Made By A Fabricista: A Mother’s Day Gift - Making my Daughter’s Prom Dress

Happy Friday All!

As a mother and sewist, I am always planning months in advance for any special occasion dress. Due to the pandemic, my daughter missed all the activities at the end of her elementary journey and I was truly heart broken. She did not have any promotional ceremony, field trips or activities for the last few months of elementary school. I made a vow to myself that in Middle School, no matter what life throws us, I would make the perfect Junior Prom dinner dance dress even if she had to twirl in it at home.

When I came across this beautiful blue lycra sequins fabric, I was thrilled. My daughter Arielle and I spoke a few months ago about the perfect Grade 8 Junior Prom dinner dance dress. She found an inspirational photo on Pinterest back in December which was a one shoulder maxi dress that sparkles and she was excited about me making her special dress. At the time she wasn’t quite sure of the shade of blue she wanted but after our trip to Jamaica during Spring break, she was sold. We found the perfect blue on the Fabric Mart website after we returned and I was excited to get started.

My daughter is extremely picky and of course I have sewn less for her over the years. I was a bit nervous at first to cut into the fabric but knew the style she wanted was a basic silhouette and wouldn’t require a lot of construction. For the most part, I knew a basic one shoulder block or pattern and a self drafted circle skirt pattern was essential for the look. The top pattern is from Shakti Pattern on Etsy (here) and the skirt is a maxi half circle skirt pattern that I self drafted after watching a few videos on YouTube.

The bodice is lined and I added a 1 inch elastic for support and structure in the waist. I basically used the outer layer (main) fabric for the casing after attaching it to the skirt and inserted the elastic, closed the casing, and then attached the lining to the main where the casing was inserted. This technique gave her the needed support in the mid section and cinched the waist even more. I definitely plan to try this technique again and of course do a step by step video or written tutorial.

Overall I am happy that she truly enjoyed her Hollywood Theme Junior Prom. I am so proud of my sewing journey over the past 2 years. To see the joy in my daughter’s eyes the day of her Junior Prom was the best Mother’s Day gift I could ask for this year.

I will forever cherish every special moment with both my daughter and son and will continue to sew all special occasion looks. She is already planning next formal dress for the Fall. Thanks for following my journey as a blogger here at Fabric Mart. Be sure to stop by my Instagram page to see Arielle, my daughter twirling in her dress.

One Love,

MARICA | @heymaricamitchell

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

Made by a Fabricista: Structure

Hi everyone! I can’t believe the year is nearly wrapping up already and this is my last post for 2024! You may have noticed but the barrel silhouette has been very much in right now from pants to sleeves. To be honest I was a little bit hesitant about hopping on to the trend. One I was not sure if the proportions would work for my body also I considered would this be a long lasting trend to keep incorporated in my closet? But after a few seasons the barrel seems to stay in many variations, I think exaggerated proportions are such a thing now. I saw this Cult Gaia x Gap denim dress collab with the barrel sleeves and wanted to remake it. When I saw this brown distressed denim twill I knew it was perfect. I had been debating between making cargo pants but I wanted to try to do something different and went for the dress once I saw the inspiration. I used McCall’s pattern 8139 as my base with the following modifications. Instead of...

Made By A Fabricista: A Wool Pinafore for Winter

Hello exciting wintry weather! Brrr, though. For my December post, I wanted to sew something more unusual for me, something outside my wide leg pants and big boxy sweaters, and this pinafore combination is exactly that. I really like the layering aspect and how easily one could switch up the look based on the top worn underneath, and how this pinafore pattern could easily work for all seasons based on fabric choice and possibly adding leggings. The new Love Notions Pianoforte Jumper in this incredibly charming polka dot wool blend suiting is just right. I wanted wool for warmth, and the sweet print just sent me. Of course a pinafore looks SO darling in dots. The Pianoforte is a slightly-cocoon shaped dress with princess seams and some large and handy front inset pockets. There is a zip-front option, but I went with the pullover plain front. I love the vintagey, sort of old-timey vibes of this style, and categorize this one under dopamine dressing. Because the wool is on the heavi...

Made by a Fabricista: Know Me Pattern ME2052, An Oversized Button Front Shirt

Hello friends, I’m Byrd, and today I’m excited to share my latest Fabricista project with you—an oversized button-front shirt made from the Know Me Pattern ME2052, sewn using a gorgeous 100% Tencel sand-washed challis from Fabric Mart called “Chalkboard Black.” This shirt has quickly become one of my go-to wardrobe staples for fall, thanks to its versatility and classic design. One of my favorite things about this oversized shirt is its versatility, especially as we transition into cooler weather. In the first photo, I’ve paired the shirt with wide-leg pants, which I think is perfect for fall. I used New Look 6271 for the pants. The loose, flowy fit of both the shirt and pants creates a relaxed but put-together outfit that I can wear just about anywhere. In the second photo, I’m wearing the shirt layered over a jumpsuit. This is such a fun way to wear it, turning it into a light jacket that adds a casual but stylish layer. Whether you’re wearing it as a standalone piec...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog