Made By A Fabricista: Breezy Summer Style with Rayon Challis from Fabric Mart.

Hey there my sewing friends! Summer is here and I am all for it. It has been exceptionally hot here in Southwest Florida. We have had temps in the high 90’s. I want to keep cool and comfortable and still look pulled together this summer. That’s why I chose rayon challis for this month’s summer make.

Rayon Challis is lightweight, flowy, soft and extremely comfortable to wear. It’s an excellent choice for summer outfits. It has a beautiful drape making it an excellent choice for maxis, tops, dresses, and shorts. The fabric is lightweight and depending upon your sewing project you may need to use a lining with this fabric. Also use a lightweight interfacing when working with rayon challis. If you are a beginner at sewing, you may find the fabric a bit fiddly to work with, but the end result is so worth it. Fabric Mart has beautiful challis fabric to choose from. I chose this fun tropical print on an off-white background.

This summer season vests are in. I love the ease of wearing a vest style top, so I chose one of my favorite patterns. New Look 6598 view E. I used self-covered buttons to elevate the look and not compete with the fun tropical print.

I paired the vest with elastic waist shorts from New Look 6737 for a fun summer short set. The challis fabric is perfect for the breezy style shorts. I love the movement and comfort of these shorts!

This set can be dressed up or down. When I wear a kitten heel shoe, I feel the outfit is perfect for a summer luncheon event or even to wear to church on a hot Sunday morning. If I’m on vacation, I can wear the two pieces with white tennis shoes as I stroll along window shopping.

With the fabric left over I made a quick wide elastic waist skirt using New Look 6354. The skirt is an easy 2 hour sew. I made view F. The skirt works with the vest beautifully.

Each piece can be mixed with other pieces in my closet. The shorts and skirt work well with tee shirts or button-up/tie front tops. The vest can be worn over a layering piece allowing for wear in cooler environments. Changing up jewelry and shoes makes it easy to transition from day to night with these fun summer pieces.

I have upcoming plans to make drawstring flowy pants and a sundress with a few other pieces of rayon challis that I recently acquired. Make sure you are following my Instagram or YouTube channel to see how they turn out. Thank you, Fabric Mart, for this fun fabric. This is my new favorite summer outfit.

CARMEN | @carmensalome

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

Made By A Fabricista: Everything Old is New Again: A Linen Skirt Using an Old(er) Pattern

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with my last post for 2024! This time I used one of my favorite fabrics, linen. Fabric Mart usually has an excellent selection of linens . I should know as I’ve ordered my fair share over the years. This time I choose a medium-weight 100% linen with a black and white abstract print. When I ordered the fabric, my plan was to use an old Issey Miyake pattern and sew myself an oversized linen coat. But when the fabric arrived it told me it would be happier as a skirt. Your fabric also talks to you, right? I’ve been drawn to the look of satin bias skirts paired with oversized sweaters but knew that skirt style doesn’t work on my body shape. Plus, once the holidays are over a satin skirt would just sit in my closet. But a linen skirt, in a neutral black and white print, could be worn during the winter months with boots and a sweater and easily transition to warm weather with a tee and sand...

Made By A Fabricista: Cozy two piece lounge set with cotton jersey from Fabric Mart.

There is something incredibly nostalgic about old school gym wear. I love the relaxed fits and timeless appeal. It takes me back to my high school gymnasium days. When I stumbled upon this beautiful heather grey cotton jersey knit from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew exactly what I wanted to create: a two piece lounge set that would be easy to wear and perfect for the cooler Florida weather we have been having. The Fabric The heather grey cotton lycra jersey knit was perfect. It’s soft, lightweight, and has just the right amount of stretch. The subtle marled texture of the fabric added depth and character, making it an ideal choice for recreating a vintage gym look. The fabric is comfortable and warm enough for our recent cooler temps. It washed and dried beautifully. It’s breathable and easy to work with, a dream for any sewing project. The Pattern I chose McCall’s 4261 Spa Essentials from 2003. ...

Made By A Fabricista: Playing with Classic Silhouettes and Timeless Color Palettes

When it comes to sewing, few things excite me more than reimagining classic designs and breathing new life into timeless patterns. As someone who has been sewing for over 25 years, I thrive on exploring unique details and construction techniques that make each piece feel special. Recently, I found inspiration in a previous look I’d created and decided to take it a step further, crafting a full outfit that plays with volume, texture, and classic styling. See below my dress from 2011 that I drew inspiration from. The Fabric For this project, I chose a Glen Plaid Suiting fabric from Fabric Mart, a timeless yet versatile pattern that instantly elevates any garment. The fabric’s classic black-and-white palette gave me the perfect base to experiment with silhouettes and pairings while keeping the overall look chic and cohesive. I love how this fabric’s pattern gives off an air of sophistication yet lends itself beautifully to bold, modern designs. The Dress For the dress, I used the VikiSew...

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