Made by a Fabricista: Sweater Weather!

As soon as the temperatures start to drop all I want to wear is something warm and snuggly. I also love comfortable layers that can be dressed down or paired with a cute skirt to dress them up. My wardrobe was just begging for a few tops that checked all these boxes, so I got to work!

I had my heart set on some new versatile and comfy sweaters and these three are a success! The first is the Grainline Linden sewed up in a really nice quality ponte. Its sold out but there are some great choices still on the site, especially a couple of really beautiful Ralph Lauren pieces. This sweater has been really versatile and I've worn it layered over a button down and paired with jeans. The Grainline Linden is a super straightforward pattern and I have used it many times creating basics that I wear on repeat. I sewed the Linden up entirely on my serger. If you don't have a serger you can make this on a regular machine with a zig zag stitch and a stretch ballpoint needle.

The second sweater is McCall's 7688 and its made up in a poly/lycra sweater knit. I'm sorry to report that this is sold out as well but I would not hesitate to make this sweater in this gorgeous paisley sweater knit on the Fabric Mart site. I tucked it into the skirt in one photo and left it out in the second so that you could get an idea of the versatility of the design and fabric. The fabric isn't so thick that it bunches up terribly when tucked into a garment. I sewed this top up entirely on my serger. The sweater fabric had a tendency to unravel like you expect a sweater would so it needed all the reinforcement of a serged stitch. For the ruffles I serge-finished the edges of the ruffles and left the stitching visible.

The Third and final sweater is Simplicity 8988 sewn up in a super soft cotton interlock knit. This interlock is sold out but this imperial red interlock would look perfect. I deviated from the Simplicity instructions a bit enclosing all seams except the shoulder seams. Its hard to see in these pictures but the exposed seams on the shoulders mimic an epaulet. I made this top on my regular sewing machine with a zig zag stitch- so for all of you out there who think you must have a serger, not so for this fabric.

I love all of my sweaters and have worn each multiple times already. On the whole knit sweaters are a quick project and have a great pay off in versatility. If you've never made one I encourage you to give it a go.

On a final note, I entered graduate school this summer and will be taking a break from blogging for a while. Between school, internship, children, life and volunteer work I can't squeeze as much time in for sewing as I'd like so for now this is "good-bye" and "thank-you." Who knows what life will bring after I complete my degree but maybe you'll see me around these parts in a year and a half. I love sewing for Fabric Mart and have found them to be a fantastic business to work with so you can be reassured that I will continue making Fabric Mart purchases and squeezing in sewing projects during each and every school break.

Peace and Joy to you and a happy sewing project too!

Elizabeth

I Sew, You Sew

On Instagram: @isewyousew

Made By A Fabricista: A Tipsy Martini Transitional Three Piece Look

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon with Sharon Sews with my latest Fabricista make – a three-piece set I can wear as the weather transitions to fall here in Texas. It may look like a summer outfit but there will days filled with sunshine and high temps well into November. At first glance it looks like a nice, lightweight jacket, top and pants. But look closer – it’s sewn from the designer Tipsy Martini cotton sateen that was originally used by the designer for a pajama set. Now I could have sewn myself a pair of pajamas using the Closet Core Carolyn Pajama pattern (available at Fabric Mart) and replicated the designer pajamas. But if I had gone that route the only ones who would have seen this adorable kitschy fabric would be my family. This print is much too cute to hide out at home. This Tipsy Martini cotton sateen fabric was lovely to sew. I used black thread, an 80/12 universal needle, and Palmer/Pletsch Perfect Fuse Medium interfacing (link here). Note that this is a rayon fu

Made By A Fabricista: Hooray for Cozy Fall Sews!

Greetings, all! I am in such high spirits with the best-of-all-seasons just beginning and change is finally in the air. I always rejoice when the sweatiest time of the year passes and we can all take a deep breath and gear up for cozier times. Neighborhood Patterns is a new-to-me designer, and I came across them on Instagram in late summer and fell in love with the Plain Jane Skirt. This is such a simple A-line skirt, but with nice details like large inseam pockets and an optional drawstring, and though I’m sure I could draft this style myself, the appeal of having it all done for me was too tempting to pass up. A sew such as this is a lovely palate-cleanser and this was the first project I sewed after returning from a cross-country trip. Perfect! The gorgeous plaid flannel is exactly what I want to be wearing in the fall. The fabric is SO soft and a pleasure to snuggle up in. Because flannel does not have much body and is prone to stretching or shifting with all its mechanical give,

Made By A Fabricista: Quilted Jacket Chronicle

What do you get when mixing the best things about apparel sewing and machine quilting? A quilted jacket! It's funny that I elected to sew myself a quilted jacket for this Fabricista blog because I don't consider myself much of a quilter. I can count on my hands the number of quilted projects I've made over the last few years. While I fully appreciate the end product of quilting, I don't normally gravitate toward starting quilting projects. That's why making a quilted jacket is a new and exciting project for me! It gives me the fun of making a quilt on a much smaller scale. If you are an avid apparel sewist and are new to quilting, this is the perfect project to take for a quilting test drive! For my quilted jacket, I used the Seamwork Easton Jacket pattern. I decided to stick with a solid-colored fabric for the jacket's exterior and ordered 4 yards of Dark Umber Brown Lycra Stretch Canvas Suiting from the Fabric Mart website. I wanted a contrasting color for the

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