Made By A Fabricista: Cozy Sewing Season

The cozy sewing season seems like it came early this year! Temperatures in Pennsylvania have been in the freezing range for weeks, so it is time to break out the flannel, sweater knits, sherpa, wool, and other warm fabrics. Fabric Mart's website is stocked with gorgeous cozy fabric perfect for sewists living in cold climates.

While searching for fabric for my first cozy sew of the season, a Cranberry Plaid 100% Cotton Flannel fabric caught my eye. I loved the colors and the plaid pattern. I ordered 3.5 yards to make a button-up flannel shirt for myself, and a little extra fabric to make a button-up shirt for my son. I also ordered two packs of 10 Soft Pearl Plastic Shirt Buttons and "My Mama Made It" sewing labels from Kylie and the Machine. I envisioned one of these labels being added to the side seam of my son's shirt for a bespoke detail.

Once my order arrived, I washed my fabric and reached for my Grainline Studio Archer Button-Up paper pattern. I used this pattern for a previous Fabricista blog in 2021. Back then, I sewed view B and made a pink silk button-up with a gathered lower back and straight sleeve cuffs. For this Fabricista sew, I wanted a classic button-up flannel shirt which is view A of the Archer pattern. View A is a loosely fitted button-up with a back pleat at the yoke and long sleeves with angled cuffs.

I needed to customize the fit (grading out in the waist and hips) so I took the extra time to trace this pattern onto pattern paper. I haven't traced a pattern in ages so it was a nice change of pace. Once my pattern was ready, I cut everything out slowly to ensure the plaid pattern lined up on each pattern piece.

Besides customizing the fit, I didn't make changes to the pattern. When assembling the back yoke, I diverged from the instructions and used the burrito method from memory because it is my preferred construction method for yokes. Everything else about the assembly was very straightforward. If you’ve never made a button-up shirt before, this pattern will walk you through each step in an easy-to-understand way. I would recommend it to adventurous sewists of all skill levels. After assembling the rest of the shirt, I made button holes and used the soft pearl buttons from my order as closures.

Now that my shirt was finished, I moved on to my little buddy’s shirt. I used the Little Lizard King Bayfield shirt pattern, which I love. The pattern includes projector files, the instructions are easy to follow, and the finished shirts are always so cute! I’m constantly amazed at how quickly I can make a button-up shirt with this pattern. If you’re looking for a classic button-up shirt for babies and kids, I highly recommend it.

The longest part of the assembly of this Bayfield shirt was the cutting. I wanted to make sure the plaid pattern matched on his shirt so this added some extra time. After the cutting, the rest of the assembly was very straightforward and quick. While stitching, I added a “Mama Made” label to the left (as worn) side seam. It adds a nice one-of-a-kind touch to the outside of the shirt. The buttons are the same soft pearl buttons used on my shirt. My son’s Bayfield shirt is a 2T to give him room to grow into it. The shirt is roomy and long enough that he should be able to wear it for a while.

I love how both shirts turned out. We'll be able to wear these cozy flannels through the end of fall, into winter, and on the cold spring days. It is also fun to have the option to wear mother-son matching outfits if we so desire! I hope our flannels inspire you to stock up on warm fabrics and start your cozy sewing season projects.

SHAINA | @shaina_sews

Made By A Fabricista: Basics vs Fun Clothes

Every summer I make flowy, pretty dresses because they are so fun for me to make, wear, and they keep me cool as temperatures rise. But when the days get shorter and autumn rolls around, I’m not always confident on how best to transition my summery dresses into garments that will allow for the seasonal changes. In an effort to be more intentional about maximizing the use of my clothing, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to make for August. It’s been a hot summer in New Jersey. From what I can see, it’s been a hot summer across the US. Looking for clothing that will keep me cool, perhaps hide some sweat stains, and allow me to transition between seasons, I decided to make separates that would pair well with each other and allow me to mix and match with the rest of my wardrobe. For the top, I wanted a basic tank top, something I could layer later on. For the bottoms, I wanted flowy, summery pants that can last into brisker weather or become phenomenally cozy in front of my wint...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing Summery ITY

Hi sewing friends! I’m dropping in to share a few makes sewn with ITY fabrics and inspire you to try out this slinky, cool-to-the-touch fabric for hot weather if you haven’t yet, or to recommend some patterns that work fabulously if you already love it. This is by far my favorite knit to wear in summer. Since it moves easily there’s lots of airflow, and it just skims the body. More often than not, it has a four-way stretch that doesn’t grow when worn, so it works great for loads of styles. ITY stands for Interlock Twist Yarn and the knit gives it some wonderful drape and stretch. There are lots of different weights and even some differing textures. Because it’s so fluid, the fabric really resists most wrinkling. I’ve sewn three different weights and prints here to show off just what ITY can do! This white floral is a lighter weight and features a slightly crepe-textured finish, and I think that combined with the large and spread-out floral makes it quite elegant and eye-cat...

Made By A Fabricista: From Paris with Love!

Bonjour! I am still in bliss from my recent trip to Paris!! It was much more than I expected and I absolutely fell in love with the city. I can honestly see myself living there one day. I knew before leaving I wanted to make something to fit into the Parisian landscape because I knew it would be a special opportunity. I was inspired by one of my favorite fashion creators Juliette Foxx. Her checked gingham corset and wide leg pants were on my list to remake. For fabric I used this red and white pin stripe denim twill and deep red sateen for the pants. The pattern I used for the corset was McCall’s #M8182 with a few modifications. The fit was a little large so I took it in along the sides and shoulder seam. I then lowered the neckline since the shoulders were taken in. I used the sateen as my lining which gave a great contrast. My pants are my unreleased pattern which happens to be exact from the inspiration. I drafted these last year and have been wo...

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