Made by a Fabricista: A Trio of Textured Knits

I simply love wearing knits. So comfortable, so easy to wear, so stylish and fun! For this month's post, I decided to use a new knit from FM and two from my stash that are also from FM, it's just that I've had them for a while, so I will have to share some similar fabrics with you.

First up is this textured activewear by Malden Mills. You can see the fabric I used here: Activewear knits

This is really nice fabric, perfect for working out in, or just hanging out in. It's breathable and lightweight. I decided to go for an athleisure look for my top.

The pattern I used is from Itch to Stitch.

The pattern goes together well and since I made it previously, I knew it would work with less of a drapey cowl. I basically chopped about 2.5 inches from the biggest part of the cowl. That's it. Nothing magical.

Because the knit is a bit lighter weight, I used woven SewkeysE tape to secure the edges or hems.

You probably don't need to do this, but I thought it would be a good idea. If you've never used this tape, try it! It's the best out there and is for sale in the notions section of FM's site.

My second top is made from a lacy knit I purchased a few years ago from this site. This was a Julie's pick and I waited and waited to figure out what to use if for. When DD1 was her for Christmas, she said that she was going to confiscate the fabric if I didn't figure something out quick.

I decided on a simple top that I'd wear during the cooler months that could be a layering piece. Here are some ideas from FMs site for fabric choices: Geometric knit

Lipstick red pucker dot

I chose this pattern by Papercut and this is the Rise and Fall Turtleneck.

This fabric sewed and pressed so easily, no wonder it was a Julie's pick! I used the 'regular' SewkeysE tape for this top and it worked like a charm.

For my third and final make, I used this heavily textured ponte from FM. This has been in my stash for a while, but if you click on the links below, you can find some similar and very pretty choices.

I really love this fabric and am glad I finally sewed this up! It's about time! I used my trusty McCalls 6886. This pattern is a workhorse. I've used it multiple times and every time I use it, I get excited about it all over again!

For this dress, I used what I call a textured ponte. This fabric is just luscious! Here are some similar fabrics from FMs site: Vibrant Pink Designer knit fabric Imported from Italy fabric

Thanks for reading! I hope you are making some great garments for 2019! Happy New Year!

Sue from Ilove2sew!

Made By A Fabricista: Revisiting a Pattern After Five Years

Have you ever used a sewing pattern and then immediately vowed never to sew it again? Well, I have. It all began in the spring of 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown. I tackled sewing projects that were more challenging to help me grow as a seamstress. There was one pattern in particular that almost did me in, the Seamwork Penny shirt dress. The Penny dress pattern has a classic button-up dress shirt style bodice with a gathered skirt and pockets. It is a beautiful take on a shirt dress, and my sister and I loved it. The only downside is that it was recommended for intermediate-level sewists and I was only an adventurous beginner back then. I think I had only ever made one button-up shirt before attempting this Penny Dress and it didn’t even have a collar! Despite all of this, I thought “Why not try it, what’s the worst that can happen?” Thankfully the worst didn’t happen, and the dress turned out surprisingly wearable, but I had some intense frustration at the end. I...

Made By A Fabricista: A Simple Frock for Spring

Hello friends! I’m really into sewing and wearing tent dresses at the moment. A tent dress is basically a wide A-line style gown. For this month’s project, I’ve opted to try out The Assembly Line’s Square Neck Dress. This style is a little avant-garde in its enormity and shape, and boasts the squared neckline it’s named after, plus some cute hem side slits. All that volume is fun to move around in, plus there’s loads of air circulation which is cooling. This dress’s main feature–its wide and high squared neckline–really piqued my interest recently, and I added it to my Make Nine plans for 2025. I find it so satisfying to check off those boxes as I sew! This beautiful shirtweight linen is a color I simply adore; a muted medium blue. Stormy skies, worn-in denim, and ocean waves all come to mind, and that is exactly what I want to be all wrapped up in. While I think a wild or large print would be amazingly on display in this big canvas of a dress, I also thought that a subtle ...

Made By A Fabricista: Bold Aspen Dress for Spring

As I write this in mid-April, central New Jersey weather is showing small signs of spring. My neighbor’s daffodils are blooming and our magnolia tree is trying to unfold its vibrant magenta petals. I am in the midst of preparing my wardrobe for the warmer months, even if we are still huddling against windy 30 degree days. For me, warm weather means linen. I love breathable, floaty linen sundresses and drapey, loose linen wide-leg pants. My vision for a spring piece was something bold and bright, inspired by the natural colors of blooming flowers, but also something that could transition well between the warmer and cooler months. When I saw Fabric Godmother’s Apsen Dress, I knew that it had the sensible transitional opportunities I was looking for while also providing a blank canvas for fun prints, patterns and colors. With the pattern in mind, I then turned to the stunning linen collection that Fabric Mart always has on hand to see what colors or patterns would best suit my visio...

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