Made by a Fabricista: Tropical Paradise Summer Top and Maxi Dress

"One Love, one heart,
Let's get together and feel all right!"
Lyrics from Bob Marley song!

The melodies of one of my favorite songs from Bob Marley replayed in my head when I came across two beautiful fabric; a solid yellow and tropical print. They both screamed Jamaica, Caribbean, cruise vibes and summertime fun in the sun. I instantly fell in love and had to select them for my May Fabric Mart blog post.

When I saw this sun yellow polyester/lycra crepe techno fabric, it reminded me so much of the Jamaican flag. I knew I had to grab a few yards before it was sold out.

My first choice was to make a wrap dress but fearing that I would look like a yellow highlighter with my hips, I decided to go with a top instead. I always wanted to create McCalls M7812 and knew it was the perfect fabric for this style based on the texture.

I cut the small and used view A bodice with view B sleeves and made no modifications. The next time around I will definitely lengthen the bodice by an inch as this is a great pattern for summer. This was a quick and easy sew as I did sewed up most of it before heading out to work at 8am.

I am in love with the front gathers and found the perfect drawstring in my notions pile!

1 INCH elastic for the sleeves

This beautiful tropical floral double brushed jersey knit screams paradise vacation. This fabric and print hit the nail and is perfect for Mimi G's Simplicity new summer pattern S8915. I fell in love with the booty gathers the minute Mimi shared as it is perfect for the curvy girls. I love a great maxi especially if it has a great drape and length.

Typically, I do not sew a commercial pattern more than twice unless it's TNT but I do plan to make this again using lycra, and the other view using a jersey as it is an easy sew and great fit right out of the pattern envelope.

I needed an extra 1/2 yard based on the bottom back piece and instead of cutting it on the fold, I decided to join 2 pieces creating my own fold as I did not have enough. It worked out just fine and yes, I am satisfied with the look.

The two modifications to fit my curves and my height are:

- Graded the waist from a size 12 to the 14 hips.

- Added 1 inch to the length.

It came out absolutely perfect to my taste when I tried it on and I was floored with the fit.

Another minor tweak that I will make next time is removing 1/2 or 3/4 inch from the back bodice piece.

I am happy with both looks and can't wait to sew down my stash of knits purchased from Fabricmart.

I am counting down to summer break which starts on June 7th, and can't wait to rock both makes in Jamaica this summer.

Thank you so much for reading and for always showing love! Don't forget to check out my latest makes on the blog and my Instagram page.

Photos taken by my daughter Arielle (10 years old)!

One Love,

Marica - Overdriveafter30

Made by a Fabricista: The Bernadette

Hello friends, My Latest Fabricista Make: Friday pattern Co Bernadette Skirt x Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! When I saw Fabric Mart’s Muted Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim , I knew it would be perfect for my next project. The color is rich and versatile—a deep navy that works as a neutral but still has presence. The stretch denim has just the right balance: structure with a bit of give, making it great for a garment that needs both shape and comfort. It’s an ideal fabric for fall transitions, but it’s sturdy enough to carry straight into winter with tights and boots. For the pattern, I chose the Bernadette Skirt by Friday Pattern Company . This is one of their newer designs, and I knew immediately I wanted to sew it up. It’s a modern skirt that blends structure and style, with darts in the back and pleats in the front for a flattering fit. One of my favorite features is the belt, and of co...

Made By A Fabricista: Falling for Knits

We are now well into Fall, even though the temps are still relatively warm here in Texas. I love the fall season and dressing for Fall. When it comes to the conversation of knits vs. wovens I typically sew mostly wovens. So for this post I decided to sew completely knits! With the holiday season right around the corner I saw these three dress styles as perfect for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving gatherings. The first look is a tried and true pattern Simplicity S9372. Using this gorgeous burgundy ponte knit , I like how this pattern fits throughout. I chose this color to add to my typically neutral palette in my closet. I also wanted something I could wear to my sorority meetings and found this color perfect. It's an easy sew with back fisheye darts and invisible zipper to add to the tapered style. The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding giving it a clean finish on the inside. I used a universal needle to sew a...

Made By A Fabricista: The Art of the Slow Make: My La Forme Double-Breasted Jacket

I started this project back in July — one of those mid-summer sewing plans meant to get me ahead for fall. My idea was simple: start my wardrobe a season (or two) early so that when cooler weather came, I’d already have a few handmade pieces ready to wear. That was the plan, anyway. But as sewing often reminds us, plans evolve. This jacket, made using La Forme pattern No. 0303, is a double-breasted design with peak lapels and an exaggerated hip detail that gives it such a striking silhouette. I fell in love with the structure of the pattern right away — it has that timeless, tailored feel I can never resist — but it also asked for patience. I picked it up and put it down several times over the months, letting it rest while I worked on other projects, until finally, the timing felt right to bring it to life. And now, here we are — the leaves are turning, there’s a chill in the air, and some parts of the country are even seeing snow. My summer-started jacket is finally finished, and it c...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog