! Today I’m sharing a new outfit I made inspired by looks I’ve been seeing pop up in my Facebook and IG feeds a LOT this year. I’m talking about those monochromatic matching top and bottom outfits, sometimes in linen, sometimes in a flowy knit - the ones that advertise they go effortlessly from loungewear to office wear to going out wear. So I decided to “sew the look” using Fabric Mart fabric and a few patterns I already in my massive pattern library. First, let me share that I have very few solid color pieces in my closet. I’m so taken in by whimsy and geometric prints that this is still a gaping hole in my wardrobe -  a matching solid color set was actually a practical addition for me.  So let me walk you through how I created this look, and also tip you off to an error I made while cutting that worked out pretty well after all. Can you spot the error? Hint - it’s somewhere in the top: Here’s how I went about building my matchy match outfit. And here’...

Made By A Fabricista: Turning Simple into Statement – Scallop Trimmed Top and Pants

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews back with another Fabricista make.  This time I choose a rayon/nylon blend designer suiting fabric – obviously because of that gorgeous blue color – and decided to sew myself a matching blazer and pants.  Ha! Just kidding. As you can see I sewed a matching set, just not a suit.   Just because a fabric is labeled “suiting” doesn’t mean it has to be sewn into a suit. When I ordered this fabric I planned to use it for a dress. But, true to form, I changed my mind just as I was preparing to cut out the pattern pieces for the dress.  Let me explain. The day before, I wore one of my favorite pairs of pants (with a flirty side ruffle) which I had sewn a few years ago using McCall’s 7786.  I was admiring the way the blue fabric draped, which got me thinking “how great would another pair look in this new fabric?”  I pulled out the pattern and started cutting before I could change my mind.  Lately, I’ve be...