Made By A Fabricista: The Love of Sewing - Basic Pieces for a Beginner

Happy Friday All!

It has been a while since I made myself a dress. I am excited to sew after not making anything since my last post (whew) and finally sharing some photos. This past summer has been a roller coaster journey with plans to release a small collection and then deciding that right before the launch to postpone. Sewing has brought me joy over the past 8 years and the mere fact to sew daily for orders had me in a panic mode. I really don’t want to walk away from my craft due to burn out and decided that if I do sew for others, it would be only for local clients. Moreover, If next year I decide to launch, it would be seasonal and not year round. I really want to share my talent and love for sewing with others but don’t want it to be a full time job and lose the passion in me.

After a bit of soul searching, teaching and sharing my talent with my community will always be my first love. For the past 2 summers, I was blessed to partner with two nonprofit organizations’ local summer camps to teach crafting and sewing. I was also granted an annual year round contract this academic school year with one of the two programs to work with students after school two days per week. This truly opened my eyes to step out and research how to work with local city and non-profit organizations. When I got back from vacation, I came across a grant opportunity and decided to submit a Community grant proposal to a local Foundation and was selected as a finalist. When the exciting news was emailed to me the same day my package arrived from Fabric Mart, I knew it was perfect to make items to showcase at the final interview and in my digital presentation.

When I saw this beautiful cotton animal print fabric, I knew I wanted to make a maxi button down dress. Unfortunately,I did not read the description as I was more excited about the print than the weight. This is definitely a teachable moment to always carefully read the fabric description and weight before picking out a pattern. The cotton lawn fabric is a semi sheer lightweight and is ideal for a dress that is lined but not a button down unlined dress.

McCalls 7943 is definitely my go to easy maxi dress that can be lined and what better way to showcase the beauty of the fabric. I have made this dress about 5 times and even taught a few of my work colleagues to sew a maxi using this pattern. I wanted to wear something I made to the final interview as I plan to showcase an idea. Over the past year or so, wearing my makes has always led to great conversations about Arts and Creative Programs. Additionally, I also wanted to share how this can be an advance beginner sewing project for a community program. This pattern is my go to for maxi dresses and is ideal for most body types and can be made with various types of fabric.

I decided to use a dark lining (black cotton) to line to knee length. I knew that it would be less restrictive and still provide coverage while showcasing the beauty and movement of the fabric when I walk. I absolutely love how it turned out and definitely would make another version in light weight sequins for a formal event this fall.

Last but now least, I finally made some pillow covers that I had on my to do list since June. What better way to kick off Fall and update a few things spaces around the home with DIY Projects. I haven’t used my Husqvarna designer Sapphire embroidery machine in a while and figured the Robert Kaufman cotton kona quilting fabric available at Fabric Mart was ideal. I will definitely plan to share a quick 30 seconds video with the process and a few photos in the digital presentation for the grant.

I am honored to share my work not only in the sewing community here through blogging and social media but as well as the people in my school and city. I am ready to embark on this new chapter and can’t wait to share more here. I hope that my journey will inspire someone to go for it. Thanks for reading my story and feel free to share your story to encourage someone who may need it today!

One Love,

MARICA | @heymaricamitchell

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

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

Twirling in a me-made outfit! I live in a small town where the nearest fabric shop is a road trip away, so I almost exclusively shop for fabric online. Having access to an online shop like Fabric Mart with a solid search engine is incredibly helpful. But by far my favorite aspect of Fabric Mart is what I call the “Drape Picture” included in each listing! This picture gives me all the information I need and I find it more helpful than the exact weight per yard/square meter. Seeing how the fabric falls close or away from the body gives me a clear idea of how it will behave and inspires me to make it into something that will highlight the fabric’s nature. When I saw the drape of this “Baked Plum” wool suiting , I immediately wanted to immortalize those beautiful folds into a skirt! I opted for a simple self-drafted pleated skirt with a deep hem. I wear my dresses year-round and rely on wool skirts that I layer under or over my dresses for warmth. I cut two panels for the front ...

Made By A Fabricista: Which comes first – the fabric or the pattern?

Ah, the age old question garment sewers are often asked – do you choose the pattern first and then look for fabric, or do you buy fabric and then later decide what it will be when it grows up? If you are a sewist with a large fabric stash (like myself), then perhaps you are on Team Fabric. I would say I definitely lean that way, but there are also times when I land somewhere in the middle – I see a fabric and I think, I’ve just seen a pattern and these two would be perfect together! And that’s how gorgeous dusty rose stretch velvet and a recently released cardigan pattern came together to create the newest addition to my wardrobe. And had me improvising a few things along the way. First. I have to admit - I have a stretch velvet problem. I see it pop up on the website and I almost always grab it, especially if I see a sale. It’s not the easiest fabric to sew (it’s slippery as heck!), but I love it so much and I especially love using it in non-traditional ways. In my last blog post, I...

Made By A Fabricista: Simplicity 8847

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! Is it too early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? Because this fabric is giving all the heart vibes. With rich red hearts scattered across a dark base, it feels festive without being over-the-top—and completely wearable well beyond February. This time around, the fabric completely stole the show. I used a Dark Navy/Crimson/White Polyester/Lycra Hearts Print Brushed Sweater Knit by a NY Designer , and it was love at first sight. Even though it’s labeled navy, in person it reads more like a deep black base with these beautiful red hearts throughout. When you zoom in, you’ll also spot the designer’s name and a tiny smiley face woven into the print - such a fun, unexpected detail. This fabric immediately spoke my name when I saw it online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Before sewing, let’s talk fabric care and prep - because it matters. This sweater knit is wash and dry friendly, which makes it practical for e...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog