Made By A Fabricista: The Perfect Make!

Have you ever made the perfect dress? This pattern and fabric match was perfection! What an enjoyable sew and fun dress to wear. I made the Mabel Dress by Tilly and the Buttons in a rayon challis. OK, at first, I thought this pattern was not for me, but he milkmaid style is so popular! I tried one other pattern and I have not worn it since I completed it. Then, I saw so many beautiful Mabel makes and I wanted to try it to see how I liked it. I LOVE this pattern. TATB patterns are so well constructed and the instructions are so good that I don’t know why I hesitated. TATB patterns fit me really well. I made zero adjustments to this pattern and I really love it! I cannot wait to make another one.

Have you tried shirring? It is really fun and easy! There is shirring on the sleeve and waistline, front and back. There are instructions included in the pattern on how to sew shirring. Plus, TATB includes a free video tutorial that is listed inside the pattern instructions as well. I watched several sew-alongs on Youtube that were helpful for attaching the sleeves to neckline. Shirring is easy and fun! I hope you give this pattern a try.

The construction of the neckline is so clean. I really enjoyed sewing this dress because of the beautiful finish on the inside. My grandmother taught me to sew when I was a small child. She taught me to make sure the insides of my garments are as pretty as the outsides. My hand made garments last a long time because of the neat finishes and quality fabrics I select to sew. I enjoy patterns that instructions that include finishing techniques. The elastic channels and center front seam is constructed so well. All enclosed seams with precise seam lines.

The instructions ask you to measure your seams and I share two tools in the photos that I used to sew the seam line accurately. I measured the seam line from the needle to the edge of the fabric with my seam guide. Then, I placed a magnet at that measurement to keep the edge of the fabric on that sewing line. These tools really make creating the elastic channels really straight.

I chose a rayon challis fabric that is in the color gunmetal, which is a really dark grey, and there are off white 8 pointed star-like shapes on the fabric, described as an abstract geometric print. I am always looking for fabric that is not floral and this is really a fantastic find! The rayon feels a little like a lawn and was really easy to sew and press. If you have not sewn rayon challis before, this one is a great one to try! It did not shift around like rayon challis is known to do. Rayon is my favorite fabric to wear 80% of the year.

This pattern and fabric match is perfection. This dress is so comfortable to wear. The milkmaid style can be quite form fitting and this pattern, with shirring, provides the perfect balance of a shapely silhouette and comfort. The fun fabric design and gunmetal color make it a unique addition to my wardrobe! Lastly, I added a fun label That describes how I feel about this perfect make “the cat’s whiskers”. Will you make a Mabel? I am off to make another one right now! Happy Sewing!

Happy Sewing,

Patricia | @Hoppaheedahoe

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

Made By A Fabricista: A Tipsy Martini Transitional Three Piece Look

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon with Sharon Sews with my latest Fabricista make – a three-piece set I can wear as the weather transitions to fall here in Texas. It may look like a summer outfit but there will days filled with sunshine and high temps well into November. At first glance it looks like a nice, lightweight jacket, top and pants. But look closer – it’s sewn from the designer Tipsy Martini cotton sateen that was originally used by the designer for a pajama set. Now I could have sewn myself a pair of pajamas using the Closet Core Carolyn Pajama pattern (available at Fabric Mart) and replicated the designer pajamas. But if I had gone that route the only ones who would have seen this adorable kitschy fabric would be my family. This print is much too cute to hide out at home. This Tipsy Martini cotton sateen fabric was lovely to sew. I used black thread, an 80/12 universal needle, and Palmer/Pletsch Perfect Fuse Medium interfacing (link here). Note that this is a rayon fu

Made By A Fabricista: Hooray for Cozy Fall Sews!

Greetings, all! I am in such high spirits with the best-of-all-seasons just beginning and change is finally in the air. I always rejoice when the sweatiest time of the year passes and we can all take a deep breath and gear up for cozier times. Neighborhood Patterns is a new-to-me designer, and I came across them on Instagram in late summer and fell in love with the Plain Jane Skirt. This is such a simple A-line skirt, but with nice details like large inseam pockets and an optional drawstring, and though I’m sure I could draft this style myself, the appeal of having it all done for me was too tempting to pass up. A sew such as this is a lovely palate-cleanser and this was the first project I sewed after returning from a cross-country trip. Perfect! The gorgeous plaid flannel is exactly what I want to be wearing in the fall. The fabric is SO soft and a pleasure to snuggle up in. Because flannel does not have much body and is prone to stretching or shifting with all its mechanical give,

Made By A Fabricista: Quilted Jacket Chronicle

What do you get when mixing the best things about apparel sewing and machine quilting? A quilted jacket! It's funny that I elected to sew myself a quilted jacket for this Fabricista blog because I don't consider myself much of a quilter. I can count on my hands the number of quilted projects I've made over the last few years. While I fully appreciate the end product of quilting, I don't normally gravitate toward starting quilting projects. That's why making a quilted jacket is a new and exciting project for me! It gives me the fun of making a quilt on a much smaller scale. If you are an avid apparel sewist and are new to quilting, this is the perfect project to take for a quilting test drive! For my quilted jacket, I used the Seamwork Easton Jacket pattern. I decided to stick with a solid-colored fabric for the jacket's exterior and ordered 4 yards of Dark Umber Brown Lycra Stretch Canvas Suiting from the Fabric Mart website. I wanted a contrasting color for the

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog