Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Date Night looks for Valentine's Day

Image
By

Happy New Year!

I am excited to be back blogging in 2023 with Fabric Mart.  Over the past few weeks, I spent quite some time reflecting on what truly brings me joy and a personalized form of self-care. Sewing was on the top of the list and I truly enjoy making my own clothing.  During the winter break, I wanted to create some basic looks that I can jazz up for a wedding or rock on date night.  When I read Johanna’s  blogpost and came across the Vogue 1835 pattern that she made last month, I saw endless possibilities with the pattern.  I knew it was perfect to hack to make a mini, midi or maxi dress and a staple pattern to have.

My original plan with the lycra foil printed knit (here) fabric was to make a formal infinity wrap dress that I saw on instagram.  I will be attending a formal event later this month and felt it was perfect. Knowing that I would only wear the infinity wrap dress once or twice per year, I decided to make separates that I can dress up or down and maximize the wear. 

I used the Vogue top pattern and did not make any adjustments to the large. Unfortunately, the self drafted skirt did not turn out as expected.  While sewing the skirt a few pins on my sewing table damaged the fabric in several places.  Additionally, I noticed a line in the dead center and was not sure if that happened during pre-treatment.  I definitely plan to save it and make a cute top for my daughter.

For the rayon french terry red fabric, my original plan was to make a jogger set.  When the fabric arrived, I realized that it was light weight as I did not look at the fabric description on the site. The rayon lightweight blend is perfect for a maxi dress so  I decided to hack the pattern and make it instead.  I basically aligned the waistline with the Simplicity S8595 maxi dress pattern that I made before here.  There was no grading necessary and the waist lined up so perfectly.


The silhouette of the dress is perfect for a formal event, date night and I definitely plan to make it again using ponte knit from my stash. 


I am  absolutely satisfied with these pieces and even made another version of the bodice to create a jogger set using black ponte knit from Fabric Mart.  I shortened the length of the sleeve by 3 inches  and added a 2 inch band.  Additionally I shortened the bodice by 6 inches  and added a 3 inch band. 

I really enjoyed sewing all these pieces including two button down dresses  during the winter break and definitely plan to sew down my ponte knit stash this month.  For 2023, I have decided to set aside sewing time weekly for self care and  my scheduled sew day will be Thursday nights unless I have an urgent obligation.  Do you set a schedule day for self care that you commit to at least once a week? 

Thanks for stopping! Don't forget to stop by my Instagram page to check out my latest make. 

One Love,

MARICA  | @heymaricamitchell

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

Comments

  1. So Very JoJanuary 20, 2023 at 10:15 AM

    Pattern hack queen. You made 3 outfits?!! I love them all. The dressed are so nice, but I love that jogger set.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CAROLYN JOHNSONJanuary 20, 2023 at 10:44 AM

    All of the pieces are great and versatile.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2023 at 5:33 AM

    I am glad you are back to blogging. I love all the pieces. I will definitely search for that pattern to have when I'm back to sewing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2023 at 10:24 PM

    you look very stylish and happy as well.--Anne

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2023 at 9:12 AM

    Very nice

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pat GottshalkFebruary 6, 2023 at 8:47 AM

    I love when you take a pattern and run with it. Seeing the possibilities and your creativity is always a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  7. SharonFebruary 6, 2023 at 8:24 PM

    Love all three and especially the silver top!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2023 at 7:16 AM

    I love the vogue tops. I made 1. I am going to make more. I have a huge ponte stash.

    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 »