Made By A Fabricista: End of Summer

Summer is nearing to an end but here where I am in Texas the heat isn’t letting up any time soon! I still have plenty of time to get a few more summer looks out of the way. In this blog I will be sharing two separate projects.

The first project is this denim set; I had the inspiration saved on my list of makes to make. For this project I got this gorgeous denim and matching thread to start my project. Yes, Fabric Mart will match the thread to your fabric perfectly and with my favorite thread brand Gutermann.

The denim had a very great weight and wasn’t too stiff. It was very starchy when it arrived, so I did a prewash before working with it. I’m so glad I did because it had a lot of dye saturated in which would not have been great for the skin and other clothes.

For the first part of the set, I drafted a corset with the scallop edge cups, such a cute detail! To start I used my bodice sloper to make the corset, I was not worried about the design details and focused more on getting a good fit. I was able to get muslin from Fabric Mart to make samples to test out the fit. I also recommend getting a muslin that has the weight like your fashion for more accuracy. With perfecting the fit, I ended up making 3 toiles in total before I finalized the draft of my top.

Once that fit the way I liked I went back to create the stylized cups in the pattern. I also loved that the cups feature a dart instead of seams, one of the details that really interested me. I love the fact that I can see something that I like in store or online and make that very same thing for myself. Sometimes it’s not about trying to save the cost but more for the thrill and exploration. This turned out to be the cutest top ever!

I finished the set by making matching shorts with a scalloped edge hem. To do this I used a jean pants pattern and manipulated the design. I made the fit a little wider and I added a pleat in the front of the shorts. The finishing touch was adding the scalloped edge at the hem.

This is such a cute and comfortable set! I am very much a fan of complete denim looks.

Since the temps are still hot here in Texas for my second look I decided to create some swim for myself using the swimwear knits from Fabric Mart. They actually had a pretty good selection of spandex and it was hard to narrow down a color. Ultimately I ended up going with Black and a Deep orange color with the intent to color block.

I first made a bikini top using Sirena Patterns, I used the black for my outer shell and the orange as my lining. I also added these anglets the strings ends. A little tip for when I try to get the end inside a bead or anglet, I like to tape the ends enough to make a point then I slip them through!

For the bottoms I used McCall’s 8329 View C, this time I used the orange for the outer shell and the black as part of the lining. When installing the elastic I personally like to use my overlocker to help get those clean finished edges before I go back over with a zig zag stitch.

Now I’m taking in the sun with my new pieces.

JASMINE | @sewmuchjazz

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!

You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: MUSLIN, DENIM, & SWIMWEAR.

Made By A Fabricista: Closing 2025 with a Lined Jacket

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Made By A Fabricista: Chalk and Notch Wren Dress: My Buffet dress for the Christmas season!

I recently sewed the Chalk and Notch Wren dress using a beautifully soft black voile from Fabric Mart, and it turned into such a satisfying, enjoyable project. The pattern itself is very easy to understand and straightforward with clear instructions, intuitive construction, and a relaxed fit that makes the sewing process easy. A buffet dress in the sewing community is a dress that is loose fitting, so you can eat at the buffet without your dress being uncomfortable afterwards, lol! Because the voile I chose is extremely thin and transparent, I opted to line the bodice and first tier. Adding a lining not only provided modesty but also gave the delicate fabric a bit more stability, especially around the neckline and button placket. A helpful tip when sewing a lining into a lightweight bodice is to treat the lining and the main fabric as one. I sewed the bodice as you would for a lined bodice, and the first tier I sewed the pieces together with a basting stitch to make the process...

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 ...

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