Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: Structure

Hi everyone!  I can’t believe the year is nearly wrapping up already and this is my last post for 2024!

You may have noticed but the barrel silhouette has been very much in right now from pants to sleeves.  To be honest I was a little bit hesitant about hopping on to the trend.  One I was not sure if the proportions would work for my body also I considered would this be a long lasting trend to keep incorporated in my closet?  But after a few seasons the barrel seems to stay in many variations, I think exaggerated proportions are such a thing now. 


I saw this Cult Gaia x Gap denim dress collab with the barrel sleeves and wanted to remake it.  When I saw this brown distressed denim twill I knew it was perfect.  I had been debating between making cargo pants but I wanted to try to do something different and went for the dress once I saw the inspiration.  

I used McCall’s pattern 8139 as my base with the following modifications.  Instead of a front button placket I installed a separating metal zipper.  I redrafted the sleeves to make the barrel shape like in the reference image.  It's a two piece sleeve by adding fullness and a dart to the upper sleeve.


The fabric used was perfect, it was able to hold shape well and gave it this really nice finish.  I love the distressed wash of the fabric.  It even paired well with my Bestie Bag that I made a few months ago using some Camo I got from the Fabric Mart site.   I wore my look out while visiting St. Louis, MO.  The Gateway Arch is a national monument and created the perfect backdrop. 




JASMINE  @sewmuchjazz

Comments

  1. Great make!!! I like a barrel sleeve much more than a barrel leg, personally, and your inspiration recreation is perfect with a great choice of fabric and re-drafting the pattern! Also great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jasmine, your dress is spot on. Your version looks even better IMO. Thx for the inspiration to sew something fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wanted to say just this - much nicer proportions in yours, especially sleeves! Love it!

      Delete
  3. Jasmine, your creation is spot on. Your version looks even better. Thx for the inspiration to sew something fun!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful make. So many great details and the sleeves are perfect. It would be a great bomber jacket with a few modifications.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! A bomber would be awesome!

      Delete
  5. This is great and you look so good in it! Great fabric choice for the dress!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the fabric selection, the whole vibe - awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jasmine, your choices are perfect. You picked a great fabric, and your drafted sleeves and look overall are miles above the inspo dress. So impressive and inspiring!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful sew, I really love the sleeves, and awesome fabric choice.

    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: Coat Sewing Chronicles

Sewing a coat is not for the faint of heart, or for the sewist looking for a light project. It is possibly the slowest form of apparel sewing that exists. If you’ve made a coat, chances are, you know what I mean. No matter what you do, you can’t rush through it, you can’t skip steps or cut corners, you just have to roll with the punches. One minute you’re flying through assembly thinking “I’ll be finished soon,” and the next you’re running away from your sewing room because you need space. Are you guaranteed to end up with a bespoke wonder in your coat closet, most definitely! But heed my warning, if you are looking for a quick win, it is not a coat!  My coat sewing chronicles began around Christmas when I fell in love with a black-and-white basketweave wool-coating fabric on the Fabric Mart website. I quickly placed an order for 3.75 yards to finally make the Seamwork Bay coat I’ve been dreaming of making for a while. In addition to my Fabric Mart wool, I also ordered Kasha Satin...

Help Our Buyers Shop!

  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?

Made By A Fabricista: Surgery, a pattern hack, and a hemming tip.

Hello sewing friends! I’m here on the blog today sharing a pattern hack I recently did to boost my wardrobe with a few pieces to wear during my recovery from surgery…and I’m also sharing a tip for those pesky rounded hems. So let’s jump in! I recently had surgery on my neck due to issues with my parathyroid glands. All went to plan and I’m doing well, but I have to admit, the scar was a bit larger and more prominent than I expected. I definitely want to cover it up a bit during the healing process, and I realized that I own very few tops that cover that area of my neck. I don’t really love wearing high neck tops, so I came up with the idea to sew a top that I could convert back to my preferred style once I recover.  The pattern I used to do this is the Laundry Day Tee from Love Notions. This pattern is a fan favorite in the sewing community and has been around for more than ten years. I love the style – fitted at the bust but with extra swing at the waist, with lots of sleeve and n...