Made By A Fabricista: My List (Not to Santa)

“As I write, December ends amid the usual neurosis of lists - from bestsellers to best dressed of the year. The last twelve months get summarized in these podium/listings published by all the newspapers and posted on the networks.” (Irene Vallejo, Infinity in a Reed , 2019) – Free translation

Let me participate in this end-of-the-year-list neurosis! From thinking about the project to sharing it with you, this is my list of ten steps to post on this blog:

Decide on a project - I appreciate simple, straightforward, practical projects. I was looking to sew a pajama set this time and chose the McCall M7297 pattern that included the whole set of pants, shirt, and robe. I ended up skipping the shirt, though. It wasn’t my style! The good news: I will use this pattern if I ever want to sew a nurse scrub.
Select the fabric – Patterns usually include recommendations about the suitable materials to use. In this case, I chose a very stretchy and flowy jersey fabric, combined with a plain pink knit for accent pieces. I checked that both fabrics had the same stretchiness and composition (rayon/modal/lycra) to ensure they were going to couple flawlessly at the seams.
Cut the pieces – This was my first time using a commercial pattern made in such a thin paper – it feels like rice paper - so I cut my size right into the pattern. I don’t particularly like tracing, but I felt bad cutting into the pattern and knowing I wouldn’t be able to use it again. Once cut, I wrapped every piece into the “rice paper” and laid them all out.
Make pattern modifications – I made the pants first because they were faster and easier, and they would give me a chance to get familiar with the fabric. Unfortunately, these pants were around six inches too long for me! Also, the bottom band with an accent fabric is an original detail, but it makes them heavier than I like. Once I got the pants, I realized I needed to modify the robe a little. So, I shortened it too, by 6 inches, and sewed tight cuffs instead of oversized kimono-like sleeves. I don’t want my cuff to slip in my pancake mix! I also chose to sew an elastic inside the belt and stitch it on the back of the robe. Otherwise, I know I would have quickly lost the belt!
Sew! – It’s “the heart” of the process when everything comes together! No wonder it’s the exact middle step! Sewing this project didn’t need any special precautions, just the usual ones: jersey or ball-point needle, serger to polish the seams, making sure not to stretch the fabric while sewing.
Polish – Here’s a shameless confession: the first outfits I ever sewed didn’t survive the first rounds on the washing machine. They frayed all over; the armholes got deformed, stitches got loose. I wasn’t paying much attention to the finishes. Understitching, what’s that? Stabilizing the stitches, what for? Using the twin needle, why? I have learned my lesson with practice: garment longevity depends on polishing these details.
Smile and pose! – You can pose in front of a tripod, and that’s fine! But instead, let me give you a tip: find yourself a talented, generous, and resourceful friend like my friend Jennifer! She not only offered her house to take the pictures, with her beautiful Christmas tree, decorations, and a fireplace on the TV. Jennifer sets up the mood, finds the right angles, and takes the best pictures! I will take this opportunity to thank other friends and family that have had the patience to take my photos this year: Carlos, Liana, and Sarina.
Edit pictures – There are a million apps to edit pictures, and I am not an expert in this! I make sure the lighting is natural, and that’s it!
Write – Ideas pop up in my head throughout the process. “Oh, this would be worth sharing!” So usually, by the time I finish a project, I know the angle I’ll give to my article, and it’s just a matter of sitting down and putting it together!
Share – Yay! If you are reading this, the process is complete! Thank you for reading!

Writing on this blog has taught me so much this year. When I applied to become a Fabricista, I knew I liked sewing, posing, and writing. Since then, I’ve realized I enjoy every step of the way! What about you? Any favorite steps? Would you add any steps?

INES | @bynunis

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

Made By A Fabricista: My Version of the Infamous DVF Wrap Dress

Just in case you are not aware, the iconic Diane Fustenberg wrap dress has turned 50 this year. In celebration, Vogue has re-released the DVF Wrap Dress pattern, which now comes in extended sizes. This dress is so classic and fits many different body types. I got a hold of this pattern and decided this would be my birthday dress this year. This pattern is categorized as a Very Easy Vogue pattern, and I would have to agree with that. Wrap dresses are usually relatively simple to put together since there aren’t that many pattern pieces to sew together. I made View A in a size 22 and the only modification I made was to shorten the hem by 6 inches. I will say that since I used a Ponte Knit , I could have gone down to a size 20. I didn’t read the fabric suggestions before picking my fabric. I’ve always remembered seeing the DVF Wrap dress in knits. After reviewing the fabric suggestions, they do say that you can use soft fabrics, like a Challis or a Chambray. As I mentioned, I’ve alwa

Week 4: Jeansmaking- What They Made

This is it, the final round! And we certainly did not go easy on our three remaining contestants this time. This round they had to make their own pair of well fitting jeans. I think they all did an absolutely outstanding job! Take a look what these ladies accomplished & be sure to vote for your favorite! (Link at bottom of post.) And, don't forget to show us your me-made jeans on Facebook or Instagram. Details at the bottom of this post. Danesha from Classyfied Life So first I must say that this entire challenge has been just that...a challenge! Two weeks ago there was hurricane Irma and I was blessed enough to not lose power and then I went out into the aftermath to capture some photos of my submission. Then two weeks ago I had a big trip planned so I had to do EVERYTHING in two days . Then the BIGGEST challenge of all...THIS week! I got the challenge and I was super excited to have an extra few days and then before I could even get started I ended up in the eme

Made By A Fabricista: The Grand Sewing Plan

Spring is everywhere you look! Full winter jackets and thick sweaters are no longer daily wardrobe requirements, and new spring fabrics are blooming at Fabric Mart! Every Spring, I try to make myself a new dress to celebrate the turn of the seasons, but this year I had a grand sewing plan to make 5 new spring garments. It all started one day while browsing the Fabric Mart website. I saw an adorable cotton veggie print shirting fabric and envisioned it becoming a special little button-up shirt for my son to wear on Easter. The cotton veggie print shirting reminded me of the Peter Rabbit stories I used to read as a child and then all of a sudden I got carried away with my ideas. My initial idea grew into a mother-and-son outfit coordination idea with button-up shirts and ended with an entire family outfit coordination plan. I ordered 2.75 yards of the cotton veggie print shirting fabric to make two button-up shirts and a tie. Most sane people would have stopped there with the matching sh

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog