Made by a Fabricista: A Spring Wool Jacket

Hello Everyone, I am so excited to share my first make as a Fabric Mart Fabricista. As the weather starts to get warmer and the need for a heavy winter jacket ceases, I thought it would be nice to make a jacket for those cool spring days.

The Fabric.

I selected a mint green wool/nylon blend wool coating fabric. This fabric is a mid/heavy weight and could get thick once you add in interfacing and lining. I got 2.5 yards and it was perfect to make this short sleeve jacket. I pre-shrunk the wool using the wet towel and dryer method. The fabric presses well, but I didn’t apply steam directly onto it. I used a silk organza pressing cloth to avoid heat scorching.

The Pattern.

I selected Vogue 1758 from their winter/holiday collection. It’s loose-fitting lined jacket/vest with belt, different sleeves and length options. It also includes style details like patch pocket, cuffed sleeves and side slits. I made view A in a size 12 and the fit was great without any modifications. The only change I made was to cut a 4”x1.5” piece of the fabric to create a belt carrier and skipped the buttons/buttons hole to make the jacket into a wrap style.

The Sewing Process.

I used a cotton/poly blend fabric from my local fabric store for the lining. This is fully lined jacket so it did require a good amount of hand sewing (slip stitching) and bagging. The sleeves and the entire hemline is hand-stitched, I don’t mind doing it cos it gives it a clean and professional finish. The pattern instructions was pretty easy to follow but with every jacket pattern there are details like bagging and making a lapel collar. An advanced beginner or intermediate should be able to easily make the jacket following the instructions. Another thing to note is that once you add the interfacing and lining, it could get bulky. Just make sure the right needle (100/16 universal needle) and machine setting is used. Overall, it was a quick and easy make for me.

The Styling.

The jacket is a versatile piece that can be paired with various looks. I showed 2 ways of styling it. The 1st look is a casual take, paired the jacket on top of black jeans, sweater and sneakers look. The 2nd look is more dressy paired on top of a brown neutral monochromatic sweater and pumps look.

I look forward to wearing my new spring jacket all season long, have a good weekend and see you on my next post!

RALIAT | @raliat.oyinlola

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category COATING.

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 ...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog