Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: The Perfect Poplin Summer Looks

It's no secret that I love a cool crisp poplin fabric during the summer and for this month's Fabricista make I found two great cotton poplin solids from fabric mart to create with.

The summer is closing in but in North Carolina this is one of the hottest months of the Summer so I couldn't resist making a couple fun Summer pieces to carry me through the heat.

I recently created Simplicity 9544 dress and loved the style so much that I decided to make it into a short jumpsuit with Earth Brown Cotton/Lycra Stretch Poplin from Fabric Mart. I used the dress version and the pants version of Simplicity pattern 9544 to draft the shorts with enough flare and room to accommodate the look I was going for. 


I love the way this fabric creates an effortlessly put together casual style all in one jumpsuit. The fabric is more of a medium weight fabric with a slight sheen to it. It creates deep full folds and holds its shape very well. It makes a bold puffy sleeve, which other than the pockets on the bodice, is one of my favorite features to this piece. I usually reach for bright bold prints but this chocolate brown is so yummy and rich it pairs great with neutrals and bright pops of color.

This piece can be styled up or down depending on your accessories, taking it from outside stroll in the park to a more elevated look for dinner and drinks with your girls. I styled this look with a pair of my stacked platform caged sandals and a leopard print bag. 

My second look I went with a Cardinal Red Cotton/Lycra Stretch Poplin Shirting from Fabric Mart. This color comes off more as a strawberry red to me and I love it for Summer.  I knew right away I wanted to create something with ruffles. I used Simplicity shirt pattern 9546 to create this mini dress. I loved the pintuck detail that this top was giving and thought it would make a great flirty mini with a flouncy sleeve and ruffled collar. 

Poplin holds such a crisp fold, which made the pintuck process even more appealing and suited with this fabric.   I didn't make many changes to the pattern to achieve my final look, however I do like to add a bit of drama to my looks so about 1.5 inches was added to the height of the collar ruffle. 

Poplin has a crisp hand and holds shape well while also being light in weight. This helps give the ruffles and flounce structure and still maintains the cool elements that are appealing for Summer looks. 

This dress looks cute and flirty alone but can be paired with shorts and even over jeans for a more modest look. I paired it with my most recently made shorts and a pair of stacked platform sandals. Even added my own handcrafted handbag!

Until Next Time,

MARCIA  @keechiibstyle 


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: POPLIN, SHIRTING, & SATEEN.

Comments

  1. Wow! You are a super model and super seamstress! I love the chocolate brown on you, and of course, the strawberry ruffles. Thanks for the fabulous inspo!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Strawberry pink for the win! Simply fabulous.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: The Sheer Volume Of It All!

This garment was inspired by a dress I saw in an ad, and when I went to purchase it (which I rarely do)…I realized that the dress didn’t come in my size. Ticked off and with $300 back in my pocket, I decided to draft it myself. The description listed the fabrication as a silk cotton voile, so I used that as a starting point to recreate the simple yet elegant silhouette.  My drafting experience is limited; I’ve only ever made garments that are pleated rectangles that fit into an elasticated waist. No darts, no complicated calculations, and definitely no sleeves. But I’d have that dress if it’s the last thing I do! I made a drawing, created a Pinterest board to document my inspiration, and narrowed down the features I really wanted to have: billowy bubble-hemmed bishop sleeves (say it three times fast!), a fitted and lined bodice, and a gathered tiered skirt. Finally, it was time to shop for fabric. I knew I wanted a silk blend of some kind, without breaking the bank. For weeks, I ke...

Made By A Fabricista: In Love with Linen

Linen is the best fabric to sew and wear. I selected a beautiful 100% linen from Fabric Mart that is a steel blue and cream floral linen to sew up a By Hand London Hannah Wrap Dress pattern. The flowers look like Dahlias. I originally sewed a Toile from a black and white cotton bedsheet, wore the dress a lot but never made it again. I gave the Toile away to a friend who always commented on how much she loved the dress. When I saw this fabric, I knew I wanted to make the Hannah again. Linen is so easy to sew the entire experience reminded me why linen remains one of my favorite fabrics to sew. I look for a light to medium weight  European linen for a dress. I like a rayon or cotton blend with linen because it seems to have more drape and be more soft. Linen gets softer with washing and wearing it. This particular linen feels crisp and after ironing and washing, softens up. I like how Fabric Mart describes the fabrics as top, dress, blouse, shirt weight under “Use” and will describe...

Made By A Fabricista: Blouse with a Unique Neckline? McCall’s 8658 Is It!

 Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! If you’re looking for a polished, structured blouse that works just as well dressed up as it does dressed down, this one is definitely worth a look. I’m sewing up McCall’s 8658, View B, part of the Spring 2026 pattern collection, and I paired it with Fabric Mart’s charcoal cotton poplin by Robert Kaufman. I was initially drawn to this pattern because of its unique neckline and tailored feel, and I knew right away that a crisp poplin would give me the structure I wanted. This blouse is semi-fitted and full of thoughtful design details that really elevate it. The neckline is a standout, featuring a collar and collar band paired with a front button closure. I especially love the shape of the front hem and the way it opens slightly - it adds movement without being overdone. The back is where a lot of the shaping happens, with double-ended darts that give a beautiful, contoured fit. The sleeves are gathered at the sleeve head a...