Made by a Fabricista: Boho Chic Summer

Hello Gems! I'm so excited to share this month's look as a Fabric Mart Fabricista featuring two gorgeous fabric selections from Fabricmartfabrics.com. If you know me by now, you know that I adore a cool, floor length, boho chic look. There is something so sophisticated, sexy and cool about a free flowing look this time of year made from lightweight breathable fabrics such as the ones used for my most recent Fabricista make.

Although the weather is warmer, I still enjoy creating long flowy dresses and free flowing silhouettes to stay cool in the summer and beat the heat. So for my June look, I did a hack of Vogue pattern 9311 and created a voluminous floor length dress with large billowy sleeves and a plunging neckline. I used Fabric Mart's Rayon Framework Crinkle Challis fabric, which is very light weight and breathable, but not transparent.

I love the drape of this fabric and how it just melts onto your body. I added facing down the front and made it a button up so that this piece could easily double as a cover up!

But, I believe what makes this dress so special are the little details added that draws even more interest to the piece. I cut through the volume of the sleeve and added ruffles along the seams. I believe this amplifies the sleeves and gives the illusion of even more added volume to this part of the dress.

I also added an open back feature to the back bodice and finished it with binded edges ending with a tie at the back of the neck! The dress has an ruffled skirt at the bottom that adds so much more movement and catches the air when you are walking!

This piece in itself makes a beautiful bold statement worn as a dress but I wanted to mix it up a little. During the Summer time we spend a great deal of leisure time pool side and strolling beaches, so a cover-up is always a necessity. So, I featured this piece as a coverup also and created a beautiful pair of wide leg pants using McCalls pattern 8223. I used Fabric Mart's Rayon Polka Dot Voile fabric for these pants and created a matching bra top from the fabric left over!

This fabric is a little silkier than Rayon Challis. It has a slight sheen to the surface but it is still very lightweight and has a beautiful drape. It sews up quite nicely. I was afraid it may slip all over the place due to the shine and slip of the fabric surface. However, it held up quite nicely on the cutting board and under the needle. Despite the weight of this fabric it is very opaque and not sheer at all!

I am so in love with how the pants turned out! The width and volume in the leg is beyond wide and its so beautiful to watch in motion. The fabric feels great against the skin and the pattern was pretty easy to construct. I can definitely see making a few more of these pants for the summer season.

The top I created for this look is made from a hack of one of my favorite bustier patterns this season from Daria Patterns. It is derived from the Rose Cafe Bustier pattern. I pretty much followed the pattern instructions leaving off the straps and adding a tie to the back. I chose a tie closure for this top so that the strapless top would remain tightly secure. This piece does have an underwire. This is one reason this is one of my favorite tops to create. However, it is always nice to be able to control the tightness of the top to insure support up top.

I kept the styling on this look very casual and simple! I added a DIY bag and a pair of comfy yet fashion forward Hurricane Tevas. This keeps the look effortless, cool and ready for Summer. However, dressing up this look and mixing the pieces up would definitely be an option. I am all for versatility and creating stylish options from my pieces.

I had so much fun creating this look and absolutely love the way it came together. I can’t wait to see what other looks I can create with these pieces in my wardrobe !

Until Next time!

MARCIA | @keechiibstyle

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories CHALLIS & VOILE.

Made By A Fabricista: The Sheer Volume Of It All!

This garment was inspired by a dress I saw in an ad, and when I went to purchase it (which I rarely do)…I realized that the dress didn’t come in my size. Ticked off and with $300 back in my pocket, I decided to draft it myself. The description listed the fabrication as a silk cotton voile, so I used that as a starting point to recreate the simple yet elegant silhouette. My drafting experience is limited; I’ve only ever made garments that are pleated rectangles that fit into an elasticated waist. No darts, no complicated calculations, and definitely no sleeves. But I’d have that dress if it’s the last thing I do! I made a drawing, created a Pinterest board to document my inspiration, and narrowed down the features I really wanted to have: billowy bubble-hemmed bishop sleeves (say it three times fast!), a fitted and lined bodice, and a gathered tiered skirt. Finally, it was time to shop for fabric. I knew I wanted a silk blend of some kind, without breaking the bank. For weeks, I ke...

Made By A Fabricista: In Love with Linen

Linen is the best fabric to sew and wear. I selected a beautiful 100% linen from Fabric Mart that is a steel blue and cream floral linen to sew up a By Hand London Hannah Wrap Dress pattern. The flowers look like Dahlias. I originally sewed a Toile from a black and white cotton bedsheet, wore the dress a lot but never made it again. I gave the Toile away to a friend who always commented on how much she loved the dress. When I saw this fabric, I knew I wanted to make the Hannah again. Linen is so easy to sew the entire experience reminded me why linen remains one of my favorite fabrics to sew. I look for a light to medium weight European linen for a dress. I like a rayon or cotton blend with linen because it seems to have more drape and be more soft. Linen gets softer with washing and wearing it. This particular linen feels crisp and after ironing and washing, softens up. I like how Fabric Mart describes the fabrics as top, dress, blouse, shirt weight under “Use” and will describe...

Made By A Fabricista: Blouse with a Unique Neckline? McCall’s 8658 Is It!

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! If you’re looking for a polished, structured blouse that works just as well dressed up as it does dressed down, this one is definitely worth a look. I’m sewing up McCall’s 8658, View B, part of the Spring 2026 pattern collection, and I paired it with Fabric Mart’s charcoal cotton poplin by Robert Kaufman. I was initially drawn to this pattern because of its unique neckline and tailored feel, and I knew right away that a crisp poplin would give me the structure I wanted. This blouse is semi-fitted and full of thoughtful design details that really elevate it. The neckline is a standout, featuring a collar and collar band paired with a front button closure. I especially love the shape of the front hem and the way it opens slightly - it adds movement without being overdone. The back is where a lot of the shaping happens, with double-ended darts that give a beautiful, contoured fit. The sleeves are gathered at the sleeve head a...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog