Made by a Fabricista: Everyday Fall Pieces

Happy Saturday Loves!
Now that summer is winding down and the stores are showcasing fall pieces and colors, I am slowing transitioning to creating a few fall pieces in between. Even though South Florida doesn't get too cold and it is hot most time of the year, when I travel up north during winter months, I always want to be prepared. When I came across this wool jersey black fabric, I knew I had to grab a few yards for a top. Unfortunately, this fabric is sold out, however this black polyester/lycra double brushed jersey knit or black ponte knit is perfect. I have been on the hunt for a light-weight wool jersey for months and knew this fabric would be perfect for a top.

The pattern I selected for the top is one of the latest Simplicity latest pattern (S8982), a great fall pattern with basic pieces. I fell in love with the sleeves and the mock turtle neck and cut the size 10 for a more closer fit as I do plan to wear it under a tailored jacket with jeans. I absolutely love it and will probably lengthen the sleeves and the bodice by 1 inch the next time around.

Can you believe this is my second pencil skirt from a woven fabric? For years I have avoided making a pencil skirt out of woven as I dread the issues with my butt. I have had this pattern (Simplicity 8175) in my stash for over a year and was hesitant to cut it. Unfortunately the cotton twill fabric I used is sold out but Fabric Mart has a wide selection of twill available here.

I decided to try a simple tweak to the dart for a better fit which was all I needed to do for this pattern. I wasn't sure if I needed to slash and spread the back pattern piece which is the typical adjustment I have to make for pants. I am absolutely thrilled with this make and definitely plan to try more pencil skirt.

For the skirt, I cut the size 18 based on my hip measurement and removed about 4 inches off the waist (1 inch taken in on both sides which removed a total of 2 inches for the front piece and back). I also added an extra inch to the length of the back dart and 1/2 inch more on the top.

Due to the fact that I will be wearing this skirt to Open House, I opted to lengthen by 1.5 inches and adjust the slit in the front.

I am totally in love with both pieces and plan to make the pattern again sometime soon with the right fabric. I love to make separates and this classic black top will definitely be on rotation this fall. If you know me, I absolutely love skinny jeans and heels.

Thank you so much for stopping by and don't forget to check out my latest Instagram makes.

One Love,

Marica - Overdriveafter30

Comments

Made by a Fabricista: What to Make with Silk Taffeta

You may have noticed that Fabric Mart has a *HUGE* selection of silk taffeta right now. A lot of it is either large plaid or large stripes. I was curious about it, and not really sure what I could make with it, but I just knew it would be gorgeous fabric and had to play around with it. Turns out, it's actually great for quite a range of projects! The dress above is my third project. Let me show you the first two. My first was to make some queen size pillow shams. They are the plaid ones in the back of the photo. I also made the two printed ones in the center from another Fabric Mart home dec fabric special! I wanted to make the covers removable with a zipper, and include a braided trim. As luck would have it, I found a whole card of braided trim at an estate sale that worked with my taffeta for just $2! To start, I used a zipper foot to stitch down the braided trim all around one side of the pillow. Then I serged ...

A Yard And Change

Do you have a fabric that you love and has been hanging around but is too small to use? Maybe you found a wonderful fabric with a super cute print but there's only a yard left. I've got a few projects I worked on all with roughly a yard of fabric. And I have a few tips for making that yard and change go further! Cutting Layout: You can get a lot more mileage out of a yard of fabric if you can get creative with how you lay out your fabric. Cutting things single layer will give you the most control. My favorite thing to do is unfold the fabric and fold the selvages in to meet in the middle. That gives me two folded edges to work with. I had to overlap these to get enough width for the tank top. Just make sure that your pattern pieces don't also overlap! This one was especially fun for me because I really loved the print on this swimwear knit but am not yet up to sewing swimwear. But a nice flowy hiking tank is perfect for this! In the future I'd love to experiment with...

Help Our Buyers Shop!

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?

Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

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...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog