Made By A Fabricista: Taking My Time

At the start of the new year I like to reflect on how I will go about my makes for the year. I noticed this year a lot of people created a Make Nine chart of the 9 main looks they want to make for the year. For me I had taken a hiatus from sewing towards the end of last year and was fighting to get my sewjo at the beginning of the year. Making this blog forced me to sit down in front of my machine and these pieces are the first full sewing projects to kick off my year.

Starting off I did not know exactly what it was I wanted to sew but I knew I loved working with denim so I got denim and sateen with the initial intent to make a full look with the pieces together. Once I received the fabric I realized the hand was a little bit different than what I expected and changed my plans.

The denim set I am absolutely in love with and was inspired by a look I saw online and decided to recreate. My favorite details are the zip removable pockets on the pants. For this look I used McCall’s M8155 for the jacket. I've used this pattern several times before making different variations. I made it with a layered vest on top of the jacket with faux pockets. It also closes by wrapping around instead of a regular front closure.

The pants are Simplicity S8177. I sewed the pattern as is for the most part as its only modifications were to add inseam pockets and add the details of the removable zip pockets. For that I used a separating zipper sewing one portion into the yoke of the pants and the other onto the pocket.

I love how these pieces can be styled together or separately with other items from my closet.

For my third item I used this cool gray cotton sateen. I had been debating on what to create with it. When it comes to sewing I like to let the fabric tell me what it wants to be before actually deciding on a style. My initial thought was a button down but I felt like I could do more with it. I sewed a Viki Sews Laima blouse. It’s a clean cut wrap top with bell shaped sleeves. I thought it would fit well into my closet.

During my downtime from sewing I learned to give myself grace and not feel guilty for not being as productive. I am now back to slow sewing and taking my time and not to feel rushed in order to post a make.

JASMINE | @sewmuchjazz

Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!

You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: COTTON, DENIM, & SATEEN.

Made By A Fabricista: Falling for Knits

We are now well into Fall, even though the temps are still relatively warm here in Texas. I love the fall season and dressing for Fall. When it comes to the conversation of knits vs. wovens I typically sew mostly wovens. So for this post I decided to sew completely knits! With the holiday season right around the corner I saw these three dress styles as perfect for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving gatherings. The first look is a tried and true pattern Simplicity S9372. Using this gorgeous burgundy ponte knit , I like how this pattern fits throughout. I chose this color to add to my typically neutral palette in my closet. I also wanted something I could wear to my sorority meetings and found this color perfect. It's an easy sew with back fisheye darts and invisible zipper to add to the tapered style. The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding giving it a clean finish on the inside. I used a universal needle to sew a...

Made By A Fabricista: Closing 2025 with a Lined Jacket

Hello again, sewing friends! It seems we have arrived yet again in the grandest season for layering, all this oncoming cold weather. I like ending the year with something warm and very useful. Seems based on my past Fabricista posts, I love to sew year-end outerwear, and this round is no different! I challenged myself with a new lined coat (wait, jacket? Coat? I feel like the presence of wool changes things?). Anyhoo, since the lovely Chalk & Notch Den Jacket has been in my queue, I proceeded ahead. I like the large pockets, the option to line or not, and the extra bodice and sleeve seams for topstitching. Sewing this coat is not at all difficult, but the many pieces and loads of topstitching will take a bit of time. My version took me a few multiple-hour sessions to complete. I sewed a size 2, which matches my measurements, and I made no alterations. Hint: for a quick size test, just employ the lining pieces. Gorgeous, muted blue as a soft wool flannel ? This is ...

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...

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