Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Cozy two piece lounge set with cotton jersey from Fabric Mart.

Image
By

There is something incredibly nostalgic about old school gym wear.  I love the relaxed fits and timeless appeal.   It takes me back to my high school gymnasium days.   When I stumbled upon this beautiful heather grey cotton jersey knit from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew exactly what I wanted to create:  a two piece lounge set that would be easy to wear and perfect for the cooler Florida weather we have been having.

The Fabric

The heather grey cotton lycra jersey knit was perfect.   It’s soft, lightweight, and has just the right amount of stretch.  The subtle marled texture of the fabric added depth and character, making it an ideal choice for recreating a vintage gym look.  The fabric is comfortable and warm enough for our recent cooler temps.   It washed and dried beautifully.  It’s breathable and easy to work with, a dream for any sewing project. 

The Pattern

I chose McCall’s 4261 Spa Essentials from 2003.   The pattern comes with several pieces making it a great addition to any pattern collection.   The jacket top was easy to put together, however I did not care for the unfinished pockets.  Next time I will finish the pocket edges as I did with the front zipper facings and the edging around the hood.   The pants are the quickest to put together.  It a one-piece pattern that comes together so quickly.  They are finished with an elastic waist lending to the ease and comfort of the set. 

The Sewing Process

Sewing with this cotton jersey knit was a breeze.  I pretty much sewed it on the serger.   I made buttonholes to run the ties and elastic through and used hem tape to keep the zipper facings and hood edge down.  That way I did not have to top stitch those areas.   Easy peasy! 

Final thoughts

There is something so satisfying about creating something with your own two hands.  This heather grey cotton jersey would make anything you create comfortable and unique.  It’s a great weight and quality so don’t hesitate to dive it.  

CARMEN  |  @carmensalome

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 27, 2024 at 10:09 AM

    What is hem tape?
    Thanks,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 27, 2024 at 12:13 PM

    Wow - one pattern piece for the pants?!? Your set looks great - so cute and comfortable, too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 27, 2024 at 5:06 PM

    Cute AND Comfy! Perfect combo Carmen. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 1, 2025 at 2:06 PM

    I love this. I also live in Florida. This is a good fabric for Florida’s cool winter weather days!!

    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.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Help Our Buyers Shop!

By
  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?
129 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing Vintage for Summer

By
Hello sewing friends!  I was highly motivated to try another one of the vintage Polynesian Pattern dresses I’ve collected during our hot weather. The patterns are all dramatic and fashionable and really apropos for summer styling. This one is number 204, the Pilialoha Dress.  The gown includes a wide boatneck that many of them feature, plus a very beautiful back gathering and wraparound closure. I always find that the special details on the back are such a chic surprise compared to the simple front.  I chose a lemon covered cotton lawn . I am really delighted with the quality of this cotton, it’s luxuriously soft and smooth. The scale of the lemons and blossoms are just right and not overwhelming, and the soft yellow background is beautiful. This could not be more charming and summery!  I also chose some excellent lightweight interfacing for my facings, and the real highlight is these Dritz Floral Sew-On Snaps that I’ve had my eye on for months! Finally, the perfect ...
4 comments
Continue Reading »

Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

By
There’s something especially motivating about refreshing your workout wardrobe with pieces that feel like you. As part of my ongoing athletic wear refresh, I’m adding another handmade set to my gym wardrobe—and this one might be the boldest yet. Lately, I’ve been taking a closer look at my handmade wardrobe and thinking more intentionally about what I actually wear in this season of my life. Athletic wear has become a big part of that. Instead of treating workout clothes as an afterthought, I want my gym wardrobe to have the same personality, color, and style as everything else I make. And this fabric made that very easy.  The Fabric That Started It All   The moment I saw this vibrant multicolored paisley, I was immediately drawn to it. The mix of warm reds, oranges, greens, turquoise, and golden yellow against the light background feels bold, energetic, and a little unexpected for athletic wear . There’s something about the print that reminds me of Etro and other higher-end f...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

A Yard And Change

By
Do you have a fabric that you love and has been hanging around but is too small to use? Maybe you found a wonderful fabric with a super cute print but there's only a yard left.  I've got a few projects I worked on all with roughly a yard of fabric. And I have a few tips for making that yard and change go further! Cutting Layout: You can get a lot more mileage out of a yard of fabric if you can get creative with how you lay out your fabric. Cutting things single layer will give you the most control. My favorite thing to do is unfold the fabric and fold the selvages in to meet in the middle. That gives me two folded edges to work with. I had to overlap these to get enough width for the tank top. Just make sure that your pattern pieces don't also overlap!  This one was especially fun for me because I really loved the print on this swimwear knit but am not yet up to sewing swimwear. But a nice flowy hiking tank is perfect for this! In the future I'd love to experiment with...
3 comments
Continue Reading »