Made by a Fabricista: Summer Fun

Even though Memorial Day symbolizes the start of Summer for many, this past Thursday (6.21) marked the official first day of summer. What better excuse than the first day of summer to make a swimsuit? Truthfully I wanted to sew a swimsuit for my May post since it fell on Memorial weekend but I was distracted with the beautiful chambray that I used for a jumpsuit.

Since sewing just a swimsuit seemed a little "meh", I decided to add a cover-up for a whole "day at the pool or beach" vibe. This bright, floral chiffon screamed summer so I grabbed it. Sewing with chiffon can be frustrating so I chose Simplicity 8657 to limit the amount of seams. The only tip I have for sewing with chiffon is to use a rotary cutter and be patient. This print is still in stock, but some other prints that would work well is this similar spring green floral, this more abstract navy floral or this fun rainbow stripe.

This caftan pattern is definitely a simple sew but as a part of Simplicity's pattern hacking line it offers several modifications. I wanted more of a lightweight duster than a true caftan to show off the swimsuit so I made the following modifications:

Created an open front by not sewing the front center seam
Raised the V-back to a scoop back and finished with single fold bias tape
Raised the side slits

The only thing I don't care for is the lack of closure. I thought I wanted an open flowy look, but I would like it to stay closed so I will either add a snap or ties to the the front. Overall I like the pattern I definitely see myself making it out of a challis for the caftan look.

When I can't make up my mind about which fabric to use or which pattern to sew I often take a poll on my Intsagram story, so if you'd like to give your 2 cents next time follow me there (TipStitched). So I asked Instagram to choose Vogue 9192 or Simplicity 1116 (OOP) and S1116 took the early lead. In the end the Vogue pattern won 57% to 43% but I'd already started by then. Ooops.

This bright cover-up called for standout color swimsuit. This chartreuse swimwear knit is just that. This fabric is a good weight which is great for coverage but was a bit thick at the gathered sides (where I was sewing three layers of swim knit and a layer of mesh), but my machine handled it just fine (I did go slowly). The gathers at waist paired with wrap front of S1116 is a very flattering silhouette.

I love Mimi's patterns for Simplicity because she provides sew along video for each one. So if you've thought or dreamed about sewing a swimsuit, but have been a little intimidated, this is a great pattern for a first attempt as she walks you through each step. I did watch the video before I began sewing so I barely looked at the printed instructions.

Here are some types for sewing swimwear:

Use a stretch (not knit/ballpoint) needle
Use a long, narrow zigzag stitch or a serger for constrution
Use a wider, shorter zigzag stitch to attach the elastic to hems and for any openings
Stretch the leg elastic more in the back of the leg opening (to cup your bottom) and less in the front

Enjoy your summer!

Tiffany

TipStitched

Made by a Fabricista: A Wardrobe Staple for Spring - A Denim Coat

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon with Sharon Sews with my latest Fabricista make – a denim coat for spring. Denim is a wardrobe staple for many of us, and even more so this year with denim on denim looks coming back in style. The denim I used is a medium weight cotton/lycra blend with about a 20% stretch selvage to selvage. Fabric Mart always does an amazing job photographing and describing their fabrics, yet I still gasped in delight when I opened the package containing my denim. It was even better than I had anticipated. This fabric would have worked well for a traditional denim jacket – one with button front closure, chest pockets with flaps, and a collar. However, I have wanted to sew this open front coat with kimono inspired sleeves and big patch pockets since February 2021. I saw it in that month’s BurdaStyle Magazine, bookmarked the page, and promptly forgot about the coat. It’s coat #105 if you’re interested in sewing one for yourself. Fortunately, I went on an organ

Made by a Fabricista: Revving up your style in the Dana Marie Moto Jacket

Hey friends - I am so excited to have been invited to participate as a Fabric Mart Fabricista this month! This year is the year I challenge my sewing skills. I have wanted a moto jacket for some time. Not just any moto jacket but one that has a classic and timeless style. I saw the Dana Marie Moto Jacket pattern on the Fabric Mart website and knew that was the one. The fabric I used was a beautiful porcelain white/black/silver 100% polyester plaid weave boucle suiting. Remember when I said I wanted to challenge my sewing skills? 😉 This fabric was beautiful but fragile to work with. It was a great mental challenge that had me problem solving before sewing to avoid any potential problems. I first traced out the pattern onto tissue paper to determine the fit. I used scrap cotton fabric to sew up a “practice run” of the jacket. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the jacket comes together. I sewed up the muslin in one evening. It was time to cut into the beautifu

Made By A Fabricista: My Version of the Infamous DVF Wrap Dress

Just in case you are not aware, the iconic Diane Fustenberg wrap dress has turned 50 this year. In celebration, Vogue has re-released the DVF Wrap Dress pattern, which now comes in extended sizes. This dress is so classic and fits many different body types. I got a hold of this pattern and decided this would be my birthday dress this year. This pattern is categorized as a Very Easy Vogue pattern, and I would have to agree with that. Wrap dresses are usually relatively simple to put together since there aren’t that many pattern pieces to sew together. I made View A in a size 22 and the only modification I made was to shorten the hem by 6 inches. I will say that since I used a Ponte Knit , I could have gone down to a size 20. I didn’t read the fabric suggestions before picking my fabric. I’ve always remembered seeing the DVF Wrap dress in knits. After reviewing the fabric suggestions, they do say that you can use soft fabrics, like a Challis or a Chambray. As I mentioned, I’ve alwa

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