Made by a Fabricista: Rib Knit Tanks and a Ponte Cardigan

My sewing time has been very limited with the holidays and the normal house activities (kids getting older means life getting so much busier)! And because of that I've been very selective of what I choose to sew, free time is so incredibly rare! Right before Thanksgiving I sat down and quickly sewed four new tank tops and I absolutely love how they turned out!

This is the Kila Tank pattern by Allie Olson. I've been wanting to sew it for a while, but haven't been able to find rib knit fabric that would work well. Fabric Mart had the perfect fabric for the pattern. I say had as this specific fabric has sold out. But they have many other rib knits still in stock!

I grabbed one yard each of a light gray, dark gray, black, and pumpkin rib knit fabric. The pattern was super easy to follow and sewed up quickly! I love that it is perfect to layer and wear when it's cooler outside and I can wear it on it's own when it's hot!

Over Thanksgiving we went on a vacation to Arizona and I brought my tank tops along with me and they were perfect! I wore them all day long and they didn't stretch out of shape or get loose and baggy (yay for good fabric!). And they were comfortable enough to wear on a long flight!

Before vacation I also sewed a Blackwood Cardigan (a pattern that I've sewn five times before). This time I used a more structured Ponte knit fabric from Fabric Mart. I absolutely love this pattern, and it is great with the ponte knit fabric. The Blackwood Cardigan has extra long arms, which I love. I love being able to pull my long sleeves down around my hands!

What have you been sewing lately? For me, it's only been quick and easy projects, but I'm hoping to carve out more time do a few more intricate projects! Even though my sewing has all been quick and easy, I love knowing that I'm sewing things that I'll wear again and again!

Teresa :: Dandelion Drift

Made By A Fabricista: Back In The Saddle

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...

Made By A Fabricista: From My Imagination to My Closet

One of my favorite parts of sewing is taking an idea that exists only in my head and turning it into something I can actually wear. This project was exactly that—a quick, intuitive exercise in imagination, experimentation, and trusting my process, brought to life with Fabric Mart’s sweatshirt fleece. I started with a loose concept rather than a fixed plan. I knew I wanted something comfortable, but still fashion-forward—elevated loungewear that felt intentional rather than basic. Fabric choice was key, and Fabric Mart’s sweatshirt fleece ended up being the perfect foundation. Working with Fabric Mart Sweatshirt Fleece This fleece was an absolute dream to work with. It has a slight stretch, which made the final outfit incredibly comfortable while still maintaining structure. After pre-washing, the fabric held up beautifully with no pilling or texture issues, which is always a big win. It sewed smoothly and handled like a fabric that wants to be worn, not babied. Safe to say, I’m offici...

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