Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Shades Of Brown

Are you stuck in a color rut? I know I am! I am such a creature of habit when it comes to the colors of my clothing. After walking into my closet recently, I observed that I didn't have a single brown-colored item. I don't have anything against brown; in fact, I like brown and have multiple pairs of brown shoes, so why the lack of brown clothing? I think my problem is that I like pink, blue, and black fabrics so much that they tend to dominate my closet. 

With fall in the air, I set out to add some shades of brown to my color palette. When I popped over to check the Fabric Mart website, I was in luck! It was fully stocked with beautiful apparel fabrics in brown. I ended up purchasing two yards of an umber brown floral thermal knit, two yards of dusty brown mesh knit, and two yards of brown faux leather knit fabric all for $53. I’m constantly amazed at just how much fabric you can get for your money at Fabric Mart! 

When my new fabric arrived, I set out to make two tops and a skirt. For the first top, I used the Ellie & Mac Be Captivating Top and Dress pattern. I envisioned the top in the umber brown floral thermal knit fabric. The sewing pattern features a lovely faux wrap neckline, making it breastfeeding-friendly. This was the first time I had ever made this pattern and it was extremely easy to make. I was impressed with the front bodice instructions and that I didn't have to finish the wrap neckline with bands. The top came together quickly and I didn't need to make any adjustments to the fit of the pattern. You'll see that I paired my finished top with jeans and loafers.

For my second top, I used the Seamwork Farah Wrap Top pattern. This pattern gives off ballet top vibes, which would match nicely with the floral stretch mesh fabric. Naturally, I wanted to wear this top with a flowy skirt to complete the ballet-inspired streetwear vision I had for the look. 


I used the faux leather knit fabric to make a Seamwork Wallis Skirt. This is the second time that I've made this skort pattern, but I loved my first skort so much, I thought "Why not make another!" The drape of the stretch leather worked well for the pattern. I used a nude stretch athletic fabric from my stash of previous Fabric Mart purchases for the shorts under the skirt. 


In my photos, you'll see that I wore my Farah top and Wallis skort with knee-high boots. It would also look cute with ballet flats to further bring home my ballet inspiration. 

I had fun making these new pieces and adding shades of brown to my handmade wardrobe! I’m definitely not out of my color rut yet, but at least these three new pieces are a start! If you’ve also found yourself stuck sewing and wearing the same few colors lately, Fabric Mart is the best place to branch out and try new colors. You won’t regret it! Happy Sewing! 

SHAINA   @shaina_sews 


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!

You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: KNITS.

Comments

  1. I've had my eye on this brown floral fabric for sometime. I think I just needed to see it made into a blouse. This will definitely be on my order list!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice outfit !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful tops - and look great on you!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I enjoyed the breast feeding tip :-). While that phase of my life is long gone, I still remember how hard it was to dress nicely and have breast feeding access. I also apreciated that the top had a higher wrap. Normal front wrap patterns are too low for my bras to stay hidden.

    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: Turning the Page

We had a lovely, warm September in central New Jersey but as of last week, fall has finally started to set in. While I’m no longer operating on a school calendar, I always look forward to the return of fall, the crisp air, the colorful leaves, and the opportunity to “turn over a new leaf.” While exploring the Fabric Mart website, browsing all their gorgeous cottons, I was incredibly inspired by the Eggshell/Black 100% Cotton Horizontal Stripe Weave Lawn . It looks exactly like a lined piece of paper. I thought it would make a fun top for work during this transitional season, one that sparks “blank page” creativity. I wanted to pair the top with a simple yet classic pair of pants, allowing each piece to be a quality addition to my work and loungewear wardrobe, working together and as separates. I picked up the beautiful Midnight Navy/White 100% Tencel Chambray , which has a fun denim-look while being quite soft and flowy. When designing the top, I wanted to play with the stripes. I chos...

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...

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...