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: 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: The Art of the Slow Make: My La Forme Double-Breasted Jacket

I started this project back in July — one of those mid-summer sewing plans meant to get me ahead for fall. My idea was simple: start my wardrobe a season (or two) early so that when cooler weather came, I’d already have a few handmade pieces ready to wear. That was the plan, anyway. But as sewing often reminds us, plans evolve. This jacket, made using La Forme pattern No. 0303, is a double-breasted design with peak lapels and an exaggerated hip detail that gives it such a striking silhouette. I fell in love with the structure of the pattern right away — it has that timeless, tailored feel I can never resist — but it also asked for patience. I picked it up and put it down several times over the months, letting it rest while I worked on other projects, until finally, the timing felt right to bring it to life. And now, here we are — the leaves are turning, there’s a chill in the air, and some parts of the country are even seeing snow. My summer-started jacket is finally finished, and it c...

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 ...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog