Made By A Fabricista: A Wool Pinafore for Winter

Hello exciting wintry weather! Brrr, though. For my December post, I wanted to sew something more unusual for me, something outside my wide leg pants and big boxy sweaters, and this pinafore combination is exactly that. I really like the layering aspect and how easily one could switch up the look based on the top worn underneath, and how this pinafore pattern could easily work for all seasons based on fabric choice and possibly adding leggings.

The new Love Notions Pianoforte Jumper in this incredibly charming polka dot wool blend suiting is just right. I wanted wool for warmth, and the sweet print just sent me. Of course a pinafore looks SO darling in dots. The Pianoforte is a slightly-cocoon shaped dress with princess seams and some large and handy front inset pockets. There is a zip-front option, but I went with the pullover plain front. I love the vintagey, sort of old-timey vibes of this style, and categorize this one under dopamine dressing.

Because the wool is on the heavier side, I chose a gorgeous and drapey cotton twill shirting in solid black for the bodice facings as well as the pocket lining. Here’s a glimpse of the inner guts of my pinafore so you can see them in action.

For the layered shirt underneath, I loved the idea of a different print. Go bold or go home, right? Mixing in this subtle animal design that also features black felt like a fun choice that wasn’t over the top, but was still a little more unexpected.

My first top is a Twig & Tale Scenic Top with the Long Sleeves option. This pattern is intended for woven fabric, but I thought the Scenic would be a great slimmer tee option for layering because this fabric has almost no vertical stretch and I didn’t have luck coming up with a more fitted knit pattern that didn’t require that very stretch. So here we are with rare bust darts on a knit, and this fit is great! I sewed a size C and made no size adjustments.

I created my own neckband binding piece 2” wide and about 90% of the length, which is longer than I typically cut. This jacquard double knit has a pretty intense stretch recovery so I didn’t want it to be too short and create drag lines. I sewed the right side of the band piece to the wrong side of the neckline and flipped it over to the right side and folded it under just like I would a woven binding, and then topstitched the edge. Lovely!

You know me, of course I’m going to make a bonus top if at all possible! This t-shirt is a Chalk & Notch Pixie Tee, and I sewed a size 2.

I removed two inches from the View A bodice length since I skipped the tie finish. I was just aiming for a boxy tee that would style easily with jeans or wide pants. I look forward to wearing this tee come spring! I think a muted animal print neutral is perfect for keeping things interesting no matter what it’s worn with.

Happy sewing!

KATIE | @kak513

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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