Made By A Fabricista: Summer Stretch Knits & Performance Wear

Hello Gems! Although Summer hasn't officially started, I think the weather speaks for itself. My wardrobe is officially declaring Summer and embracing comfortable easy wear vibes. So of course, my closet wouldn't be complete without Summer stretch knit pieces.

For Fabric Mart's June Fabricista Feature I'm sharing two stretch knit looks that I can get into this Summer. From outdoor activities to Summer hot girl looks. I definitely have to have options.  

My first look is an Athleisure wear look! I used Fabric Mart activewear/performance fabric in  a yellow tie dye print to pull off this look. This was my first experience creating athletic wear and I love the way it turned out. I used a Simplicity Pattern 8392 for the top and bottom. I adjusted the top and added a thicker bottom band and side vents in the lining so that I can add bra cups to the inside for extra support.  

This fabric gives great stretch and recovery. I was most concerned with the translucency of the fabric after the garment was made. This can be a common issue with activewear fabrics when you're trying not to bare it all, but it definitely held up on the opaque test on its own.

A big part of athletic wear are the seam finishings and topstitching. I used a similar setting on my Bernina 590 to get a similar effect at the seams and the top stitching at the side pocket. This is a step you don't want to miss when creating athletic wear. It gives a more professional look and it also adds strength to your seams so your activewear lasts longer through all your activities. I also created a simple cropped mesh T shirt to pair as a cover up option for this look.

For my second look, I chose an ITY stretch knit in Leo print. This is a 4 way stretch fabric. Its very drapey and has great coverage. This type of fabric makes comfortable knit wear for anytime of the year. 

I used McCall's 8649 pattern for the skirt and constructed an easy wrap top to pair with it. I'm not a big fan of elastic waistbands but the way this knit skirt pattern is constructed, the elastic waistband is covered giving you a flat yoke and a smooth front band too. The skirt gives fluid movement and wearing ease which is always a plus. 

I used a basic cropped T shirt pattern by Simplicity 8301 to make my top. I sliced the front bodice down the middle and extended the sides measuring from the middle of the bust and across to the opposite side. I created ties to add to the ends and left an opening in one side seam to feed the ties through. 

Love the final touches on this look and the chic comfortable vibes it gives. I used Mettler elastic thread on both of my looks which helped me stitch this stretch knit with ease. 

Until Next Time

MARCIA  | @keechiibstyle 

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Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: ACTIVEWEAR & ITY KNITS.