Made By A Fabricista: Stepping Into Summer in Pretty Crepe

Hi Guys! Summer is here! Yes, it’s been 80 degrees in Florida all week and we’ve been to the pool. We usually cook out for Memorial Day and go to the pool to open the official summer season and the weather was perfect for it. When I started thinking about this post, I thought, summertime. I wanted to select a great fabric and a summer dress to go with it and I think I might have found the perfect combination.

I selected to make McCall’s M8507. This pattern is described as an easy to sew dress with a ruched bodice, elastic neckline and waist with different sleeve lengths and sleeve variations. I made a combination of View B and View A. Based on my body measurements, I made a size 22. I selected to make the longer sleeves with the elastic at the hem and I made the shorter version. I only made 1 modification to the dress. After I finished the bodice, I realized this dress had a very deep V neck. I don’t mind showing a little cleavage, but this was a bit much and my bra was showing. I decided to hand sew the cleavage closed a little. I love the way it came out.

As with any fabric that I end up loving, as soon as I saw it, I knew I have it. I selected this dark green and white large grid floral bubble crepe fabric. This fabric is so soft and really nice to sew with. This is a thin fabric, but it’s not slippery or hard to handle and sews up perfectly. It has a great drape and is perfect for these long summer days. I’m going on a cruise soon and I can’t wait to wear it as we set sail in the Caribbean!

I usually try to include some sort of sewing trick or tutorial in my blog posts, and I have a quick and effective tip for you this time. I learned this a very long time ago and I use it every single time I sew. I know there are some of you out there that will just wing a hem and sew it up without measuring a thing and just eye balling it. The way my brain works, I can’t do that. It is also a pain to measure and press a hem with a seam gauge. What I do is, sew a basting stitch using the designated seam allowance. I then press it and sew. Once I’m done, I remove the basting stitch and I end up with a perfect hem every single time. You’re welcome!

Have I shared my DIY Birkenstocks with you all yet? I don’t recall. At any rate, I made my shoes! I believe I made these last summer with a kit I purchased from my friend Jaimie from www.creationsbyjaimie.com. The kit comes with everything you need to make these shoes, except the leather. You can find pieces of leather or suede online for a very inexpensive price. I love these shoes and wear then whenever I can. Of course, I make sure to tell people I made then.

If you want a flowly fabric for your summertime makes, then I would suggest you pick up some crepe fabric from Fabric Mart. Unfortunately, this print is sold out. I wish I had gotten more because I am absolutely smitten with this fabric.

Until next time!

JOHANNA | @soveryjo

Made By A Fabricista: Just Wear It Out!

Originally I wasn’t happy with my make this time around. I put it on fresh off the sewing machine and didn’t love how it fit. My elastic was slightly too narrow for what the pattern called for. I did end up putting a stitch to close up the v-neck on the top. I thought my sewing on the waistband looked sloppy and I looked kind of frumpy in the outfit. I was going to put the project down to fix later but decided to wear it out for some feedback from our web manager and one of the describers. I ended up pleasantly surprised! The fabric is super comfortable and I felt really good wearing it. All the things I didn’t like kind of melted away wearing it out. The flaws were so small that only I noticed them. I think it’s important to remember that while striving for perfect seams and flawless construction is good, a handmade garment doesn’t have to be perfect to be wearable. This isn’t the first time I’ve softened on a garment after wearing, and it certainly won’t be the last! The 100% c...

Made By A Fabricista: The Sheer Volume Of It All!

This garment was inspired by a dress I saw in an ad, and when I went to purchase it (which I rarely do)…I realized that the dress didn’t come in my size. Ticked off and with $300 back in my pocket, I decided to draft it myself. The description listed the fabrication as a silk cotton voile, so I used that as a starting point to recreate the simple yet elegant silhouette. My drafting experience is limited; I’ve only ever made garments that are pleated rectangles that fit into an elasticated waist. No darts, no complicated calculations, and definitely no sleeves. But I’d have that dress if it’s the last thing I do! I made a drawing, created a Pinterest board to document my inspiration, and narrowed down the features I really wanted to have: billowy bubble-hemmed bishop sleeves (say it three times fast!), a fitted and lined bodice, and a gathered tiered skirt. Finally, it was time to shop for fabric. I knew I wanted a silk blend of some kind, without breaking the bank. For weeks, I ke...

Made By A Fabricista: In Love with Linen

Linen is the best fabric to sew and wear. I selected a beautiful 100% linen from Fabric Mart that is a steel blue and cream floral linen to sew up a By Hand London Hannah Wrap Dress pattern. The flowers look like Dahlias. I originally sewed a Toile from a black and white cotton bedsheet, wore the dress a lot but never made it again. I gave the Toile away to a friend who always commented on how much she loved the dress. When I saw this fabric, I knew I wanted to make the Hannah again. Linen is so easy to sew the entire experience reminded me why linen remains one of my favorite fabrics to sew. I look for a light to medium weight European linen for a dress. I like a rayon or cotton blend with linen because it seems to have more drape and be more soft. Linen gets softer with washing and wearing it. This particular linen feels crisp and after ironing and washing, softens up. I like how Fabric Mart describes the fabrics as top, dress, blouse, shirt weight under “Use” and will describe...

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