Made by a Fabricista: Tying in Culture

When it comes to sewing & creating garments everyone’s style & preference is different. Some people create garments that are on trend. Some people love to make vintage clothing. Some people create garments that is catered to things they love. For me, I have always been heavily inspired by my life. My grandmother & my culture have played a significant role on things I create & the things that inspire my style. My grandmother for starts often made me work out in the garden with her when I was a child & I developed a heavy love for nature & especially florals. But with my culture, I am Filipino, & ever since I have created my Instagram I have always dedicated a few pieces out of the year to that alone.

When I saw this fabric, I immediately was reminded of the Filipino sun. It was so similar to the actual image & the fabric was so beautiful that I had to absolutely have it. Usually when I make a Filipino look, I tend to make a traditional sleeve, but for this look I wanted to choose something modern, so I used McCall’s pattern 7969. For the pants fabric, I had the absolute best true black stretch denim twill. It was literally so perfect; the color didn’t rub off on anything, it was very easy to sew, and it had the perfect amount of stretch. For the pants I used the pattern, Ultimate Trousers by Sew Over It London. This pattern goes up to a size 20, which is a US 16, so for this pattern I had to do several adjustments to accommodate for sizing. 

First, I started with the pants & I measured how much the waist, stomach (which is different than the waist, rise and the hips were on the actual pattern pieces. After that, I properly measured myself with those same measurements to see where I would need to add to each piece. I traced each pattern to the pant & got going.

The pants were generally very easy to make. Once you get past the cutting, it goes really fast from there on. For this pant pattern, it’s just a few darts & a waist band. The denim twill had enough stretch in it that I did not need to add a zipper. The pattern technically calls for one, but the fabric was so good that they just slipped right on.

Next, I worked on the shirt, using McCall’s 7969, & originally this was designed to be a dress, however, I loved it for a shirt. My favorite part about this pattern is the sleeves. They are so big & poofy. I also, loved the bottom of this shirt, where it is oversized & gathered. The shirt was fairly simple to make & the instructions were very easy to follow. The fabric was cotton poplin shirting & it was so easy to work with. When making it into a shirt, I just simply put a pin in where I wanted the shirt to stop & I cut the fabric 1 inch below that to ensure that I had enough for a hem. I flipped the bottom of the shirt & sewed a regular hem & the rest was history!

MACY | @macycamile

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: COTTON, SHIRTING, & DENIM.
You can also shop our collection of Sew Over It patterns HERE.

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing Summery ITY

Hi sewing friends! I’m dropping in to share a few makes sewn with ITY fabrics and inspire you to try out this slinky, cool-to-the-touch fabric for hot weather if you haven’t yet, or to recommend some patterns that work fabulously if you already love it. This is by far my favorite knit to wear in summer. Since it moves easily there’s lots of airflow, and it just skims the body. More often than not, it has a four-way stretch that doesn’t grow when worn, so it works great for loads of styles. ITY stands for Interlock Twist Yarn and the knit gives it some wonderful drape and stretch. There are lots of different weights and even some differing textures. Because it’s so fluid, the fabric really resists most wrinkling. I’ve sewn three different weights and prints here to show off just what ITY can do! This white floral is a lighter weight and features a slightly crepe-textured finish, and I think that combined with the large and spread-out floral makes it quite elegant and eye-cat...

Made By A Fabricista: Effortless ITY

Clothing made from ITY (Interlock Twist Yarn) fabric is effortless, almost like wearing secret pajamas. It is silky and cool to the touch, with a beautiful drape and amazing stretch. ITY fabric is incredibly versatile, and some of the best dresses, skirts, and athletic wear I’ve owned are made from it. Thanks to Fabric Mart’s recent influx of unique ITY fabrics, I was inspired to add some additional ITY items to my wardrobe. I found two beautiful ITY fabrics on the Fabric Mart site that stopped me in my tracks. The first fabric I loved was a funky off-white and multi-color flora and fauna print from a New York Designer. I ordered two yards of this print with a top in mind. Next, I saw a beautiful ITY fabric panel featuring off-white and blue floral print. I’m usually hesitant to buy fabric panels without a plan of how to use them, but I threw caution to the wind this time. I ordered 5 panels, hoping that would give me more than enough fabric to showcase the...

Made By A Fabricista: Basics vs Fun Clothes

Every summer I make flowy, pretty dresses because they are so fun for me to make, wear, and they keep me cool as temperatures rise. But when the days get shorter and autumn rolls around, I’m not always confident on how best to transition my summery dresses into garments that will allow for the seasonal changes. In an effort to be more intentional about maximizing the use of my clothing, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to make for August. It’s been a hot summer in New Jersey. From what I can see, it’s been a hot summer across the US. Looking for clothing that will keep me cool, perhaps hide some sweat stains, and allow me to transition between seasons, I decided to make separates that would pair well with each other and allow me to mix and match with the rest of my wardrobe. For the top, I wanted a basic tank top, something I could layer later on. For the bottoms, I wanted flowy, summery pants that can last into brisker weather or become phenomenally cozy in front of my wint...

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