Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Hello!  Well, it’s that time of year when you start making resolutions to be or do things better in your life, whether that is lose weight, save money, travel, or love more.  Your resolutions may work out for the entire year or it may last for one month, nevertheless, a new year always brings the opportunity for a fresh start.  At least that is how I see it, so I always look forward to my 365 (or 366 leap year) restart of days, whether I am successful at my promises to myself or not.  Each year, I like to make vision boards for the things I want to accomplish during the year.  If there is something I didn’t accomplish but still aspire to do, I roll it over to the following year.  Last year, I started jotting down steps for achieving the things on my vision board and I continue to build on how I do them each year.  One of my goals this year is to really sew things that I love and are true to the things I envision myself wearing.  Though I ma...

Have you ever run out to buy a pattern with the intention to make it right away, but then you get side tracked and days become weeks that become months? Well, that is what happened with early fall pattern, Simplicity 8177 . I purchased this pattern this summer with plans to make it right away for the fall, because I love dusters. Whelp, that didn't happen, but I did finally sew it up this week. Even though I'm a season behind, I'm calling this a win, because it didn't get pushed back into next year. I originally selected a brown and orange tweed wool suiting for this project ( here ), but then this navy and cream striped suiting ( here ) arrived and I quickly switched to it. I love, Love, LOVE stripes, my stash proves it. What I always forget when buying striped fabric is the added work of matching stripes when sewing. LOL. It is not difficult but it does take time. Sadly time is what I was short on due to some delays with FedEx (not Fabric Mart's fault). T...

HI Fashionistas! Merry Christmas!! Hope you are having a fabulous holiday season. I have been working on my outfit for Christmas Eve. I decided to go with a black and white holiday look. I am completely in love with monochromatic looks since they are chic and also so easy to style. You can just throw on a pair of nude pumps and a clutch and you are ready to go. Well for my last project of the year, I decided to sew multiple garments that could give me many outfits by mixing and matching with existing pieces in my wardrobe. Look 1 : I drafted the top from my bodice sloper. I changed the neckline to boat neck, which is one of my favorites.  I also drafted this skirt from my sloper and changes the waist to an empire. I chose a midi length and it's one of my favorites. For drafting instructions for skirts, you can look into this class . I did not require any fitting as the sloper was drafted to my measurements. Look 2 : Top and black bottoms: A simpler, more casua...

Planning a vacation is so much fun, and even more so when you can sew and get to plan your travel wardrobe.  This is part 1 of a 2 part post, and I'm keeping my destination a surprise until the 2nd post when I plan to show you the wardrobe on location!  I will give you a few hints, and maybe you can guess. It's a big city, and the temperature is going to be in the high 50's during the day and the low 40's at night.  I read where the people in this city dress mostly in black, grey and brown during the winter months.  So, to fit in with the locals, I decided to go with a black/grey/brick red color palette.  Fabric Mart had one fabric that had all of these colors in it, and that is what I used as my centerpiece for the wardrobe plan: This fabric was heavy enough to be a midweight coat, and I chose Butterick 6384 for my pattern.  I realize that using a print for a coat is a bit crazy, but this city is used to avant garde artists and architects (hint ...

My go to colors for winter--black, white, and gray...boring?     It doesn't have to be!   Even though they could be considered boring by some, consider the pattern on the fabric and the design silhouette before giving your opinion please!   With the right shape for the fabric and the right execution, black, white and gray can be somewhat exciting if not loads of fun!  That 'spot' that appears to be on the fabric is really not there, that is from my camera.  I do love how my top-stitching looks on the seams.  I like to use a triple-stitch or a stretch-stitch for most of my top-stitching.  I love how it emphasizes that part of the design. I choose a sweater knit in black and white that is so soft, so luscious, and so wonderful to work with! I want a pair of pajamas made from this fabric, it is that wonderful on your skin!   The gray is a crepe with a wonderful texture that you expect from a crepe.  ...