Made by a Fabricista: A Blast From the Past

Hello everyone! I’m so excited to share my new look with you guys!

Fashion is one big revolving circle. Trends, colors, styles, etc. all tend to repeat themselves. One of my favorite time periods is the 1960’s. It has so many traits that is true to me, they had vibrant colors, amazing silhouettes, lots of florals, and dramatized accessories.

When I saw this gorgeous Fabric Mart Chiffon fabric (found HERE if still available!) I immediately thought of an amazing 1960’s styled dress. I imagined this flowy floral dress with a dramatic sleeve & an immense amount of color. The fabric has many colors in it including: olive, mustard, hues of purple, pink, hunter green, blues; it is indeed out of a 60’s dream.

Instead of creating a pattern from scratch, I decided to use a pattern in case anyone would want something similar. I used the pattern 8089 by McCall’s View A. The pattern was pretty easy to use & I didn’t have any complications when making it. The fabric being chiffon it is very delicate and smooth. It can be hard for a beginner to sew or cut with. If you have ever run into any problem with it staying put you can very lightly spray starch on it & it will stiffen it a tiny bit to achieve some stability; for me I chose to put several pattern weights on it & cut it out that way. For the hems it is easy to do a curved hem roll, where you sew a curved line all around the bottom then press & fold it over. It will make the hem much easier for you & with this certain fabric it also leaves a clean finish. This dress is a pullover dress with an elastic waistband, so there was no need for any extra zippers or closures.

I lined it with some dark purple satin that I had in my stash. I only lined the bodice & skirt portion of the dress, to keep the initial flow of the dress, as well as, the ruffles. For the ruffles & the sleeves I extended the pattern to give it a more exaggerated look. I added 2 inches to each side of the sleeve & I added 1 inch to each ruffle.

I really wanted this photoshoot to be fun, so I styled it with all 60’s things alike. I really wanted to bring the entire look together to understand my vision when I initially saw the fabric. I bought a cheap old fashioned belt & I styled my hair & makeup to resemble that time period. I was so happy with the overall achieved look. This has to be one of my favorite dresses.

Thank you guys!

MACY | @macycamile

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics in our CHIFFON category.

Made By A Fabricista: Sheer Elegance and Everyday Comfort with my Two New Tops

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with my last Fabricista make for 2025. While many sew a special holiday outfit at year’s end, I went in another direction sewing two tops that couldn’t be more different. One is sheer and elegant while the other is easy comfort for everyday wear. These tops reflect how I dress at this stage of life. As an over-50 sewist, these two tops reflect how I dress at this point in my life. Sometimes I want something a bit special, other times more basic. Either way, sewing them in beautiful fabrics, custom fit to my body, makes all the difference in how I feel when I wear them. Even though I’m quite pleased with my two tops, my original plan was to sew a jacket with the tropical print stretch twill and pair it with a top sewn from the soutache mesh knit . Sadly, I wasn’t quick enough to get enough of the stretch twill to make a jacket, so a top it was! You do know you have to act fast when you see something you love on Fabric ...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing for a Florida Cold Snap with Fabric Mart Fabrics

Even here in Florida, we get the occasional cold weather surprise, and when temperatures dipped recently, I was very glad to have the perfect handmade outfit ready to go. For this month’s Fabricista make, I sewed up New Look pattern 6771, using two beautiful fabrics sent to me by Fabric Mart Fabrics. The Fabric & Pattern Choice New Look 6771 is a cozy two-piece set featuring a relaxed-fit top and pull-on pants—exactly the kind of pattern that works well for transitional weather. I chose to start with the top, using a brown animal print French terry from Fabric Mart, and it turned out to be an absolute dream to work with. The French terry was soft, substantial without being heavy, and handled beautifully at the machine . It had just the right amount of structure to highlight the pattern’s design details while still feeling comfortable and wearable. From cutting to pressing, this fabric behaved perfectly and elevated the final garment. The Top: A Total Win The top from New Look 677...

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

Twirling in a me-made outfit! I live in a small town where the nearest fabric shop is a road trip away, so I almost exclusively shop for fabric online. Having access to an online shop like Fabric Mart with a solid search engine is incredibly helpful. But by far my favorite aspect of Fabric Mart is what I call the “Drape Picture” included in each listing! This picture gives me all the information I need and I find it more helpful than the exact weight per yard/square meter. Seeing how the fabric falls close or away from the body gives me a clear idea of how it will behave and inspires me to make it into something that will highlight the fabric’s nature. When I saw the drape of this “Baked Plum” wool suiting , I immediately wanted to immortalize those beautiful folds into a skirt! I opted for a simple self-drafted pleated skirt with a deep hem. I wear my dresses year-round and rely on wool skirts that I layer under or over my dresses for warmth. I cut two panels for the front ...

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