Skip to main content

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.

Comments

  1. Great makes. You are right, I regret not getting the navy cord. I made a very similar shirt with the same fabric this week. It is definitely winter themed and I made a matching hat as well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your new pieces. They look very comfy and warm. I haven't sewn with corduroy in years. I mostly made overalls for my babies but occasionally made something for me too. It is a very versatile fabric because depending on the type it can be very casual or even dressy but always warm. Best holiday wishes to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely combination!

    ReplyDelete
  4. No small Feat! Corduroy, Velvet, Satin are all waiting for us to slip up. Your outfit is lovely and well fitting and nothing is better than purposeful well fitting clothes. Great job and good timing!

    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: Milo + Citrine

Hello sewing friends! It’s Andrea - @happy.things.here on IG and today I’m on the blog to share some sew inspo on one of my favorite kinds of garments to make – cardigans! I absolutely love making them and wearing them year-round, whether it’s an extra layer for around my house in the winter, as my outermost layer in Spring and Fall, or paired with a dress on a cooler summer evening. I love love love cardigans! And there are so many great cardigan patterns out there – chances are that each of your favorite pattern companies offers multiple cardigan patterns. Button-less cardigans are great beginner patterns, and a handmade cardigan is a lovely personalized gift since it’s more forgiving for fit and you don’t have to know someone’s exact measurements to make one. And you can make them in all sorts of knit fabrics too.  Today I chose two cardigan patterns to share with you that I think bring a little something extra to the table. They are the Seamwork Milo and the Made by Rae Citrine.

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: Revving up your style in the Dana Marie Moto Jacket

Hey friends - I am so excited to have been invited to participate as a Fabric Mart Fabricista this month!  This year is the year I challenge my sewing skills.   I have wanted a moto jacket for some time.  Not just any moto jacket but one that has a classic and timeless style. I saw the Dana Marie Moto Jacket pattern on the Fabric Mart website and knew that was the one.  The fabric I used was a beautiful porcelain white/black/silver 100% polyester plaid weave boucle suiting.    Remember when I said I wanted to challenge my sewing skills?  😉 This fabric was beautiful but fragile to work with.  It was a great mental challenge that had me problem solving before sewing to avoid any potential problems.  I first traced out the pattern onto tissue paper to determine the fit.   I used scrap cotton fabric to sew up a “practice run” of the jacket.    I was pleasantly surprised at how easily the jacket comes together.   I sewed up the muslin in one evening.  It was time to cut into the beautifu