Made By A Fabricista: An Outfit for First Snow

We had a marvellous autumn in western Canada with warm dry days and just a couple of hints of frost. When I was perusing Fabric Mart Fabric's site in October, I was tempted to focus on pretty florals for blouses or dresses but part of me knew that ... (da dah dum ... ) winter is coming. Fortunately, Fabric Mart was stocked with a huge selection of fabrics that are perfect for winter or holiday sewing.

Over the past several months I've been planning my sewing projects so I have pieces that work together. To stick with that theme, I decided to pick a print fabric for a top, and a solid for pants, using navy as the neutral.

Pants

For the pants, I selected Navy Poly/Nylon/Spandex Stretch Corduroy. This fine 14-wale corduroy is warm enough to wear outdoors but will be especially comfortable indoors. It also has a bit of drape which makes it nice for trousers. And who doesn't want some stretch?

I selected Vogue 9181 (Custom-Fit Bootcut Pants) because it is designed for stretch woven fabrics, it has bootcut legs and a front mock zip. For the past several months I've been working on the Top Down Center Out fitting method for pants and this pattern, with its shaped waistband, works especially well when attempting this fitting method. I first made a half-toile using muslin, then marked up the pattern and cut out the corduroy. The fabric was really easy to cut and sew. It does shed a bit but not nearly as much as cotton corduroy. I used a stretch needle and sewed the seams on my sewing machine, then serged the seam allowances.

I made two mistakes when sewing the pants and both were simply the result of a lack of experience working with corduroy. First, I neglected to sew a test buttonhole on scrap fabric. That resulted in a good hour of unpicking after I made the same mistake twice! The second error is more embarrassing but I know I'm not the first nor will I be the last to do this. When I cut out the cord I didn't even think about the nap of the fabric. So my finished pants have the nap going up on the front and down on the back. It makes a difference! I'm hoping that no one will notice and if they do, they're looking too closely.

These pants are super comfortable. I like the drape with the boot-cut shape.

Top

The second part of my outfit is a loose-fitting turtleneck that is perfect for winter weather.

Fabric Mart had a number of fun holiday print fabrics and I just couldn't resist this brushed sweater knit with Christmas trees and cabins in non-traditional colours. (Pro Tip - buy it when you see it, even if it's off-season!) I think this print will be wearable throughout the winter, not just over the holiday period. This sweater knit is a poly/lycra blend and the stitches are very fine so it feels like a jersey. It has a lovely drape and feels cosy but not too warm.

I went back to a favourite pattern, the Jalie Emelie. This free, downloadable pattern has sizes for everyone from toddlers to adults 2XL. It's oversized with dropped shoulders and a turtleneck collar. I've used this pattern several times and love it because it's such a fast make and is a great shape for wearing over tights or pants. The only change I make when sewing this top is to slightly alter the shape of the collar so it's more loose fitting around the neck. Instead of cutting a tube, I cut a D shape neck piece and that allows the top of the turtleneck to open up a bit. One note about sizing, the sleeves are slim fitting and I recommend measuring the sleeve pieces before cutting.

I know I'll get lots of wear out of both of these pieces. As you can see, winter has already arrived in western Canada so the timing was perfect!

This is my last Fabric Mart Fabricista post and I sincerely thank everyone at Fabric Mart for their generosity and for being such a great team to work with. And for always having something that I must have.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

JANINE | @janineerm

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

Made by a Fabricista: The Bernadette

Hello friends, My Latest Fabricista Make: Friday pattern Co Bernadette Skirt x Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! When I saw Fabric Mart’s Muted Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim , I knew it would be perfect for my next project. The color is rich and versatile—a deep navy that works as a neutral but still has presence. The stretch denim has just the right balance: structure with a bit of give, making it great for a garment that needs both shape and comfort. It’s an ideal fabric for fall transitions, but it’s sturdy enough to carry straight into winter with tights and boots. For the pattern, I chose the Bernadette Skirt by Friday Pattern Company . This is one of their newer designs, and I knew immediately I wanted to sew it up. It’s a modern skirt that blends structure and style, with darts in the back and pleats in the front for a flattering fit. One of my favorite features is the belt, and of co...

Made By A Fabricista: Falling for Knits

We are now well into Fall, even though the temps are still relatively warm here in Texas. I love the fall season and dressing for Fall. When it comes to the conversation of knits vs. wovens I typically sew mostly wovens. So for this post I decided to sew completely knits! With the holiday season right around the corner I saw these three dress styles as perfect for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving gatherings. The first look is a tried and true pattern Simplicity S9372. Using this gorgeous burgundy ponte knit , I like how this pattern fits throughout. I chose this color to add to my typically neutral palette in my closet. I also wanted something I could wear to my sorority meetings and found this color perfect. It's an easy sew with back fisheye darts and invisible zipper to add to the tapered style. The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding giving it a clean finish on the inside. I used a universal needle to sew a...

Made By A Fabricista: The Art of the Slow Make: My La Forme Double-Breasted Jacket

I started this project back in July — one of those mid-summer sewing plans meant to get me ahead for fall. My idea was simple: start my wardrobe a season (or two) early so that when cooler weather came, I’d already have a few handmade pieces ready to wear. That was the plan, anyway. But as sewing often reminds us, plans evolve. This jacket, made using La Forme pattern No. 0303, is a double-breasted design with peak lapels and an exaggerated hip detail that gives it such a striking silhouette. I fell in love with the structure of the pattern right away — it has that timeless, tailored feel I can never resist — but it also asked for patience. I picked it up and put it down several times over the months, letting it rest while I worked on other projects, until finally, the timing felt right to bring it to life. And now, here we are — the leaves are turning, there’s a chill in the air, and some parts of the country are even seeing snow. My summer-started jacket is finally finished, and it c...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog