Fabric Mart Fabricistas

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...

Twirling in a me-made outfit! I live in a small town where the nearest fabric shop is a road trip away, so I almost exclusively shop for fabric online. Having access to an online shop like Fabric Mart with a solid search engine is incredibly helpful. But by far my favorite aspect of Fabric Mart is what I call the “Drape Picture” included in each listing! This picture gives me all the information I need and I find it more helpful than the exact weight per yard/square meter.  Seeing how the fabric falls close or away from the body gives me a clear idea of how it will behave and inspires me to make it into something that will highlight the fabric’s nature.  When I saw the drape of this “Baked Plum” wool suiting , I immediately wanted to immortalize those beautiful folds into a skirt! I opted for a simple self-drafted pleated skirt with a deep hem. I wear my dresses year-round and rely on wool skirts that I layer under or over my dresses for warmth. I cut two panels for the front ...

Even here in Florida, we get the occasional cold weather surprise, and when temperatures dipped recently, I was very glad to have the perfect handmade outfit ready to go. For this month’s Fabricista make, I sewed up New Look pattern 6771, using two beautiful fabrics sent to me by Fabric Mart Fabrics. The Fabric & Pattern Choice New Look 6771 is a cozy two-piece set featuring a relaxed-fit top and pull-on pants—exactly the kind of pattern that works well for transitional weather. I chose to start with the top, using a brown animal print French terry from Fabric Mart, and it turned out to be an absolute dream to work with. The French terry was soft, substantial without being heavy, and handled beautifully at the machine . It had just the right amount of structure to highlight the pattern’s design details while still feeling comfortable and wearable. From cutting to pressing, this fabric behaved perfectly and elevated the final garment. The Top: A Total Win The top from New Look 677...

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 ...

It’s officially holiday travel season and a good travel outfit is a must!  I usually wear the same green sweatsuit that I purchased a few years ago.  The last time I travelled, I knew that it was time for a new travel outfit. Meet the Cropped Sweater and Pintuck Sweatpants from Sew It Academy. I’ve had this outfit on my list of things to make for a few years now. The Cropped Sweater and Pintuck Sweatpants are a class in the Sew It Academy. Sew It Academy is Mimi G’s online sewing school and each month there is a new pattern and sew along to go with it.  Mimi is now offering Sew It Academy patterns for purchase without being a Sew It Academy student and this is one of them. For the Cropped Sweater, I added 3 inches to the hem because I didn’t really want it to be cropped. I made a size 20 and graded out to a size 24 at the waist. I really enjoyed sewing this sweater up.  I decided to use the instructions included with the pattern instead of watching the sew along ...