Made By A Fabricista: Two Late Summer Dresses in Bold Stylized Prints

Hello Sewing Friends! Sharon here with my latest Fabricista make, two dresses that will transition into fall.

You probably noticed I didn’t choose traditional autumn prints or colors. I planned to, but just couldn’t bring myself to think about cool weather colors and fabrics when the temperatures were still over 100 degrees F. Instead, I decided to sew a couple of late summer dresses that I can wear when the temps begin to dip into the 80s.

The first is a maxi shirt dress sewn out of this amazing rayon twill. Oh, the drape on this one is divine! The stylized white hearts really pop against the black background. Even though the print is bold, the colors are classic making it easy to accessorize with any color. My big puppy like to hang close to me when I take photos, but she accessorizes well with whatever I’m wearing 😊

The pattern is the Style Arc Anais Dress. I’ve had my eye on this pattern for some time just waiting for the perfect fabric. Now that I’ve sewn the dress, I want to sew a dozen more. Luckily Fabric Mart carries a huge selection of fabrics, such as shirting, linen, or even a baby wale corduroy - that would work well for this shirt dress. Just make sure the fabric has movement or this dress will be boxy looking.

Another thing I really like about this dress is the versatility. It works great with jewelry and heels, a ballcap and sneakers, or even as a shirt partially buttoned and paired with jeans.

I prewashed the fabric using cold water on a gentle cycle. It was then tossed in the dryer on low heat. It came out beautifully, with minimal wrinkles. Per the instructions, interfacing is optional, but I added some to the collar as well as the front bands to support the buttons and buttonholes. By the way, Fabric Mart carries the Palmer and Pletsch brand of interfacing, which is one of my favorites.

A few changes were made to the pattern. I did a full bust adjustment with a dart, eliminated the breast pocket, and added two inches to the overall length. The bottom finishes with a traditional curved hemline with the back slightly longer than the front. Oh, and it has big pockets!

For my other dress I chose stylized floral double brushed knit and sewed a completely different look.

The bold colors and stylized print gave me a 1970s vibe. So much so that I planned to sew a knit dress using a vintage 70s pattern. Alas, I couldn’t find my pattern and had to come up with another plan. Now that I’ve sewn my knit dress, I just know that vintage 70s pattern will magically reappear in my sewing space.

I chose Simplicity 9140, because the longer view had an interesting side drape feature. Although I’m sure your eagle eyes have already noticed that my dress is short and does not have that side drape feature.

Here’s the deal. When I was ready to hem the dress, I did my final try on to check the length and looked in the mirror and my heart sank. It was quite unflattering, not at all what I envisioned in my head. So, I grabbed my fabric scissors and cut about six inches off using the shorter skirt length line on the pattern as my guide.

I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but it passed the hubby “that’s cute!” me-made dress test. I’ve already worn it multiple times as it’s just as comfy as shorts and a tee but much more stylish! And yes, it does indeed have pockets.

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

SHARON | @thesharonsews

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories BLOUSEWEIGHT WOVEN & DOUBLE BRUSHED KNIT.

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