Made By A Fabricista: FROM FABRIC TO FASHION: - The Saguaro Set with Fabric Mart Fabric

The weather in Southwest Florida is finally starting to warm up. With the warm air and bright sunshine, I have been thinking about refreshing my “at home” wardrobe with some fun easy pieces this year. I have wanted to make The Saguaro Set for some time now. When I saw the beautiful selection of rayon challis on the Fabric Mart website, I knew now was the perfect time to get it started.

THE FABRIC

I researched a lot to see which fabric would work the best for this pattern. I chose the Deep Amaranth Pink 100% Rayon Twill Challis for my project. It is a beautiful color that to me looks more coral. The fabric is light to medium weight and has beautiful drape. The care instructions said gentle wash or hand wash. I prewashed the fabric in cold water on the delicate cycle. However, after drying it on the delicate cycle, the fabric had an almost vintage distressed look. I was a bit concerned, but as I began to layout the pattern, I liked the overall look. (Whew, so glad that worked out)

I would recommend to anyone interested in getting this fabric to prewash a small piece first to make sure you like the finished look of the fabric.

THE PATTERN

The Saguaro Set is a relaxed easy fit top with elastic. The pants are high waisted with elastic and drawstring. Both pieces are easy to cut and sew. I recommend checking your measurement size with the finished garment measurements located on the pattern. The pattern comes from size XS to size 7X. There are websites and tutorials to help with construction and adjustments. The only adjustment I made was to the length of the pants. Next time I may raise the neckline crossover. The ties do a great job of giving a bit of coverage. I plan to wear this only at home or perhaps over a bathing suit by the pool. I think another Saguaro Set in a tropical print would be beautiful. There are several beautiful tropical prints rayon challis on the Fabric Mart website that I already have placed in the shopping cart.

THE PROCESS

The sewing process was easy. There are no special closures, buttons, or zippers on this one. This pattern and fabric would be great for a confident beginner to sew. Again, I would recommend washing a small piece of fabric to make sure you are happy with the fabric finish. I used a fresh needle for this project. When pressing I used a warm iron and pressing cloth with no steam. The fabric seemed to like that better. Sewing this set was fun. There are two rows of top stitching on the elastic bands of the top and waistband which is a fun detail.

THE FINISHED LOOK

At first I thought I might be too old to wear this. But I love the finished look! I love that it looks great with low heel sandals or sparkly flip flops. The pieces can be worn together or separately. The top can also be worn with the V neckline to the back. Two piece sets are on trend this year. This one is easy to wear. I am pleased with the fit and dare I say….I feel pretty in it.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

This was a fun easy pattern and I will sew it again in a tropical print fabric I have already chosen from Fabric Mart. At the time of this writing, the Amaranth Pink Rayon Twill Challis is still available. I really liked this fabric for this pattern. Check out Fabric Mart Fabrics great fabric selection and prices for your next spring top, dress, or trendy two-piece set.

CARMEN | @carmensalome

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: Sheer Elegance and Everyday Comfort with my Two New Tops

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with my last Fabricista make for 2025. While many sew a special holiday outfit at year’s end, I went in another direction sewing two tops that couldn’t be more different. One is sheer and elegant while the other is easy comfort for everyday wear. These tops reflect how I dress at this stage of life. As an over-50 sewist, these two tops reflect how I dress at this point in my life. Sometimes I want something a bit special, other times more basic. Either way, sewing them in beautiful fabrics, custom fit to my body, makes all the difference in how I feel when I wear them. Even though I’m quite pleased with my two tops, my original plan was to sew a jacket with the tropical print stretch twill and pair it with a top sewn from the soutache mesh knit . Sadly, I wasn’t quick enough to get enough of the stretch twill to make a jacket, so a top it was! You do know you have to act fast when you see something you love on Fabric ...

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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