Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Summer Stretch Knits & Performance Wear

Hello Gems! Although Summer hasn't officially started, I think the weather speaks for itself. My wardrobe is officially declaring Summer and embracing comfortable easy wear vibes. So of course, my closet wouldn't be complete without Summer stretch knit pieces.

For Fabric Mart's June Fabricista Feature I'm sharing two stretch knit looks that I can get into this Summer. From outdoor activities to Summer hot girl looks. I definitely have to have options.  

My first look is an Athleisure wear look! I used Fabric Mart activewear/performance fabric in  a yellow tie dye print to pull off this look. This was my first experience creating athletic wear and I love the way it turned out. I used a Simplicity Pattern 8392 for the top and bottom. I adjusted the top and added a thicker bottom band and side vents in the lining so that I can add bra cups to the inside for extra support.  

This fabric gives great stretch and recovery. I was most concerned with the translucency of the fabric after the garment was made. This can be a common issue with activewear fabrics when you're trying not to bare it all, but it definitely held up on the opaque test on its own.


A big part of athletic wear are the seam finishings and topstitching. I used a similar setting on my Bernina 590 to get a similar effect at the seams and the top stitching at the side pocket. This is a step you don't want to miss when creating athletic wear. It gives a more professional look and it also adds strength to your seams so your activewear lasts longer through all your activities. I also created a simple cropped mesh T shirt to pair as a cover up option for this look.

For my second look, I chose an ITY stretch knit in Leo print. This is a 4 way stretch fabric. Its very drapey and has great coverage. This type of fabric makes comfortable knit wear for anytime of the year. 

I used McCall's 8649 pattern for the skirt and constructed an easy wrap top to pair with it. I'm not a big fan of elastic waistbands but the way this knit skirt pattern is constructed, the elastic waistband is covered giving you a flat yoke and a smooth front band too. The skirt gives fluid movement and wearing ease which is always a plus. 


I used a basic cropped T shirt pattern by Simplicity 8301 to make my top. I sliced the front bodice down the middle and extended the sides measuring from the middle of the bust and across to the opposite side. I created ties to add to the ends and left an opening in one side seam to feed the ties through. 

Love the final touches on this look and the chic comfortable vibes it gives. I used Mettler elastic thread on both of my looks which helped me stitch this stretch knit with ease. 

Until Next Time

MARCIA  @keechiibstyle 


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: ACTIVEWEAR & ITY KNITS.

Comments

  1. Both looks are great.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Both are nice looks onyou; you did a great job.

    ReplyDelete
  3. both looks are good on you; you did a great job.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Two great accomplishments.

    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.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Celebrating warm weather with Spring sewing!

Hi sewing friends! I don’t know about you but boy, was winter cold and dreary this year! The weather here in the Philadelphia area has been slowly improving, but Spring sure did take her sweet old time to arrive. So by April, I was definitely in the headspace of needing to sew up things that were either bright and cheery or meant for the warmer weather I am very much craving right now. I recently purchased a few SewBexx Patterns so I took them on a test run to create some Spring makes. First on my list was to make a top using this absolutely gorgeous ITY fabric I picked up last year. I had two yards which was enough for a long sleeve shirt. I chose the Olivia top, which is oversized with a drop shoulder, has multiple lengths and a split hem. I think the pattern is intended for heavier fabrics but I was envisioning how lovely this top would look with the drape of ITY knit fabric, and it did not disappoint. It came together for me quickly and was a straight forward sew…and I love the br...

Made By A Fabricista | Chasing Time: My White Rabbit-Inspired Look for Atlanta Frocktails

For this year’s Atlanta Frocktails, I found myself captivated by a character who’s been quietly tugging at my imagination for years—the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. There’s something so relatable about his frantic energy, always checking the time, always running late. While he’s worried about being on time, I’m usually calculating how late I can be and still technically arrive on time. Spoiler: I’m often wrong. It’s a cycle of procrastination and anxiety that I know all too well. So when I imagined my look for Frocktails, I thought—why not honor the White Rabbit? After all, time has been chasing me too. But this look isn’t just about Wonderland whimsy. It’s also deeply inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme, Tailored for You, which includes a focus on Black Dandyism—a celebration of Black elegance, intellect, and expressive style. I’ve been obsessed with this theme since it was announced. As a Black creative, I find it powerful and moving to see style used as a way to reclaim...

Made By A Fabricista: Getting into the Spirit of Summer

I'm not gonna lie y'all, I had a completely different project I wanted to do, but that's gonna take more time, and I wanted something cute, comfy and fun to wear for my birthday on the 19th. When I saw this goldenrod & off white linen jacquard , I thought it looked a bit like the design on a Koroks body, especially Makar from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker! I started with the bodice from the free Elderberry dress pattern from Mood, but deviated for the skirt, it felt a little plain of a design, and I had scraps of a Korok fabric that I knew would be a nice accent with some cut out pockets. I've made these pockets once before, deciding the cut out was based on aligning with the seam on the bodice for how far in, and as for how low depended on where I wanted the pouch of the pocket to start. From there I cut the visible part of the pocket, making sure to match the curve of the waist and following the line of the side seams of the skirt, as well as cutting a facing to...