Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Knit - Summer Hit and Miss!

By
Happy Saturday Loves! I am officially on summer break and truly enjoyed the first week just relaxing at home and working out at the gym.  I have not done any sewing this week but plan to start on my summer sewing plans next week.
 As an advanced beginner, I truly started my sewing journey 4 years ago working mostly with Ankara wax cotton, rayon, polyester and ponte knit and the only type of knit I was comfortable sewing with were scuba and ponte.  In my stash, I have other knits including lycra and mid-weight jersey but really never had the desire to make basic pieces that I can buy for less than the cost of the fabric. I came across 2 beautiful knit prints back in April and knew it was perfect for summer.
 I am in love with this top, made using Liverpool knit fabric. It is a beautiful midweight knit fabric for summer and is actually sold out but Fabric Mart has other selections including this beautiful flower print here.

This McCall pattern (M7686) has been on my to sew list for a while so I created view D bodice and view F sleeves shortened for the warm summer weather.
This summer, my main sewing goal is to create essential wardrobe pieces that will not be just for a few pictures to share on a blog, but pieces that I can wear daily.  I have created a few summer tops which I love and have worn them several times already.  The minute I saw the fabric, I knew I wanted to create a fitted off the shoulder to wear on a lunch date with a friend.
Unfortunately, my jersey knit fabric (also SOLD OUT :-) was a miss as it did NOT work out as planned.  I wanted to create Beaute Jadore's most recent gathered tunic top here and the weight of the fabric would not work as it was too light-weight and sheer for my personal taste to wear as a top or a skirt. I needed to use a solid crepe fabric and this jersey was NOT for the shape and style.  Honestly, I really knew that I should have ordered a PONTE knit version for structure but wanted to try something different.  I surely recovered the fabric and created a beach cover-up dress for my day at the beach.


Learning and understanding fabric weight, type and color based on a pattern design are essential before starting any sewing project.  Large stripes and prints are tricky and bold colors may not always work for a curvy figure. I know for sure that I will always check the suggested fabric and NOT assume that a particular fabric will work for a look.  I am not a fan of fabric that is too lightweight with minimal structure so the next project will definitely be from Julie's PICK or a fabric that I am familiar with.

Thank you so much for stopping by and stay tuned for a few everyday work garments that I plan to make over the next few weeks. Have a wonderful summer and don't forget to stop by the blog to check out my latest makes!
                                                    Marica - Overdriveafter30

Comments

  1. LynneJune 16, 2018 at 12:45 PM

    I have watching your blog for awhile. You have such wonderful style. I love this Liverpool top!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 17, 2018 at 7:26 AM

    Beautiful look! I love the fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SandraWiatJune 17, 2018 at 11:30 AM

    Very tasteful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. SendabagsJune 19, 2018 at 9:34 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. bpatricia74June 21, 2018 at 10:08 PM

    I love the look! Beautiful top, looks great with the jeans. I love your lipstick color too. What color and brand is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MaricaJune 27, 2018 at 5:36 PM

      Thanks so much. I am wearing stunna lip paint from Fenty Beauty.
      https://www.fentybeauty.com/stunna-lip-paint/longwear-fluid-lip-color/22360.html

      Delete
  6. Elizabeth Made ThisJune 27, 2018 at 4:15 PM

    The off the shoulder top is so cute, and it looks so nice with your jeans--did you make those ones?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MaricaJune 27, 2018 at 5:36 PM

      Thanks Elizabeth, I did not make these jeans but plan to venture into jeans making again later this summer.

      Delete

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

Help Our Buyers Shop!

By
  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?
129 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing Vintage for Summer

By
Hello sewing friends!  I was highly motivated to try another one of the vintage Polynesian Pattern dresses I’ve collected during our hot weather. The patterns are all dramatic and fashionable and really apropos for summer styling. This one is number 204, the Pilialoha Dress.  The gown includes a wide boatneck that many of them feature, plus a very beautiful back gathering and wraparound closure. I always find that the special details on the back are such a chic surprise compared to the simple front.  I chose a lemon covered cotton lawn . I am really delighted with the quality of this cotton, it’s luxuriously soft and smooth. The scale of the lemons and blossoms are just right and not overwhelming, and the soft yellow background is beautiful. This could not be more charming and summery!  I also chose some excellent lightweight interfacing for my facings, and the real highlight is these Dritz Floral Sew-On Snaps that I’ve had my eye on for months! Finally, the perfect ...
4 comments
Continue Reading »

Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

By
There’s something especially motivating about refreshing your workout wardrobe with pieces that feel like you. As part of my ongoing athletic wear refresh, I’m adding another handmade set to my gym wardrobe—and this one might be the boldest yet. Lately, I’ve been taking a closer look at my handmade wardrobe and thinking more intentionally about what I actually wear in this season of my life. Athletic wear has become a big part of that. Instead of treating workout clothes as an afterthought, I want my gym wardrobe to have the same personality, color, and style as everything else I make. And this fabric made that very easy.  The Fabric That Started It All   The moment I saw this vibrant multicolored paisley, I was immediately drawn to it. The mix of warm reds, oranges, greens, turquoise, and golden yellow against the light background feels bold, energetic, and a little unexpected for athletic wear . There’s something about the print that reminds me of Etro and other higher-end f...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

Falling for Chiffon Again

By
Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Tira from Tira Cooks, and I finally made the perfect sundress too bad summer is almost over! This is my last sewing project of the summer season, and I chose a beautiful red-and-white print. The result is a lightweight, flowy dress that can easily transition from summer into fall and even winter with the right layers. This fabric was actually my second choice. I originally told myself, “You need a break from chiffon!” But here I am, sewing chiffon again. The crisp hems and sewing overall were surprisingly easy. The only reminder that I was working with chiffon fabric was all the fraying! Even better, this fabric is practically wrinkle resistant. I twisted, tied, and scrunched it, and it still came out looking beautiful with zero wrinkles. Because this was a border print, planning my layout before cutting was extremely important. I mapped out the pattern pieces first to make sure the print continued beautifully throughout the dress without breaking up the de...
6 comments
Continue Reading »