Made by a Fabricista: Preparing for the Holidays

Hard to believe the holidays are fast approaching and in six weeks we will welcome a new year! I am determined to celebrate in a big way!!! I picked Vogue V1722 by Designer Nicola Finetti for its statement bodice and statement sleeves. Yes, indeed, I am loving its close-fitting bodice, plunging neckline, balloon sleeves, and flared skirt.

I dared to make this special dress in Fabric Mart’s embroidered silk dupioni, a fabric I had not sewn before. I did not prewash the silk dupioni as dry cleaning will be my method of care for the finished garment. I underlined the bodice with prewashed black cotton batiste from my stash instead of the suggested interfacing. Though not called for by the pattern, I also underlined the skirt the same way to minimize wrinkling when I wear it. I prewashed black silk charmeuse (from Fabric Mart) to use as lining. Then I lined the balloon sleeves with champagne colored organza from my stash to give it more body. For the hem band, I used French fuse as interfacing for the charmeuse. Size 60 needle was perfect for these fabrics. Believe me, with all its details, this dress is not something you can make in a hurry!

Because of its distinctive style, I highly recommend making a muslin first. The bodice has a princess seam and is lined. The deep plunge is all the way to the waistline, but I did not want that much exposure. To decrease it, I stitched the front bodice 2 inches up from the waistline and stitched the strap 6 inches up from the waistline. The bodice hangs by 1 ½ inch on each shoulder and attaches easily to the flared skirt and closes in the back with an invisible zipper. I cut in half the width of the hem band so that the skirt, which is longer in the longer in the back than the front, would not touch the floor.

The sleeves are super dramatic. The upper sleeve is lined and attached to the gathered lower sleeve, which I lined with organza to make the bubble look standout. Each lower sleeve has 11 tucks stitched in different directions and 3 pleats on the inseam. Because the sleeves were too long, I added two 5/8’ tucks on the inseam of each sleeve and increased the size of the middle tucks by 5/8’ each. A sleeve band controlled the look.

Additional details: I doubled the size of the bow (black charmeuse lined with organza) attached to the front strap to make it more proportional to the dress. Hand stitching in the armhole binding, arm band, and hem band gave the inside of the dress a professional finish.

Wow, I feel so fancy! The design of the dress and beautiful fabrics gave me a striking dress. I am dreaming of an unforgettable celebration already.

Til next blog,

MARY ANN | @anasewperfect

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories SILK & DUPIONI.

Made by a Fabricista: The Bernadette

Hello friends, My Latest Fabricista Make: Friday pattern Co Bernadette Skirt x Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! When I saw Fabric Mart’s Muted Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim , I knew it would be perfect for my next project. The color is rich and versatile—a deep navy that works as a neutral but still has presence. The stretch denim has just the right balance: structure with a bit of give, making it great for a garment that needs both shape and comfort. It’s an ideal fabric for fall transitions, but it’s sturdy enough to carry straight into winter with tights and boots. For the pattern, I chose the Bernadette Skirt by Friday Pattern Company . This is one of their newer designs, and I knew immediately I wanted to sew it up. It’s a modern skirt that blends structure and style, with darts in the back and pleats in the front for a flattering fit. One of my favorite features is the belt, and of co...

Made By A Fabricista: One Pattern => Three Fabrics => Three Looks!

Hello sewing friends! Today I’m sharing three totally different looking tops I made from the same pattern where the only difference in approach was the fabric itself. If I hadn’t shared with you that these three tops were all made with similar options in same exact size…would you have known they all came from the same pattern? Read on, and let me know in the comments! First, the pattern – this is the Ellie & Mac Fall in Love sweater. I’ve had this pattern for ages and it’s been a tried and true for me over the years. I think the first time I sewed it up was back in 2018. It’s a great beginner pattern due to a few features: 1) Relaxed fit – it’s meant to be oversized so you don’t have to nail your exact measurements. 2) Not a ton of pattern pieces and limited options – it’s a basic sweater/sweatshirt so no wondering if you cut the right neckband for the right neckline 3) No hemming! If you sew the pattern as designed (which I did in one of the three options), it com...

Made By A Fabricista: The Friday Pattern Company Westcliff Dress pattern

Have I just sewn my new favorite Maxi dress for the Fall? Friday Pattern Company patterns are one of my favorite to sew and wear. I have fun sewing up their patterns and they turn out so beautifully. The Westcliff is a top and dress pattern for knit lovers. I love wearing knit but sewing knit is not my favorite. The pattern features: A faux-wrap bodice with full coverage and a neckline designed not to gape! Two cup size options (B and D cup) for better bust fit. A flowy A-line skirt, with an optional lower tier to convert it into a maxi. The pattern is written for knits with at least ~25% stretch. I selected a very soft jersey knit from Fabric Mart that has large scale flowers in brown and pink. The instructions are clear, there are many helpful tips for sewing knit included. The faux-wrap style is flattering and relatively easy to wear, especially in a comfortable stretchy knit. Overall, for knit garment sewing, thi...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog