Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Wintry Chic in Wool

Hello, all! Here we find ourselves in the midst of winter and it’s still chilly, but most of the festivities are over. I feel all the doldrums this time of year and mostly wind up wearing shapeless sweats much of the time, but I’d like to shake that off and aim for something much more stylish. I suppose we could file this measure under dopamine dressing, too. Hard to not step a little lighter in pretty clothes!

I planned this outfit idea around a wool skirt. This design is luxurious, classic, and so easy to wear, and I chose a medium-weight wool suiting fabric in a tiny houndstooth to attempt to make it more transeasonal. I love a good larger plaid, but that pattern type definitely screams fall and winter to me, and I’m thinking this would be equally snappy worn with a graphic tee and some clogs for spring. 


The threads are mostly black and cream, but the design is so tiny that this skirt really reads gray, and I love this more muted appearance; it’s really neutral and pairs with so much. For the skirt, I chose the wrong side to be the outside. The wrong side is more of a black and ivory micro-stripe, while the right side is a gray and black micro-houndstooth. Both sides are smooth and easily used as the right side, so go with what you feel works best!

This pattern is the Encore Skirt from Love Notions, which was released fairly recently, and I used the midi A-line option since I wanted a flare, but not one as large as the Full option. And the pockets! So big and useful, and I love how they are cleverly folded in the design. There is a zipper closure and interfaced waistband that sits at the natural waist, although you could easily grade up a size to adjust for it to sit lower. 


Now, the scarf had to happen once I came across this beautiful deep plaid. This is a very soft wool and nylon blend. I had originally been mulling over making one in jersey fabric, but I couldn’t decide on a color and then the record needle screeched when I saw this garnet and gray combo! So very beautiful and I love the gentle plaid-on-plaid combo with the skirt. 

To sew the scarf, I just cut my fabric in half, right along the center fold perpendicular to the selvedge edges, and then sewed those right sides together while matching the plaid. Then I folded the whole long rectangle right sides together and stitched all around the edges, leaving a space to pull it through to the right side, and also adding in some cotton lace that’s been languishing in my stash for years to finish the short ends. Ta-da! 

The knit top is a beautiful modal/spandex blend with a fantastic striped texture. I wanted something a little more on the slim fitted side since this skirt is so high-waisted. This shirt is another Love Notions pattern, the Rockford Raglan. I used View D which is the more fitted and sweatshirt style, with bands and cuffs, but I omitted them both for a more simple streamlined (and less bulky for tucking) hemmed finish. 


I love the way the raised stripes meet at the shoulder seams. I’m always on the lookout for a solid color fabric that boasts interesting texture which adds a touch of oomph to a simple piece. 


Unexpected bonus top! Because the wool yardage is so wide, I was able to fit a tee out of the leftovers. This woven shirt is a severely hacked Hey June Key Largo Top, and it’s the smallest, slimmest woven tee I have found and I love that there are no bust darts, which makes this a very quick sew. For kicks, I used the houndstoothier side of the fabric as the right side, and this adds a teeny bit of contrast. This wool is so smooth, there’s nothing itchy at all about this shirt. 




How’d I do? This to me is a much more upscale look, and will help get me out of my boring sweatsuit cycle. 

Happy sewing!

KATIE  @kak513


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

Comments

  1. Beautiful outfit. Great use of color and texture. I love that you worked hard not to waste fabric and created that cute shirt out of the wrong side of the skirt fabric. People will be scratching their heads trying to figure out where you got that outfit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I will happily tell them my secrets!

      Delete
  2. Beautiful, Katie! I love all your pieces!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cute outfit. A skirt always looks dressed up no matter how comfortable it is. I am working on a basic black half circle skirt about the same length as yours. I hope it serves the same purpose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Your skirt sounds like a classic, I'm sure it will serve you well.

      Delete
  4. You did very well! I love texture in neutrals too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for the inspiration! I love wool basics for winter.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love to use both sides of a textured fabric! Your outfit is awesome! And I would never have known that was the Rockford.So practical and creative.

    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.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Oversized Jenna Shirt for Summer Fun

 I may or may not have had several meltdowns during the making of this Closet Core Jenna Shirt… But let’s back up first. During the month of May, I promised to wear handmade garments every single day for the popular sewing challenge “Me Made May.” I really enjoyed thoughtfully putting together my outfits each day. While I was doing this, I was taking notes of the gaps in my wardrobe. Particularly, I don’t have many transitional shirts that could work for on-camera work attire and be comfortable for the weekend. When I saw this delicious cotton lawn on the Fabric Mart website, I knew that I wanted to make a button up shirt that would be both work appropriate and a nice overshirt for summer evenings over my tanks and tees.  I have made a few button up shirts before using a vintage Stretch & Sew pattern but I decided to try my hand at the Closet Core Jenna Shirt (up to a 60” chest) which has had rave reviews on social media and pattern sites for being a great pattern with e...

Made By A Fabricista: Pattern Emporium’s Lyrical Top Featuring Fabric Mart Fabrics

 Sewn in a lightweight  rayon challis , this top combines style, comfort, and fluidity. There’s one thing I love in a summer sew: effortless drape—and the Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium delivered just that. This pattern is a new release, and when I spotted this dreamy rayon challis from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew it was the perfect pairing. Lightweight, breathable, and with just the right amount of movement, the fabric really brought the pattern to life. Today, I’m sharing all the details—from fabric choice and construction to styling and fit—plus a few thoughts on why this top might just become a repeat sew. Pattern Overview: The Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium The Lyrical Top is a relaxed-fit design with bloused sleeves and a gently flared frill cuff. It comes with three sleeve lengths and two neckline variations. I chose the tie-neck view, but there’s also a collar option for a slightly different vibe. I’ve been looking to add more stylish tops to my wardrobe this year, a...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing the Chalk & Notch Hayes Dress

Hey lovely friends! With summer knocking at the door, I am absolutely ready for breezy dresses at all times. I love linen all year round, but summer is my particular favorite for this fiber. This bright happy color fills me with delight, and it’s so perfect in the sunshine.  For this project, I got all my supplies in one go! I chose this stunning Sea Green linen , lightweight fusible interfacing , ½” elastic , and of course, matching thread. If you haven’t sat down to create your own little sewing kit with all the bits at hand, it’s quite a nice gift to yourself and makes getting started that much easier. I’m all about ease these days.  I sewed the new Chalk & Notch Hayes Dress with the open back cutout, which is View A. The other two options are a closed-back dress and a two piece set. I was a tester for this charming pattern, and I can confirm the two piece set is also gorgeous and really fun to wear. I have looked forward to sewing this version for weeks!  Please...