Made By A Fabricista: My List (Not to Santa)

“As I write, December ends amid the usual neurosis of lists - from bestsellers to best dressed of the year. The last twelve months get summarized in these podium/listings published by all the newspapers and posted on the networks.” (Irene Vallejo, Infinity in a Reed , 2019) – Free translation

Let me participate in this end-of-the-year-list neurosis! From thinking about the project to sharing it with you, this is my list of ten steps to post on this blog:

Decide on a project - I appreciate simple, straightforward, practical projects. I was looking to sew a pajama set this time and chose the McCall M7297 pattern that included the whole set of pants, shirt, and robe. I ended up skipping the shirt, though. It wasn’t my style! The good news: I will use this pattern if I ever want to sew a nurse scrub.
Select the fabric – Patterns usually include recommendations about the suitable materials to use. In this case, I chose a very stretchy and flowy jersey fabric, combined with a plain pink knit for accent pieces. I checked that both fabrics had the same stretchiness and composition (rayon/modal/lycra) to ensure they were going to couple flawlessly at the seams.
Cut the pieces – This was my first time using a commercial pattern made in such a thin paper – it feels like rice paper - so I cut my size right into the pattern. I don’t particularly like tracing, but I felt bad cutting into the pattern and knowing I wouldn’t be able to use it again. Once cut, I wrapped every piece into the “rice paper” and laid them all out.
Make pattern modifications – I made the pants first because they were faster and easier, and they would give me a chance to get familiar with the fabric. Unfortunately, these pants were around six inches too long for me! Also, the bottom band with an accent fabric is an original detail, but it makes them heavier than I like. Once I got the pants, I realized I needed to modify the robe a little. So, I shortened it too, by 6 inches, and sewed tight cuffs instead of oversized kimono-like sleeves. I don’t want my cuff to slip in my pancake mix! I also chose to sew an elastic inside the belt and stitch it on the back of the robe. Otherwise, I know I would have quickly lost the belt!
Sew! – It’s “the heart” of the process when everything comes together! No wonder it’s the exact middle step! Sewing this project didn’t need any special precautions, just the usual ones: jersey or ball-point needle, serger to polish the seams, making sure not to stretch the fabric while sewing.
Polish – Here’s a shameless confession: the first outfits I ever sewed didn’t survive the first rounds on the washing machine. They frayed all over; the armholes got deformed, stitches got loose. I wasn’t paying much attention to the finishes. Understitching, what’s that? Stabilizing the stitches, what for? Using the twin needle, why? I have learned my lesson with practice: garment longevity depends on polishing these details.
Smile and pose! – You can pose in front of a tripod, and that’s fine! But instead, let me give you a tip: find yourself a talented, generous, and resourceful friend like my friend Jennifer! She not only offered her house to take the pictures, with her beautiful Christmas tree, decorations, and a fireplace on the TV. Jennifer sets up the mood, finds the right angles, and takes the best pictures! I will take this opportunity to thank other friends and family that have had the patience to take my photos this year: Carlos, Liana, and Sarina.
Edit pictures – There are a million apps to edit pictures, and I am not an expert in this! I make sure the lighting is natural, and that’s it!
Write – Ideas pop up in my head throughout the process. “Oh, this would be worth sharing!” So usually, by the time I finish a project, I know the angle I’ll give to my article, and it’s just a matter of sitting down and putting it together!
Share – Yay! If you are reading this, the process is complete! Thank you for reading!

Writing on this blog has taught me so much this year. When I applied to become a Fabricista, I knew I liked sewing, posing, and writing. Since then, I’ve realized I enjoy every step of the way! What about you? Any favorite steps? Would you add any steps?

INES | @bynunis

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following category, JERSEY KNITS.

Made By A Fabricista: Sheer Elegance and Everyday Comfort with my Two New Tops

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with my last Fabricista make for 2025. While many sew a special holiday outfit at year’s end, I went in another direction sewing two tops that couldn’t be more different. One is sheer and elegant while the other is easy comfort for everyday wear. These tops reflect how I dress at this stage of life. As an over-50 sewist, these two tops reflect how I dress at this point in my life. Sometimes I want something a bit special, other times more basic. Either way, sewing them in beautiful fabrics, custom fit to my body, makes all the difference in how I feel when I wear them. Even though I’m quite pleased with my two tops, my original plan was to sew a jacket with the tropical print stretch twill and pair it with a top sewn from the soutache mesh knit . Sadly, I wasn’t quick enough to get enough of the stretch twill to make a jacket, so a top it was! You do know you have to act fast when you see something you love on Fabric ...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing for a Florida Cold Snap with Fabric Mart Fabrics

Even here in Florida, we get the occasional cold weather surprise, and when temperatures dipped recently, I was very glad to have the perfect handmade outfit ready to go. For this month’s Fabricista make, I sewed up New Look pattern 6771, using two beautiful fabrics sent to me by Fabric Mart Fabrics. The Fabric & Pattern Choice New Look 6771 is a cozy two-piece set featuring a relaxed-fit top and pull-on pants—exactly the kind of pattern that works well for transitional weather. I chose to start with the top, using a brown animal print French terry from Fabric Mart, and it turned out to be an absolute dream to work with. The French terry was soft, substantial without being heavy, and handled beautifully at the machine . It had just the right amount of structure to highlight the pattern’s design details while still feeling comfortable and wearable. From cutting to pressing, this fabric behaved perfectly and elevated the final garment. The Top: A Total Win The top from New Look 677...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing the Coziest Pajama Set

For most of my life, I happily wore mismatched pajamas. Not caring what my pajamas looked like, just delighting in anything clean and comfortable. My sister also had the same mentality about pajamas until one day it all changed. She came over for a fun sister hangout weekend and pulled out a set of matching pajamas! I nearly dropped over with shock! Growing up, she was the queen of mismatched pajamas. She was notorious for wearing faded t-shirts and pajama shorts long after their life expectancy. But there she was in a set of sophisticated matching pajamas with white piping, raving about how wonderful they were. If the queen of mismatched pajamas could appreciate a fine pair of matching pajamas, everyone could. Shortly after that, I decided to give matching pajamas a try, and I became hooked as well. There is a peace and order that comes with having a matching pajama set. You always know which pajama top goes with which bottoms. You can reach for them quickly in the closet a...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog