Fabric Mart Fabricistas

If you don’t know in October my beloved Bernina sewing machine blew a fuse and started smoking while I was using it. She went to the shop for repairs, and then I moved. So it’s been a bit since I’ve sewed last and I’ve had trouble getting back into it. I knew I needed a simpler project to get me going again. Julie sewed up a Jarrah sweater recently ( restock coming soon! ) and gushed about how simple and rewarding a project it was. Then we got in this beautiful wool/cashmere sweater knit from England. I was seeing lighthouse keeper, sheep herder in the highlands. I knew it had to be my Jarrah sweater. I did lengthen the bodice by 3 inches. I actually sewed up a mock up with the curved hemline, but decided that wasn’t for me and went with the straight hem. Of course I took zero photos of said mock up.  Oops. Otherwise I sewed it up in a size 6 as is. Using the serger this really does sew up quickly. The dropped shoulder creates clean, simple lines that make it easy to sew u...

I have been wanting to make an insertion lace shift to wear under my historical clothing for a while now. When I saw this cream silk pop up on the Fabric Mart website, I knew exactly what my next project would be. It was nice to have a fairly straightforward project for once. This is the first time in months that something hasn't gone wrong in the middle, causing some deviation from the plan. And for that I am extremely grateful. Please excuse all my final photos being on Claire. When everything was done, the shift was a little too sheer to model myself and get a good view of all the details. Be sure to watch the video to hear about my research and to watch me play dress up at the end with miscellaneous pieces of my historical wardrobe!  MARTY   |  @scrappypatterns

For the uninitiated, Critical Role is a group of nerdy voice actors playing Dungeons & Dragons every Thursday. I've already been a long time fan and cosplayer of the character Jester Lavorre from their second campaign (recently adapted to the animated series The Mighty Nein), but recently they started their fourth campaign! With this new campaign, we got a new cast of characters and I absolutely fell in love with the chaotic pink demon named Tyranny.  When looking at my options for fabric for Tyrannys outfit, I found the perfect fabrics, a seafoam-blue polyester taffeta and a platinum colored charmeuse . The colors were perfect and I loved the combination of textures that felt appropriate for Tyrannys role as an aspirant of a religious order.  When it came to patterning the cosplay, I used my go to bodice pattern, adjusting to have a zipper at center front that would be covered by the tabard that was also cut out of the taffeta stiffened with interfacing and with the char...

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make!  Is it too early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? Because this fabric is giving all the heart vibes. With rich red hearts scattered across a dark base, it feels festive without being over-the-top—and completely wearable well beyond February. This time around, the fabric completely stole the show. I used a Dark Navy/Crimson/White Polyester/Lycra Hearts Print Brushed Sweater Knit by a NY Designer , and it was love at first sight. Even though it’s labeled navy, in person it reads more like a deep black base with these beautiful red hearts throughout. When you zoom in, you’ll also spot the designer’s name and a tiny smiley face woven into the print - such a fun, unexpected detail. This fabric immediately spoke my name when I saw it online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Before sewing, let’s talk fabric care and prep - because it matters. This sweater knit is wash and dry friendly, which makes it practical for e...

How long is your “ Sew List”? Mine is never ending! The Hazel dress from Veronica Tucker  has been on my list for a while now and I finally decided to make it this month. It is a joyful sew and a great example of why I love making my own clothes. It is advertised that it is “twirlability tested”, I love that! Indeed, I want to twirl around while wearing it.  I’ve wanted to sew this pattern for quite a while after seeing so many lovely versions shared on Instagram, and it definitely lived up to the inspiration. I bought it and a second pattern when there was a sale on her site. However, you don’t have to wait for a sale, I see that if you purchase 2, 3 or 4 patterns at one time you can get a discount code so look for that on her site if you’re interested. I had a question about the pattern and contacted them. They were quick to respond!  The pattern is drafted for someone around 5’4”, and at 5’10” I knew right away I’d need to add length. Adjusting the proportions to suit ...

Ah, the age old question garment sewers are often asked – do you choose the pattern first and then look for fabric, or do you buy fabric and then later decide what it will be when it grows up? If you are a sewist with a large fabric stash (like myself), then perhaps you are on Team Fabric. I would say I definitely lean that way, but there are also times when I land somewhere in the middle – I see a fabric and I think, I’ve just seen a pattern and these two would be perfect together! And that’s how gorgeous dusty rose stretch velvet and a recently released cardigan pattern came together to create the newest addition to my wardrobe. And had me improvising a few things along the way. First. I have to admit - I have a stretch velvet problem. I see it pop up on the website and I almost always grab it, especially if I see a sale. It’s not the easiest fabric to sew (it’s slippery as heck!), but I love it so much and I especially love using it in non-traditional ways. In my last blog post, I...