Made by a Fabricista: Voluminous Denim

Can you believe it's Memorial Day weekend? Time during this pandemic is a very strange thing. Sometimes it seems that time is going so quickly that the days blur together and other times the hours creep by. I think I'm pretty well adjusted to this new normal. Doing my best to stay safe and sane. Sewing is definitely a big part of my self care. I hope you are well and have found some peace in these unpredictable times.

I'm still sewing even though I rarely leave the house and am not in need of new clothes. This voluminous gathered tent dress will be great to wear out on a hot summer day even if it's just my back yard.

Works belted as well

This tencel chambray is luxe, it has a smooth hand and gorgeous drape. I loved it so much that when it arrived I just kept petting it. LOL Then I had the hardest time deciding what to make. Does that happen to you? My first thought was and I had settled on McCall's 7936, but when one of my sewsistas mentioned the swing dress by Beaute Jadore I changed my plans. I remembered I had purchased the pattern earlier ithis year.

Cutting and sewing this fabric was a breeze! It is a tad transparent, but thanks to the fullness of the dress it's not an issue. I love the cornflower blue color. Unfortunately this color is sold out, but there are a few yards of the darker navy in stock here. I would also recommend any chambray, challis or light weight crepe.

What I might not recommend is this pattern- the Swing Dress by Beaute Jadore - at least to beginners. The construction is simple and straightforward if you've been sewing for a little while, which is good because the instructions are minimal. I would also caution those new to pdf patterns as the printing and assembly of this pattern is unlike any other I've made. Check out my sewalong video (here) to see what I mean.

All that said, I love the dress! It's a perfect dress for a hot summer day. I can't wait until we can go to local festivals and outdoor concerts to wear this dress. It's chic enough to look dressed up, but comfy and light enough not to be miserable in the heat.

See you next month!

Tiffany

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: Closing 2025 with a Lined Jacket

Hello again, sewing friends! It seems we have arrived yet again in the grandest season for layering, all this oncoming cold weather. I like ending the year with something warm and very useful. Seems based on my past Fabricista posts, I love to sew year-end outerwear, and this round is no different! I challenged myself with a new lined coat (wait, jacket? Coat? I feel like the presence of wool changes things?). Anyhoo, since the lovely Chalk & Notch Den Jacket has been in my queue, I proceeded ahead. I like the large pockets, the option to line or not, and the extra bodice and sleeve seams for topstitching. Sewing this coat is not at all difficult, but the many pieces and loads of topstitching will take a bit of time. My version took me a few multiple-hour sessions to complete. I sewed a size 2, which matches my measurements, and I made no alterations. Hint: for a quick size test, just employ the lining pieces. Gorgeous, muted blue as a soft wool flannel ? This is ...

Made By A Fabricista: Chalk and Notch Wren Dress: My Buffet dress for the Christmas season!

I recently sewed the Chalk and Notch Wren dress using a beautifully soft black voile from Fabric Mart, and it turned into such a satisfying, enjoyable project. The pattern itself is very easy to understand and straightforward with clear instructions, intuitive construction, and a relaxed fit that makes the sewing process easy. A buffet dress in the sewing community is a dress that is loose fitting, so you can eat at the buffet without your dress being uncomfortable afterwards, lol! Because the voile I chose is extremely thin and transparent, I opted to line the bodice and first tier. Adding a lining not only provided modesty but also gave the delicate fabric a bit more stability, especially around the neckline and button placket. A helpful tip when sewing a lining into a lightweight bodice is to treat the lining and the main fabric as one. I sewed the bodice as you would for a lined bodice, and the first tier I sewed the pieces together with a basting stitch to make the process...

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