Guest Post: Diane from Gatorbunny Sews

Guest Post: Diane from Gatorbunny Sews - "Aubrey and Me" Top

I know I've said this before, but, if you're a piece of fabric in my sewing room and you hang around too long you're bound to get embroidered. I am and always will be in love with fabrics but more and more embroidery seems to be taking up residence in the creative side of my brain. Fabrics can now be canvases since "Aubrey", my embroidery machine, moved in (yes...I named my machine…don't judge).

This blouse inspired my "Aubrey and Me" Top. The combination of the embroidery, lace and silhouette makes a top that's feminine without being fussy.

Because a simple pattern lends itself to embroidery, I chose Salme's Kimono Style Angel Sleeve Top for my blouse. It's a two-piece pattern plus facings (it doesn't get simpler than that) with a soft flutter sleeve. I lowered the neckline 3/4" because it's more flattering on me and left everything else the same. I chose this dreamy blue/gray J. Crew voile from Fabric Mart (the color is out of stock but this color would be lovely!) and a cotton crochet trim for the neckline and hem.

The Mendhika Medallion machine embroidery pattern from Urban Threads is stitched three times at the neckline. The middle medallion is sized to 3" in diameter and the two outer are 2 1/2" in diameter. The medallion comes as a three color design but I changed it to two colors, dark ecru and ecru, and stitched it out in 40 weight rayon embroidery thread.

In constructing this blouse, and for almost all of my embroidery projects, I have "Aubrey" do the embroidery before I actually cut out the pattern piece. This makes hooping and placement easier. This voile is very lightweight so after a couple of test runs I found wash away stabilizer the best choice for stabilization during embroidery. My final step before actually sewing the blouse together was adding 17 rows of twin needle stitching in ecru thread. I know 17 rows sounds like a lot but none are more that 2" long and the result is a design that looks pulled together.

I'm looking forward to wearing this blouse all spring and summer with jeans and skirts. Thanks "Aubrey"! ~Diane

Thank you Diane for a great post and for incorporating some embroidery into your project. Check out Diane's blog: Gatorbunny Sews. If you would like to be a guest blogger, email fabricmartblog@gmail.com.

Help Our Buyers Shop!

Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out! I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?

Made By A Fabricista: Turning the Page

We had a lovely, warm September in central New Jersey but as of last week, fall has finally started to set in. While I’m no longer operating on a school calendar, I always look forward to the return of fall, the crisp air, the colorful leaves, and the opportunity to “turn over a new leaf.” While exploring the Fabric Mart website, browsing all their gorgeous cottons, I was incredibly inspired by the Eggshell/Black 100% Cotton Horizontal Stripe Weave Lawn . It looks exactly like a lined piece of paper. I thought it would make a fun top for work during this transitional season, one that sparks “blank page” creativity. I wanted to pair the top with a simple yet classic pair of pants, allowing each piece to be a quality addition to my work and loungewear wardrobe, working together and as separates. I picked up the beautiful Midnight Navy/White 100% Tencel Chambray , which has a fun denim-look while being quite soft and flowy. When designing the top, I wanted to play with the stripes. I chos...

Made By A Fabricista: Getting Ready for Fall with a Pinafore

Hooray, the best season has finally arrived again! I don’t know about you, but I spend all summer sweaty and wishing for cooler weather despite my massive appreciation for sundresses. I prefer a chill in the air, a breeze rustling my skirt, and layered garments for coziness! Would you believe I have never sewn a wrap pinafore dress in all my hundreds of garments? It’s shocking, I know. I’ve had one on my mind for at least a year or two, but narrowing down the final pattern wasn’t easy. In the end, I chose the Fibre Mood Khloe Pinafore because I really like the straight, high neckline and the finishes at the wrapped bodice. So here we are, combining the best of all possible worlds, a wrap pinafore that is utterly magnificent for summer, BUT adding a long sleeved layer underneath to take it seamlessly right into autumn. On the dress, my only change was to widen the shoulder straps by doubling their width for better bra concealment when I wear it alone. I do wish I’d adde...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog