Made By A Fabricista: The Perfect Birthday Dress

Made By A Fabricista: The Perfect Birthday Dress - Simplicity 9777

Hello friends,

I’m Byrd, and today I’m excited to share my latest Fabricista project with you. I knew I wanted something extra special—a dress that would not only celebrate my birthday but also hold a deeper meaning. I found the perfect fabric in Fabric Mart’s Bordeaux Polyester Wool Gaberdine Suiting, and it didn’t disappoint.

The Fabric: A Perfect Blend of Beauty and Function

This fabric is a gorgeous wool blend in a rich Bordeaux color that exudes elegance. It’s medium weight, making it substantial enough for structure but with just the right amount of drape for movement. It’s one of those fabrics that feels luxurious and versatile—perfect for a statement-making dress.

The Pattern: Simplicity 9777

After debating between a few patterns, I settled on Simplicity 9777, an easy-to-sew, one-shoulder dress with plenty of options. This pattern allows you to choose between mini or maxi lengths, different sleeve styles, and even includes side pockets (who doesn’t love pockets?).

For my dress, I went all out with the drama:

• Maxi length

• Statement sleeve

• Double slits for added flair and movement

The Story Behind the Design

I chose an off-shoulder style for a deeply personal reason: to honor my little sister, who passed away a few months ago. I recently got a tattoo in her memory, and this dress gave me the perfect opportunity to showcase it. In a way, bringing her with me to the celebration made the day even more meaningful.

Sewing Details and Fit

My measurements are Bust 44”, Waist 39”, and Hips 45”, so I cut a size 22 for the bust and a size 24 for the hips. I only had to make a few tweaks to ensure the top laid nicely—it’s always worth taking a little extra time to fine-tune fit, especially with a dress this special.

The gaberdine fabric paired beautifully with this pattern. Its weight and drape gave the dress an elevated feel, while the Bordeaux color made it the star of the show.

This birthday dress was everything I hoped for: dramatic, elegant, and meaningful. It reminded me why I love sewing—it’s not just about creating something to wear; it’s about telling a story and celebrating life through fabric and design.

Are you ready to create something special for your next big event? Check out Fabric Mart’s selection for fabrics that inspire, and don’t hesitate to try out Simplicity 9777 for your next sewing project. Whether you’re sewing for a birthday, a wedding, or just because—you can bring your vision to life!

Let me know in the comments what you think of this look, and don’t forget to share your own sewing stories.

Thank you Fabric Mart for the beautiful fabric!

You can find me on all social media platforms:

YouTube

Instagram

Thank you for reading!

Until next time, happy sewing,

BYRD | @yogabyrdsews

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 ...

Made By A Fabricista: Sewing for a Florida Cold Snap with Fabric Mart Fabrics

Even here in Florida, we get the occasional cold weather surprise, and when temperatures dipped recently, I was very glad to have the perfect handmade outfit ready to go. For this month’s Fabricista make, I sewed up New Look pattern 6771, using two beautiful fabrics sent to me by Fabric Mart Fabrics. The Fabric & Pattern Choice New Look 6771 is a cozy two-piece set featuring a relaxed-fit top and pull-on pants—exactly the kind of pattern that works well for transitional weather. I chose to start with the top, using a brown animal print French terry from Fabric Mart, and it turned out to be an absolute dream to work with. The French terry was soft, substantial without being heavy, and handled beautifully at the machine . It had just the right amount of structure to highlight the pattern’s design details while still feeling comfortable and wearable. From cutting to pressing, this fabric behaved perfectly and elevated the final garment. The Top: A Total Win The top from New Look 677...

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 ...

Fabric Mart Fabricistas

Search This Blog