Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Do You Let the Fabric Choose the Project or the Project Choose the Fabric?

When you walk into a fabric store (or, let’s be real, scroll through an online shop), do you already have a project in mind, searching for the perfect fabric to bring your vision to life? Or do you let the fabric speak to you, inspiring a new idea on the spot? Personally, I tend to go both ways. Sometimes, I have a plan. Other times, a fabric stops me in my tracks, and I just know what it’s meant to become.

That’s exactly what happened when I saw this stunning ombré fabric on Fabric Mart Fabrics. I didn’t have to think twice—I knew it had to be a dress, and I already had the perfect pattern in my stash: Viki Sews Crystal. I had saved inspiration photos featuring tie-dye and ombré fabrics, so the moment I saw this fabric, I knew it belonged in my collection. Below are some of my inspiration photos from Altuzarra.

The Fabric

Once I received the fabric, I fell even more in love. It has a moody elegance—subtle but striking, with a depth that perfectly reflects how I’ve been feeling lately. I tend to create pieces that either mirror my mood or uplift it, and this dress does both. The deep tones match my current vibe, but the act of sewing it brought me joy.

Another thing I love? The fabric is no fuss satin, because it sew has a crinkled texture that adds dimension and makes it so travel-friendly—no stressing over wrinkles!

The Pattern: Viki Sews Crystal

The Crystal dress is sleek, sexy, and sophisticated—exactly what I envisioned for this fabric. The sewing process was pretty straightforward, though I made a few modifications:

✔ Lined the skirt for a more polished finish

✔ Used French seams for clean, high-quality construction (yes, it took longer, but I’m committed to elevating my finishes this year!)

✔ Adjusted the bodice for my short torso

✔ Took in the waist by an inch for a more sculpted silhouette

✔ Extended the length to floor-length for an evening-ready look

The result? A dress that I’d love to wear to the opera or symphony this spring—it’s dramatic yet effortless, polished yet comfortable.

The Styling

For a bold, fashion-forward look, I paired this ombre/tie dye satin gown with long black leather opera gloves and sleek, strappy heels. The high-contrast accessories elevate the drama, while dark lipstick and striking eyeliner ties the whole moody vibe together. This dress can easily transition from gala to cocktail hour with just a switch to minimalist jewelry or a statement clutch.



So, tell me—when fabric shopping, do you let the fabric choose the project, or do you arrive with a plan in mind? Let’s chat in the comments!

Shimere  |  @shim.sew.creative

Comments

  1. I do both. Because sometimes the project tells you what fabric it needs and sometimes the fabric tells you what it needs to be turned into.

    Sometimes it's a whisper but sometimes it's a scream.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's a combo for me, too. I'll have the idea & consider many factors like upcoming events, where all I can wear it, trends & season. Then I pick the pattern & chose my fabric accordingly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fantastic look. The dress alone is so well done, but your styling makes it exceptional. I hope you enjoy wearing and being seen in it. You SHOULD get many compliments, but most folks will be too intimidated to venture more than an admiring glance!

    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: Celebrating warm weather with Spring sewing!

Hi sewing friends! I don’t know about you but boy, was winter cold and dreary this year! The weather here in the Philadelphia area has been slowly improving, but Spring sure did take her sweet old time to arrive. So by April, I was definitely in the headspace of needing to sew up things that were either bright and cheery or meant for the warmer weather I am very much craving right now. I recently purchased a few SewBexx Patterns so I took them on a test run to create some Spring makes. First on my list was to make a top using this absolutely gorgeous ITY fabric I picked up last year. I had two yards which was enough for a long sleeve shirt. I chose the Olivia top, which is oversized with a drop shoulder, has multiple lengths and a split hem. I think the pattern is intended for heavier fabrics but I was envisioning how lovely this top would look with the drape of ITY knit fabric, and it did not disappoint. It came together for me quickly and was a straight forward sew…and I love the br...

Made By A Fabricista | Chasing Time: My White Rabbit-Inspired Look for Atlanta Frocktails

For this year’s Atlanta Frocktails, I found myself captivated by a character who’s been quietly tugging at my imagination for years—the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. There’s something so relatable about his frantic energy, always checking the time, always running late. While he’s worried about being on time, I’m usually calculating how late I can be and still technically arrive on time. Spoiler: I’m often wrong. It’s a cycle of procrastination and anxiety that I know all too well. So when I imagined my look for Frocktails, I thought—why not honor the White Rabbit? After all, time has been chasing me too. But this look isn’t just about Wonderland whimsy. It’s also deeply inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme, Tailored for You, which includes a focus on Black Dandyism—a celebration of Black elegance, intellect, and expressive style. I’ve been obsessed with this theme since it was announced. As a Black creative, I find it powerful and moving to see style used as a way to reclaim...

Made By A Fabricista: Getting into the Spirit of Summer

I'm not gonna lie y'all, I had a completely different project I wanted to do, but that's gonna take more time, and I wanted something cute, comfy and fun to wear for my birthday on the 19th. When I saw this goldenrod & off white linen jacquard , I thought it looked a bit like the design on a Koroks body, especially Makar from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker! I started with the bodice from the free Elderberry dress pattern from Mood, but deviated for the skirt, it felt a little plain of a design, and I had scraps of a Korok fabric that I knew would be a nice accent with some cut out pockets. I've made these pockets once before, deciding the cut out was based on aligning with the seam on the bodice for how far in, and as for how low depended on where I wanted the pouch of the pocket to start. From there I cut the visible part of the pocket, making sure to match the curve of the waist and following the line of the side seams of the skirt, as well as cutting a facing to...