Made By a Fabricista: Jumping into Spring

It's the first week of spring! Though it is quite chilly in the southeast (hence my indoor photos) and the northeast has snow. Still, I'm excited because I can't wait to say goodbye to winter. I dislike cold weather (by the way anything under 59 degrees is cold - lol). I'm starting to sew for warmer temps in the hopes that 60s and 70s are in my weather forecast. But since that doesn't seem imminent I'm starting my spring sewing with this jumpsuit. Jumpsuits can be a great transitional pieces, paired with a cardigan or blazer they can carry you from a chilly morning to a warm afternoon.

What comes first the fabric or the pattern? For me it can be either, but this time I was moved by the fabric. As soon as I saw this Green Aztec Print ITY I knew it had to be a jumpsuit or a maxi dress. Obviously, I opted for a jumpsuit, Butterick 6630 to be exact. Mostly because I've had this pattern for a while and I haven't used it. I also love that it has pockets!

The pattern sewed up easy, nothing tricky here. The majority of the sewing was done on my serger, although I did reinforce my crotch seam with my sewing machine and finish my pants hem with my coverstitch.

I made my first thread chain loop.

The only alteration I made was shortening the hem of the pants by 2 inches (and I still used a 1" hem double folded hem) and I'm 5'5". I'd always rather pants be drafted too long than too short, so that wasn't really an issue.

I had enough fabric left to make Miss Socialite (my stepdaughter) a jumpsuit too! She's pretty into the cold shoulder trend so I figured she'd like this off-the-shoulder look. She also really likes joggers soI knew the harem pant hem would be a hit. I used a tween pattern from New Look, NL6444, that also includes a romper and two dress views.

I didn't love the instructions for adding the elastic to the ruffle so I just winged it. I won't share what I did because its a mess. As fast as she's growing I don't care to fix it, but I'll figure out a better approach if I sew it again. I also dislike that most kid and tween patterns do no include pockets, well at least not functional ones. So I added side seam pockets because the more she can carry the less I have to!

I think I will also sew the maxi dress from the Butterick 6330, since I already now that the bodice fits well. I'm already eyeing this Precut Mod Orange and Yellow ITY or this Precut Diagonal Striped ITY. Wouldn't these be fun?

I am looking forward to sewing more spring and summer projects. How about you?

Tiffany

TipStitched

Made By A Fabricista: Sheer Elegance and Everyday Comfort with my Two New Tops

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with my last Fabricista make for 2025. While many sew a special holiday outfit at year’s end, I went in another direction sewing two tops that couldn’t be more different. One is sheer and elegant while the other is easy comfort for everyday wear. These tops reflect how I dress at this stage of life. As an over-50 sewist, these two tops reflect how I dress at this point in my life. Sometimes I want something a bit special, other times more basic. Either way, sewing them in beautiful fabrics, custom fit to my body, makes all the difference in how I feel when I wear them. Even though I’m quite pleased with my two tops, my original plan was to sew a jacket with the tropical print stretch twill and pair it with a top sewn from the soutache mesh knit . Sadly, I wasn’t quick enough to get enough of the stretch twill to make a jacket, so a top it was! You do know you have to act fast when you see something you love on Fabric ...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing for a Florida Cold Snap with Fabric Mart Fabrics

Even here in Florida, we get the occasional cold weather surprise, and when temperatures dipped recently, I was very glad to have the perfect handmade outfit ready to go. For this month’s Fabricista make, I sewed up New Look pattern 6771, using two beautiful fabrics sent to me by Fabric Mart Fabrics. The Fabric & Pattern Choice New Look 6771 is a cozy two-piece set featuring a relaxed-fit top and pull-on pants—exactly the kind of pattern that works well for transitional weather. I chose to start with the top, using a brown animal print French terry from Fabric Mart, and it turned out to be an absolute dream to work with. The French terry was soft, substantial without being heavy, and handled beautifully at the machine . It had just the right amount of structure to highlight the pattern’s design details while still feeling comfortable and wearable. From cutting to pressing, this fabric behaved perfectly and elevated the final garment. The Top: A Total Win The top from New Look 677...

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

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 ...

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