Made by a Fabricista: Hot Patterns Matte Jersey Fiesta Knit Top!

Hot Patterns Fast & Fabulous Fiesta Knit Top in red matte jersey

Hi everybody, this month I decided to sew with a fabric I don't work enough with: matte jersey! Recently FM had some designer matte jersey and I knew it was the upscale quality as it is 100% rayon, not some ordinary synthetic kind.

Originally I had planned a wrap dress or a maxi skirt, but I thought perhaps it would be too clingy and I don't feel like being constricted in a Spanx type underwear. Now that warm weather has finally arrived, I wanna walk and move! I went for a fun top that would showcase the drapey nature and the luscious color of this fine cloth: Hot Patterns 1142 Fast and Fabulous Fiesta Knit Top.

Hot Patterns 1142: Fast and Fabulous Fiesta Knit Top

Hot Patterns Fast and Fabulous Fiesta Knit Top back view

Pattern and fabric:

The Fiesta knit top is an interesting pattern for a casual top that will transition from spring to summer, comfortable to wear and a nice alternative to a t-shirt for everyday dressing. It features batwing sleeves, a waistband and neckline and sleeves finished with a self fabric band. It is indeed fast to make, and fabulous!

I made a size 6, which is my usual with Hot Patterns. To be honest with you, the size 6 is gigantic and I remember when I first made this top a couple of years ago that it looked more like a mini dress on me than like the top in the pattern illustration! I raised and narrowed the neckline approximately 1 1/2 inches, and lost count of how many inches I removed to shorten the bodice and the sleeves. If you want to make it, make sure to make a muslin first!

I love the Hot Patterns Fiesta Knit Top paired with skinny jeans!

Now can we say a few words about this gorgeous fabric? I had forgotten about how matte jersey drapes beautifully when paired with a pattern that let it express itself, and besides wrap dresses and skirts, I can envision all kinds of t-s, camis and draped tops with this fabric.

I'm especially drawn to 100% rayon or viscose matte jersey as I love natural fibers, and I know the colour will stay beautiful. Quality matte jersey is almost as nice as silk jersey in my mind. If it's made from rayon or viscose it will shrink, so make sure to either prewash it or take your garment to the dry cleaner. If you want to keep your seams light and avoid imprint marks when you press, I highly recommend lightweight serger thread such as Gutermann Mara 150 (Tex 20); the cutting will also be easier if you use scissors such as Kaï serrated specialty shears.

Fabric Mart is now out of stock of this red and the black that I ordered a while ago, but make sure to check regularly. I know I will! You can see their full stock of Jersey knits here.

I also made the Fiesta top in this beautiful black matte jersey!

I'm very happy with my tops for casual, everyday wear, and I'll definitely keep an eye to see when FM gets more designer matte jersey. Is that a fabric you work with, and what kind of garments do you make with it?

I'll leave it there for now, and see you in June for another post!

Cheers,

Virginie

from

Jazz Couture

Made By A Fabricista: Vacation Vibes

We will be traveling to the Caribbean for Spring Break this year, so I started thinking about what I wanted to take with me that would be easy to wear, but also light and breezy. Personally, I love wearing linen because it looks so luxe while still being really comfortable. Since coordinated sets are still on trend this year, I thought it would be fun to create some pieces that I could mix and match for a relaxed vacation mini-wardrobe. (I just need to remember to pack my travel iron!) I went through all of my patterns and came up with five different patterns that I knew would would coordinate well with each other, and that would work well with linen. I wasn’t surprised when all the patterns I chose came from Pattern Emporium. Their whole aesthetic is clothing that is on trend, easy to wear and comfortable. For my first set, I used the Lightweight Yarn-Dyed Chambray Linen in Soft Oat. This fabric is so incredibly soft and airy. ...

Made By A Fabricista: I Love A Bomber Jacket

Hello friends, I’m Byrd, and today I’m excited to share my latest Fabricista project with you. There’s something timeless about a bomber jacket that makes it a staple in my wardrobe. It’s effortlessly cool, versatile, and perfect for layering through the seasons. But what makes this particular bomber jacket even more special is its thoughtfully designed pattern. Not only is it a standard pattern, but it’s also adaptive—meaning the length and closures can be customized to suit your needs, whether you’re standing, sitting, or using a wheelchair. This level of inclusivity in design is something I truly appreciate, and that’s why I’m especially excited about this make! The Fabric: Cotton Poly Poplin For the bomber jacket, I chose a Salamander White cotton-poly poplin , and it couldn’t be a more perfect match. Poplin is a fantastic choice for outerwear because it’s lightweight yet durable, with just the right amount of structure to hold the classic bomber shape. The cotton-poly b...

Made By A Fabricista: Three Bengaline Basics – A Jacket, Skirt and Vest

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews excited to share my latest Fabricista makes with you. When Fabric Mart offered an array of stretch bengaline suiting fabrics , I choose three different fabrics to sew myself a few basics to be worn as the season transitions from winter to spring. The bengaline fabric I used is a woven rayon/nylon/lycra blend fabric with the stretch running vertically (lengthwise on the fabric) instead of horizontally (selvage to selvage). It lends itself well to fitted and structured garments, such as jackets, pants, skirts and dresses. Because of the vertical stretch, I folded the fabric cross grain to cut out my fabric pieces so the greatest stretch would go around my body. I used a stretch needle size 75/11 due to the lycra in the fabric. I also eliminated the interfacing as I discovered this fabric did not like fusible interfacing and I did not have any sew-in interfacing on hand. Now let’s talk about the garments...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog