Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Battle of the Tops

Image
By

Happy first Friday of a new month March!  I am excited to return with 2 new makes that I have been wanting to add to my closet.  Even though I didn’t make half the garments I had in the queue for February, I am truly proud of the pieces I created.  Since I became an ambassador for Husqvarna Viking, I have been dreading learning buttonholes on my new machines.  After mastering it right when the pandemic hit on my Brother sewing machine, I took a hiatus, and then fear set in.   Over the Christmas break, I decided to tackle my fears and watch videos on YouTube and practice. I was in shock at how easy it is to create a buttonhole.  The machine is basically 2 simple steps: plug, align, and snap the foot on.  

Carrot/Raspberry 100% Linen Yarn-Dyed Shirt-Weight Woven 58W - SKU: UKD7483r

I made a commitment to myself in 2022 that I will attempt to do at least 1 buttonhole garment a month, learn and master 1 new sewing skill and write at least 1 blog post per month.  In February, I exceeded my own expectations and created 4 garments with buttons. Last summer I created New Look 6698 with a rayon fabric I had in my stash for a while from Fabric Mart here. 

I fell in love with the pattern then and knew I would create more versions in cotton and linen.  Even though I did not add the buttons to my first version, the sleeve drama and the darts on this pattern caught my attention.  

I wanted to master collar tops and decided to use an easy pattern with no yoke and with less than 5 buttons.  I made no modifications to the pattern and plan to add a 4th button to it. This top is a winner because it is very flattering and can be made using several fabric types.

My 2nd button top is also a quick and easy sew New Look pattern (N6678) which is very flattering on my body type.

I am now drawn to NEW LOOK patterns because of the perfect fit right out of the pattern envelope. I completed it in less than 3 hours before adding the buttonholes.  I am amazed by the fit and darts both in the front and the back. It has facing which makes it easy to sew and I believe that a beginner who wants to try buttonholes can handle this project.  This is my second version of this top and you only need a yard and a half of fabric to create it if no pattern matching is involved.

Heathered Tropical Sea 100% Linen Yarn-Dyed Shirt-Weight Woven 58W - SKU: UFA7486r

Hands down both patterns are amazing in linen, rayon, and cotton and get a thumbs up.  I am adding New Look 6698 to one of my favorites and will add another version by Spring. Both tops are perfect for Spring/Summer and the linen versions are perfect for our warmer days here in Miami.


Thank you so much for reading and let me know which one is your favorite version.  Don’t forget to stop by my blog and check out my latest post.  Have a great month of March!!

One Love,

MARICA  | @heymaricamitchell

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!

You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category LINEN.

💡 Did you know? ðŸ’¡
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!

Comments

  1. MelindaMarch 4, 2022 at 10:46 AM

    Beautiful blouses!

    ReplyDelete
  2. RMarch 4, 2022 at 6:24 PM

    Nice colors on you, and terrific pattern choices. So glad you discovered that buttonholes are easy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SherrilMarch 4, 2022 at 10:08 PM

    I love your beautiful tops! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa BMarch 6, 2022 at 7:17 AM

    What a great fit and the linen colors are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 6, 2022 at 11:49 AM

    You look so pretty in both tops. Love those colors!

    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

Return to work wardrobe in ITY – which is your favorite?

By
In June of this year, after spending nearly 11 years at my place of employment and after restructuring and cost cutting, I took a separation package. I was so fortunate to be able to take a few months off, and also to very quickly find a position with a new company. I start my new job on September 14th and I’m super excited!  This new position is also different for me in that it is local to my area (whereas before I worked remotely and traveled to the office every few weeks) – so I’ll be going into the office three times a week. So of course I needed to sew up some new outfits! I’m a huge fan of ITY knit fabric ; ITY stands for interlock twist yarn, which describes the way the yarn is knitted together. I love it for tops, dresses, skirts, and even pants: it’s comfortable, easy care, low wrinkle, and comes in so many beautiful prints. I sewed up three new outfits over the last two weeks and I’m excited to share them with you today! Oh, and also – I need help choosing what to wear fi...
18 comments
Continue Reading »

Sometimes The Fabric Chooses The Pattern

By
Have you ever fallen in love with a fabric and immediately envisioned exactly what you wanted to make, only to realize halfway through the planning process that the fabric had other ideas? That’s exactly what happened with this project. I used Fabric Mart’s Black/Dark Cobalt/Smoky White Poly Foliage Print Chiffon , and while I initially had plans for a detailed dress, the fabric ultimately led me in a completely different direction—and I’m so glad it did. When I first saw this gorgeous chiffon print, I was immediately drawn to the rich color palette and beautiful movement. The dark background paired with the cobalt and smoky white foliage creates a striking look that feels both dramatic and versatile. My original plan was to make a dress with princess seams, buttons, and more structured design elements. However, after spending time with the fabric, I realized that all of those seam lines and construction details would compete with what makes this chiffon so beautiful: its drape, moveme...
6 comments
Continue Reading »

Hillhouse Nap Dress Dupe with Fabric Mart Fabric!

By
I have been wanting a Hill House Home Nap Dress for the longest time, but when I saw the reviews that the fabric was too sheer and the price tag—often well over $200—I decided it would be much more fun to make my own! I found this gorgeous abstract navy and white cotton voile from Fabric Mart and knew it would be perfect for the light, floaty dupe I had in mind. Cotton voile is soft, lightweight, and beautifully suited for a shirred dress like the infamous Nap dress. This abstract print gives the finished dress a more modern feel. I love a floral fabric, but I was excited to find this abstract print in my favorite color of navy.  Rather than using an entire dress pattern, I followed Just Lauren Johnson’s YouTube tutorial on how to create a Nap Dress from rectangles. Lauren walks you through how to use your own measurements to calculate the dimensions of the bodice, skirt tiers, and other pieces. I loved this approach because I could create the dress specifically for my measurement...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing With Intention: New Look 6106 and a More Coordinated Wardrobe

By
Sometimes a sewing project begins with a beautiful piece of fabric or a pattern you just have to make. This one began with my closet. Recently, I did a major closet purge. I took a good look at what I actually wear, what I kept reaching for, and—maybe more importantly—what was missing. Once the pieces I no longer loved or wore were gone, something became very clear: I want to be more intentional about what I sew next. Instead of sewing individual pieces that I love but don't necessarily wear together, I want to build a wardrobe where my handmade garments coordinate with the clothes I already own—and with the pieces I'm planning to sew next. For this month's Fabricista project, this beautiful lightweight shirting from Fabric Mart turned out to be a wonderful place to start. The Fabric That Started It All Fabric Mart provided this beautiful oatmeal and black heathered shirting , along with the matching thread for my project. One of the things I love most about this fabric is ...
9 comments
Continue Reading »