Fabric Mart Fabricistas

My sewjo has definitely been lacking due to trying to shelter in place. Back in March when we started working/schooling from home my sewjo had a little spike as initially felt like I had a bit of extra time in my day. Sadly, it didn't take too long to lose that extra hour I'd gained due to not commuting. Add to that the fact there's no where to go so when would I wear these makes. Lastly I, like many, have gained weight the last few months (that's not totally Covids fault) and sometimes I hate sewing for a size I'm not so happy with.  Picking up skating helped a bit because I could sew and wear new makes to social distance skate events, but what really kicked me back into high gear was the arrival of fall. Usually summer is my favorite season to sew for, but during this time of staying home cozy loungewear and comfy separates are really speaking to me. So when I was looking for fabrics this month I selected three double knits to make some easy to wear fall looks.  T...

I love knits, they were my first sewing love. Some new sewists find sewing knits tricky, but I loved that the fit was more forgiving as I was learning sizing. This month three knits spoke to me and I couldn't decide between them so I just went again and got all THREE! First up is this black and white geometric print jersey knit. Everything about this fabric made me love it; it's a rayon jersey, it's black and white and it's a geometric print. It sewed up really nicely with minimal curling at the edges. I used my serger for most of the construction, which is another thing I love about knits. My first thought was a wrap dress, which should be no surprise. My favorite wrap dress pattern is the Mathilde Wrap Dress by Untitled Thoughts . It's a true wrap, which is always a plus to me. It features a 2 sleeve options, three length (including a peplum top), a waistband, inseam pockets and ties that meet in the back.

Along with many people it seems, I've picked up roller skating during this time of social distancing and staying at home. A girl can never have to many hobbies, right? Like many other 80s babies I spent a ton of time at the rink as a kid and had some roller blades in the 90s. I even worked for a little while as a Sonic carhop and skated orders out to customers. During college I borrowed a friends rollerblades and bladed around campus. I always really loved skating so when the gyms were closed and I wanted an activity that would get me moving and outdoors I figured why not skate? It's so much more fun that just walking and I HATE running. Well the next step was definitely to blend my two hobbies and since controlling a foot pedal in skates doesn't seem practical, skating in me made outfits was the obvious way to go. I knew I wanted a cute pair of retro shorts and a matching top. I chose this black and white interlock fabric to make the set. The black has sold out, but green ...

I'd be willing to generalize that it's been a rough month for most of us, especially black people in America. All of our lives were already disrupted by COVID-19 and the threat of murder hornets loomed then the murder of George Floyd (closely following the murders of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery) brought police brutality and this country's history of race relations to the forefront. I'd be lying if I said that all of this didn't have an effect on my sewjo. Sewing is usually something that I can enjoy and use to bring me up when I'm down, but honestly I was so overwhelmed with a variety of emotion that I had to take break from sewing for a few weeks. Several (non-poc) sewists reached out to me during this time and I truly appreciated it. Almost all wanted to let me know that they acknowledged and agreed with IG posts and stories I'd shared ( @TipStitched ). Some just wanted to see if I was ok considering " everything that was going on ". ...

Can you believe it's Memorial Day weekend? Time during this pandemic is a very strange thing. Sometimes it seems that time is going so quickly that the days blur together and other times the hours creep by. I think I'm pretty well adjusted to this new normal. Doing my best to stay safe and sane. Sewing is definitely a big part of my self care. I hope you are well and have found some peace in these unpredictable times. I'm still sewing even though I rarely leave the house and am not in need of new clothes. This voluminous gathered tent dress will be great to wear out on a hot summer day even if it's just my back yard. Works belted as well This tencel chambray is luxe, it has a smooth hand and gorgeous drape. I loved it so much that when it arrived I just kept petting it. LOL Then I had the hardest time deciding what to make. Does that happen to you? My first thought was and I had settled on McCall's 7936, but when one of my sewsistas mentioned the swing ...

I love challis for spring and summer garments. It's perfect for sundresses, kimonos and tops...even wide leg pants and jumpsuits because of it's light weight and nice drape. Challis is available in solids and a variety of prints as well as textures, like this crinkle challis. It is more often than not made with rayon which is soft to the touch and durable. There are 4 colors of this crinkle challis available, but I was immediately drawn to this muted army green . This color always speaks to me as I consider it neutral, but you can choose from cream, straw and red (there are a few prints as well) here . I was a little worried that I would need to line this dress because it is listed as semi-sheer, thankfully I did not. This is my first time using crinkle challis and it was a breeze to work with and the texture adds interest. This pullover dress comes together quickly as there are no closures. I was able to complete this from cutting to hemming in one eveni...

I love shirt dresses! My pattern collection reflects this (I may or may not have eight shirt dress patterns) but somehow my closet does not. I have just two DIY shirt dresses (Mimi G's Katie dress and Simplicity 8546 ) and maybe two RTW versions. So it's high time that I added some to my wardrobe. This polyester blouse weight twill by Milly has the perfect weight and drape for a relaxed shirt dress. If you prefer a more structured look, stick to a cotton shirting or light weight sateen. I loved this fabric and print so much that I grabbed both colorways. Unfortunately this fabric is sold out, but you can browse other shirtings and blouse weight fabrics here . This fabric has a somewhat slinky feel, but isn't truly slippery. There's also a slight sheen without being shiny like a satin. It was easy to cut and sew, but I did get a few snags when pinning so make sure you use sharp pins and a fresh machine needle. I serged my pieces before assembling the patt...

Did you think I was done with chartreuse? Well...I'm not! I decided to add another level of gray and chartreuse to the suit I made back in December ( see here ). As soon as I saw this wool and cashmere double faced coating by Michael Kors I knew I had to have it. It was offered in several color combos, but quite a few are sold out. Check out the available colors and all the other amazing coating fabrics  here . When it arrived I was blown away, not just by the colors (which I already knew I loved), but by the softness of the brushed finish. It's divine! Since this wool is double faced I knew I had to make something that would show both sides. I initially thought of a belted cape, like McCalls 6209, but ultimately decided on Butterick 6244. Not only does the waterfall collar show both sides, but thanks to the flat felled seams it is also reversible. It you haven't sewn flat felled seams it's surprisingly simple, if a bit time consuming. I will note th...

I went very bright for my last make so I decided to tone it down with a neutral this month. Navy is a neutral that I lack in my wardrobe as I default to black often so I'm trying to remedy that. The first is a very soft jersey knit with uneven stripes and the second is truly a luxurious wool stretch twill. My plan was to sew a coordinating outfit, but as soon as the fabric arrived I realized that all navy blues aren't created equal. Unfortunately, the two blues were just too different to work together. This was totally my fault as the wool twill description literally states "the darkest navy". Still I love both fabrics so I sewed my original plans, it just seems that these two pieces won't be worn together. Thankfully, I recently purchased this RTW light weight sweater that is a better match to the twill. Not the best lighting, but trust me they are different. Let me first tell you about the wool twill suiting, as I am in love with it! Some stretch is ...