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: Falling for Knits

We are now well into Fall, even though the temps are still relatively warm here in Texas. I love the fall season and dressing for Fall. When it comes to the conversation of knits vs. wovens I typically sew mostly wovens. So for this post I decided to sew completely knits! With the holiday season right around the corner I saw these three dress styles as perfect for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving gatherings. The first look is a tried and true pattern Simplicity S9372. Using this gorgeous burgundy ponte knit , I like how this pattern fits throughout. I chose this color to add to my typically neutral palette in my closet. I also wanted something I could wear to my sorority meetings and found this color perfect. It's an easy sew with back fisheye darts and invisible zipper to add to the tapered style. The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding giving it a clean finish on the inside. I used a universal needle to sew a...

Made By A Fabricista: Closing 2025 with a Lined Jacket

Hello again, sewing friends! It seems we have arrived yet again in the grandest season for layering, all this oncoming cold weather. I like ending the year with something warm and very useful. Seems based on my past Fabricista posts, I love to sew year-end outerwear, and this round is no different! I challenged myself with a new lined coat (wait, jacket? Coat? I feel like the presence of wool changes things?). Anyhoo, since the lovely Chalk & Notch Den Jacket has been in my queue, I proceeded ahead. I like the large pockets, the option to line or not, and the extra bodice and sleeve seams for topstitching. Sewing this coat is not at all difficult, but the many pieces and loads of topstitching will take a bit of time. My version took me a few multiple-hour sessions to complete. I sewed a size 2, which matches my measurements, and I made no alterations. Hint: for a quick size test, just employ the lining pieces. Gorgeous, muted blue as a soft wool flannel ? This is ...

Made By A Fabricista: Chalk and Notch Wren Dress: My Buffet dress for the Christmas season!

I recently sewed the Chalk and Notch Wren dress using a beautifully soft black voile from Fabric Mart, and it turned into such a satisfying, enjoyable project. The pattern itself is very easy to understand and straightforward with clear instructions, intuitive construction, and a relaxed fit that makes the sewing process easy. A buffet dress in the sewing community is a dress that is loose fitting, so you can eat at the buffet without your dress being uncomfortable afterwards, lol! Because the voile I chose is extremely thin and transparent, I opted to line the bodice and first tier. Adding a lining not only provided modesty but also gave the delicate fabric a bit more stability, especially around the neckline and button placket. A helpful tip when sewing a lining into a lightweight bodice is to treat the lining and the main fabric as one. I sewed the bodice as you would for a lined bodice, and the first tier I sewed the pieces together with a basting stitch to make the process...

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