Made By A Fabricista: Mix n Match Jungle Vibes

Hi Fabric Mart Fans! For years now, my youngest has adored leopard print, so when she saw this fabric available in time for our next project, she was adamant that she needed it! My eldest on the other hand, was drawn to the bold floral print on Cotton Lycra Knit, which I thought would make a fabulous dress or capri length romper. Twelve year-olds have opinions though and after it arrived, she refused a dress and romper, so we compromised on shorts and a t-shirt.

With such drastically different fabrics, I decided to bring the looks together for this post by using the same patterns for each one. It’s amazing how different fabrics can change things up! I also wanted to make the pieces have an option for a faux romper, along with the ability to mix and match for more wardrobe possibilities.

Both pants and shorts were made using Jalie Sylvie. This pattern has three length options: shorts, capri, and long. It also has an optional teeny-tiny inside pocket, perfect for a credit card, key, or cash. Unfortunately there are no pockets on the outside, and since the pant has no side seams (great for making them more comfy!), it’s not possible to add inseam pockets. You could certainly try adding one or two to the back as patch pockets.

I used Jalie Monique for the sleeved top. This one also has some really great options, with two sleeve styles - banded (blue), and grown-on (green). It also has two neckline options - v-neck and funnel, and a dress option in addition to the top length. I really love the feel of both the fabrics I used in these. Both are Rayon Lycra Jersey Knits, though the green feels slightly heavier weight than the blue. I really loved the sleeve construction on this top. The instructions for the grown-on sleeve are cleverly done to ensure a nice clean finish on your sleeve hem.

The tank top pattern (Jalie Beatrice) also has a bunch of options! I just used the rounded neckline for both, however there’s another option for narrow straps with a straight neckline, and the ability to make it as a dress instead. Since cotton lycra is fairly sturdy, I found it the easiest one to make as the binding was a bit more compliant. The leopard version was a little more fiddly as it probably didn’t have quite enough stretch, however I got there in the end! (Just don’t look too closely at the stitching on the binding!)

Overall, my girls LOVE their new outfits. My youngest promptly insisted on wearing full leopard to her first tennis class, and has requested I make ears to go with it. Also, she says she will be a leopard for Halloween (for now!). My eldest especially adores her shorts with the blue top, and I really love how they look on her as well.

Sometimes the task of building out a wardrobe for someone can feel a bit daunting, so here are some tips:

Select just a couple of fabrics for your entire collection

Stick with 2-3 patterns for all the pieces. Opt for patterns that give you a couple of options.

Batch sew like items - I sewed all the seams for the pants, then all the tops, and lastly, top stitched in batches according to the fabric.

Happy sewing!

NATASHA | @auschicksews

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar items by shopping the following categories: KNITS, COTTON KNITS, JERSEY KNITS.

Made By A Fabricista: Revisiting a Pattern After Five Years

Have you ever used a sewing pattern and then immediately vowed never to sew it again? Well, I have. It all began in the spring of 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown. I tackled sewing projects that were more challenging to help me grow as a seamstress. There was one pattern in particular that almost did me in, the Seamwork Penny shirt dress. The Penny dress pattern has a classic button-up dress shirt style bodice with a gathered skirt and pockets. It is a beautiful take on a shirt dress, and my sister and I loved it. The only downside is that it was recommended for intermediate-level sewists and I was only an adventurous beginner back then. I think I had only ever made one button-up shirt before attempting this Penny Dress and it didn’t even have a collar! Despite all of this, I thought “Why not try it, what’s the worst that can happen?” Thankfully the worst didn’t happen, and the dress turned out surprisingly wearable, but I had some intense frustration at the end. I...

Made By A Fabricista: A Simple Frock for Spring

Hello friends! I’m really into sewing and wearing tent dresses at the moment. A tent dress is basically a wide A-line style gown. For this month’s project, I’ve opted to try out The Assembly Line’s Square Neck Dress. This style is a little avant-garde in its enormity and shape, and boasts the squared neckline it’s named after, plus some cute hem side slits. All that volume is fun to move around in, plus there’s loads of air circulation which is cooling. This dress’s main feature–its wide and high squared neckline–really piqued my interest recently, and I added it to my Make Nine plans for 2025. I find it so satisfying to check off those boxes as I sew! This beautiful shirtweight linen is a color I simply adore; a muted medium blue. Stormy skies, worn-in denim, and ocean waves all come to mind, and that is exactly what I want to be all wrapped up in. While I think a wild or large print would be amazingly on display in this big canvas of a dress, I also thought that a subtle ...

Made By A Fabricista: Bold Aspen Dress for Spring

As I write this in mid-April, central New Jersey weather is showing small signs of spring. My neighbor’s daffodils are blooming and our magnolia tree is trying to unfold its vibrant magenta petals. I am in the midst of preparing my wardrobe for the warmer months, even if we are still huddling against windy 30 degree days. For me, warm weather means linen. I love breathable, floaty linen sundresses and drapey, loose linen wide-leg pants. My vision for a spring piece was something bold and bright, inspired by the natural colors of blooming flowers, but also something that could transition well between the warmer and cooler months. When I saw Fabric Godmother’s Apsen Dress, I knew that it had the sensible transitional opportunities I was looking for while also providing a blank canvas for fun prints, patterns and colors. With the pattern in mind, I then turned to the stunning linen collection that Fabric Mart always has on hand to see what colors or patterns would best suit my visio...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog