Made by a Fabricista: Lounging in Linen this Summer

Now that we are officially in summer it is time to play with a lovely breathable natural fabric, Linen. When I think of linen I think of heat, summer, and comfort in those humid days. Looking on the website I saw two fabrics I just had to make some nice pieces to add to my wardrobe.

Knowing I wanted something comfortable and different I chose a black linen that would be great for a pair of pants of some sort. (If this color is currently out of stock, check back soon!) I was truly at a loss for what type of pants I wanted to choose until I remembered seeing a pattern while scrolling many moons ago. For my bottoms I chose the Waralee Wrap trousers from Freesewing.org. Modeled off Traditional Thai Fisherman Trousers these pants are secured by ties holding the front and back up and are easily adjustable for different body types.

The pattern gives you the option to just have a pattern piece to cut out the crotch area and then use measurements only to finish up the rest of the piece or you can piece together the large square pattern piece and use that to guide your fabric cutting. I also decided to include both front and back pocket so that I have a place for my phone (and snacks ). Once the pockets where in all that was required was the sew up crotch seam, attach the ties and hem all the edges. This was the fasted pair of paints I have ever made!

For the shirt I went for a new pattern in a style I like. Right now, nothing beats a pullover shirt with a placket like seen in many knit polo styles. This time I used the printed linen to add a pop of pattern to my summer wardrobe. Veering from the pattern I decided to use collar stand but not the collar itself for a more relaxed style. I thought about leaving the placket open but wanted to have the versatility of closing it for taking professional meetings, so I added pearl snaps that brought out the cream tones in the print.

Though these pieces could be worn together (maybe) I prefer them separately. I paired the pants with a basic t-shirt as the perfect summer loungewear outfit. I can see this both being work in the house or on the porch to enjoy coffee in the morning as well as near a body of water somewhere in the world. The shirt I paired with some shorts ready to dine a wonderful outdoor café in my city. These linen pieces will be staples in my wardrobe this summer season.

JULIAN | @juliancreates

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

💡 Did you know? 💡

A good portion of Fabric Mart's linens are reorderable!

This means that even if the color you're looking for is currently unavailable, it should come back in stock soon!

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: Just Wear It Out!

Originally I wasn’t happy with my make this time around. I put it on fresh off the sewing machine and didn’t love how it fit. My elastic was slightly too narrow for what the pattern called for. I did end up putting a stitch to close up the v-neck on the top. I thought my sewing on the waistband looked sloppy and I looked kind of frumpy in the outfit. I was going to put the project down to fix later but decided to wear it out for some feedback from our web manager and one of the describers. I ended up pleasantly surprised! The fabric is super comfortable and I felt really good wearing it. All the things I didn’t like kind of melted away wearing it out. The flaws were so small that only I noticed them. I think it’s important to remember that while striving for perfect seams and flawless construction is good, a handmade garment doesn’t have to be perfect to be wearable. This isn’t the first time I’ve softened on a garment after wearing, and it certainly won’t be the last! The 100% c...

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...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog