Made By A Fabricista: Tropical Vibes

Happy first Friday of a brand New Year! I hope you and your loved ones are healthy going into 2022.

Whew, 2021 was a roller coaster year but it allowed us to truly appreciate every single moment. I am excited to return as a blogger with Fabric Mart and will definitely be sharing more beginner sewing tips and tricks. When I was packing for my trip to Jamaica in November last year, I noticed I had nothing to bring that had a tropical print. I knew for my next make, I would select fabric that reflected my love for warm, tropical weather and Jamaica my island home. When I searched and came across these rayon challis prints, I knew right away it would be palazzo pants or a faux jumpsuit to rock on my next getaway - Spring break.

I absolutely love the lola tank and dress pattern I made here and yes I decided to make a few more over the holiday break using some ponte knit I had in my stash from Fabric Mart. Our temperature here in South Florida has been in the mid to high 70s for most of December so these definitely came in handy. I love the fact I can layer the tank under a cardigan or jacket when needed. To make both pants, I used my favorite jumpsuit pattern M8009 (pants) and added a waistband. I realized after making the first version, I needed to make a few adjustments.

I originally cut the size 14 and lengthened by 4 inches. I ended up having to remove an inch from the waist, and added 2 front pleats for a better fit. The adjustments I made for the jumpsuit would not work for the palazzo pants so you might consider taking off an inch from the rise of the pants. I would suggest for a beginner to make a muslin with the waistband attached to check the crotch fit. I decided to sew down the elastic and try a new technique which I love. I definitely plan to do a quick reel tutorial on Instagram so turn on your notification so you do NOT miss it when I post.

My second version fits much better as I decided to size down to a 10 because I was using a crinkle challis that tends to stretch. I also lengthened by only 2 inches instead of 4 as I wanted to make it shorter so that I could rock it with flats or sandals. I had a hard time deciding what to make with this fabric but opted to make another palazzo pants instead.

I definitely plan to make more basic everyday pieces in 2022 that work for my lifestyle. The days of making pieces that I do not maximize are over. The older I get the more comfortable clothes I want to wear based on my lifestyle. Do you make more basic or everyday essential pieces?

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to stop by and subscribe to my blog. I am excited to get back into blogging and plan to do so regularly in 2022. I am truly looking forward to documenting my creative journey and sharing it with you.

One Love and hope 2022 brings you good health, peace and happiness!

MARICA | @heymaricamitchell

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

Made By A Fabricista: Did someone say FREE??? All about Free Sewing Patterns

Hi sewing friends! I am SEW excited to share this blog post with you today! This is my fifth post with Fabric Mart since I did a guest post late last year and then joined the blogging team in 2024 but I would say this is the post that 1) I worked the hardest to create, and 2) the one that has me the most excited! Today I am going to talk about FREE sewing patterns, showcase a few free patterns I’ve sewn, and then share some very exciting news at the end of this post about an upcoming! First, let’s talk about free patterns – where they come from, why they exist, and how you can find them. But first, here’s a recent free pattern I sewed. This is the Finn Crop Tee from Petite Stitchery . I used an ITY (Interlock Twist Yarn) for this one and I was able to squeeze it out a yard of a fabric. ITY is one of my favorite fabrics to dress up a t-shirt and it wears well across all seasons. And Fabric Mart gets the most AMAZING designer deadstock designs you will ever see! Petite Stitchery offers

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