Made By A Fabricista: A Double-Duty Topper Sewn in a Lightweight Bubble Crepe

Hello Sewing Friends! Sharon here with my latest Fabricista make, a lightweight kimono influenced topper – or is it?

The fabric I used is a polyester bubble crepe, lightweight and airy, perfect for my loose-fitting topper. If you’ve heard that lightweight polyester fabrics are difficult to sew, don’t be afraid to try this bubble crepe. I was pleasantly surprised that it was fairly easy to handle and sew.

Even though polyester fabric does not shrink, I prewashed the fabric. I prefer to make sure any potential sizing has been removed from my fabrics before I sew my garments.

I placed an old cardboard cutting board on top of my cutting table and cut out my pattern pieces with the fabric on top of the board. It helped keep everything from slipping while I pinned and cut. Pattern weights would have worked well also.

Because the fabric is lightweight and translucent (meaning light does pass through so it’s semi-transparent) a French seam would make for a beautiful inside finish. However, I finished all the seams with a narrow three-thread on my serger using black thread which blended in very well.

Interfacing was required along the front band. I used Palmer/Pletch Perfect Fuse Sheer which provided the body needed without being too stiff.

The feature I love best about this is the sleeves, which are two large flounces and look like butterfly sleeves. They move so beautifully!

Some patience is needed as those flounces are finished with a tiny hem. I serged a three-thread stitch on the edge of the sleeves then turned under and stitched in place.

I have a secret to share with you. I’m really pleased with my kimono influenced topper, but the pattern I used is actually a robe pattern, the Designer Stitch Marieke Robe.

That means this is a double duty garment – perfect for when we travel. I have a robe to toss on in the hotel room, a topper to wear to dinner with jeans or over my swimsuit while lounging at the pool.

I also sewed a pair of calf-length ruffled pajama bottoms, using Simplicity 8995 (which is now out-of-print). They're cute enough to double as a faux skirt!

When I am trying to decide what I want to sew, I look at the line drawings rather than rely on the name (in this case robe) or the modeled photos. While the fabric is recommended for the robe pattern, it was not a recommended fabric for the pajama bottoms. Yet it worked beautifully! Give yourself permission to think outside the box and experiment.

Because of the versatility, these two pieces will go into my luggage on our next trip.

Lastly, you know I wouldn’t make it through an entire photo shoot without my big dog making her way into at least one picture!

Until next time, Happy Sewing!

SHARON | @thesharonsews

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

Made By A Fabricista: Celebrating warm weather with Spring sewing!

Hi sewing friends! I don’t know about you but boy, was winter cold and dreary this year! The weather here in the Philadelphia area has been slowly improving, but Spring sure did take her sweet old time to arrive. So by April, I was definitely in the headspace of needing to sew up things that were either bright and cheery or meant for the warmer weather I am very much craving right now. I recently purchased a few SewBexx Patterns so I took them on a test run to create some Spring makes. First on my list was to make a top using this absolutely gorgeous ITY fabric I picked up last year. I had two yards which was enough for a long sleeve shirt. I chose the Olivia top, which is oversized with a drop shoulder, has multiple lengths and a split hem. I think the pattern is intended for heavier fabrics but I was envisioning how lovely this top would look with the drape of ITY knit fabric, and it did not disappoint. It came together for me quickly and was a straight forward sew…and I love the br...

Made By A Fabricista | Chasing Time: My White Rabbit-Inspired Look for Atlanta Frocktails

For this year’s Atlanta Frocktails, I found myself captivated by a character who’s been quietly tugging at my imagination for years—the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. There’s something so relatable about his frantic energy, always checking the time, always running late. While he’s worried about being on time, I’m usually calculating how late I can be and still technically arrive on time. Spoiler: I’m often wrong. It’s a cycle of procrastination and anxiety that I know all too well. So when I imagined my look for Frocktails, I thought—why not honor the White Rabbit? After all, time has been chasing me too. But this look isn’t just about Wonderland whimsy. It’s also deeply inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme, Tailored for You, which includes a focus on Black Dandyism—a celebration of Black elegance, intellect, and expressive style. I’ve been obsessed with this theme since it was announced. As a Black creative, I find it powerful and moving to see style used as a way to reclaim...

Made By A Fabricista: Getting into the Spirit of Summer

I'm not gonna lie y'all, I had a completely different project I wanted to do, but that's gonna take more time, and I wanted something cute, comfy and fun to wear for my birthday on the 19th. When I saw this goldenrod & off white linen jacquard , I thought it looked a bit like the design on a Koroks body, especially Makar from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker! I started with the bodice from the free Elderberry dress pattern from Mood, but deviated for the skirt, it felt a little plain of a design, and I had scraps of a Korok fabric that I knew would be a nice accent with some cut out pockets. I've made these pockets once before, deciding the cut out was based on aligning with the seam on the bodice for how far in, and as for how low depended on where I wanted the pouch of the pocket to start. From there I cut the visible part of the pocket, making sure to match the curve of the waist and following the line of the side seams of the skirt, as well as cutting a facing to...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog