Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: The Perfect Statement Fabric

Image
By

I’m 100% one of those people that select fabric solely based how I’m feeling in that moment.  I never have a project in mind or a look I want to make.  Once the fabric arrives and I get to touch it, within a few days the ideas start to come.  The only downside to this is a fabric stash that looks a bit like a retail store.

When this double-faced satin suiting arrived, I initially considered a pant suit but thought this fabric was a little too special and at the last minute opted for something more dramatic despite having no place to where it.  I figured If nothing else, I can wear the skirt with a t-shirt for school drop-off lol.


The top was made using a drafted bustier pattern with lots of boning and interfacing.  Definitely time consuming but well worth it.  I enjoy a nice dramatic sleeve and interfacing gave the sleeve enough structure to accomplish just that.



The skirt was made using vintage McCalls 9260.  I have drawers and drawers filled with vintage patterns.  The beauty of vintage patterns is the ability to easily customize them to make it your own.  Vintage patterns typically have far fewer pattern pieces than newer patterns which makes this process a breeze.

For this skirt, I opted to make the waist 3” higher and a side zipper instead of a back zipper.  After the skirt was made, I cut it at an angle with the front significantly shorter than the back. I then added a gathered ruffle.



There are times when a fabric calls for a statement, and this was it.

This double-faced satin suiting is sublime.  It has a good weight, perfect for all this drama and surprisingly irons well.  Make sure you use a ironing cloth or the heat will definitely change the composition of the fabric. (I learned this the hard way)

Now off to get these beauties in bright pink, black, pale blue and brown.

NIKKI  | @beautejadore

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category, SATIN & SUITING.

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 3, 2021 at 8:44 AM

    Gorgeous! I hope you get lots of wear out of the top and skirt, either as a set or separates with other items. Wherever you decide to wear them, you will inspire whoever sees you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NikkiSeptember 8, 2021 at 11:55 AM

      That's so kind, thank you so much. I've already worn the skirt lol.

      Delete
  2. JDSeptember 5, 2021 at 11:42 AM

    I would say your pieces are “fashion runway” worthy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2021 at 11:14 PM

    ALWAYS AMAZING

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownOctober 1, 2021 at 8:39 AM

    That top is to die for! Amazing. Now go pick the kids up in that top!

    ReplyDelete
  5. ThatsSewChelseaOctober 4, 2021 at 12:59 PM

    Everything about this is pure perfection!!! I can't get enough of the drama & volume of both pieces. Sometimes even the grocery store or a coffee run needs a little extra sass!!!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Made by a Fabricista: What to Make with Silk Taffeta

By
You may have noticed that Fabric Mart has a *HUGE* selection of silk taffeta right now.  A lot of it is either large plaid or large stripes.   I was curious about it, and not really sure what I could make with it, but I just knew it would be gorgeous fabric and had to play around with it.  Turns out, it's actually great for quite a range of projects!  The dress above is my third project. Let me show you the first two. My first was to make some queen size pillow shams.  They are the plaid ones in the back of the photo.  I also made the two printed ones in the center from another Fabric Mart home dec fabric special!  I wanted to make the covers removable with a zipper, and include a braided trim.  As luck would have it, I found a whole card of braided trim at an estate sale that worked with my taffeta for just $2! To start, I used a zipper foot to stitch down the braided trim all around one side of the pillow. Then I serged ...
8 comments
Continue Reading »

A Yard And Change

By
Do you have a fabric that you love and has been hanging around but is too small to use? Maybe you found a wonderful fabric with a super cute print but there's only a yard left.  I've got a few projects I worked on all with roughly a yard of fabric. And I have a few tips for making that yard and change go further! Cutting Layout: You can get a lot more mileage out of a yard of fabric if you can get creative with how you lay out your fabric. Cutting things single layer will give you the most control. My favorite thing to do is unfold the fabric and fold the selvages in to meet in the middle. That gives me two folded edges to work with. I had to overlap these to get enough width for the tank top. Just make sure that your pattern pieces don't also overlap!  This one was especially fun for me because I really loved the print on this swimwear knit but am not yet up to sewing swimwear. But a nice flowy hiking tank is perfect for this! In the future I'd love to experiment with...
3 comments
Continue Reading »

Help Our Buyers Shop!

By
  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?
128 comments
Continue Reading »

Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

By
There’s something especially motivating about refreshing your workout wardrobe with pieces that feel like you. As part of my ongoing athletic wear refresh, I’m adding another handmade set to my gym wardrobe—and this one might be the boldest yet. Lately, I’ve been taking a closer look at my handmade wardrobe and thinking more intentionally about what I actually wear in this season of my life. Athletic wear has become a big part of that. Instead of treating workout clothes as an afterthought, I want my gym wardrobe to have the same personality, color, and style as everything else I make. And this fabric made that very easy.  The Fabric That Started It All   The moment I saw this vibrant multicolored paisley, I was immediately drawn to it. The mix of warm reds, oranges, greens, turquoise, and golden yellow against the light background feels bold, energetic, and a little unexpected for athletic wear . There’s something about the print that reminds me of Etro and other higher-end f...
7 comments
Continue Reading »