Made By A Fabricista: Athleisure Set for the Win!

It’s officially holiday travel season and a good travel outfit is a must! I usually wear the same green sweatsuit that I purchased a few years ago. The last time I travelled, I knew that it was time for a new travel outfit. Meet the Cropped Sweater and Pintuck Sweatpants from Sew It Academy.

I’ve had this outfit on my list of things to make for a few years now. The Cropped Sweater and Pintuck Sweatpants are a class in the Sew It Academy. Sew It Academy is Mimi G’s online sewing school and each month there is a new pattern and sew along to go with it. Mimi is now offering Sew It Academy patterns for purchase without being a Sew It Academy student and this is one of them.

For the Cropped Sweater, I added 3 inches to the hem because I didn’t really want it to be cropped. I made a size 20 and graded out to a size 24 at the waist. I really enjoyed sewing this sweater up. I decided to use the instructions included with the pattern instead of watching the sew along and they were very clear and precise. My favorite part was how the instructions begin with sewing up the neckband, waistband and cuffs all at the same time. Sewing pattern pieces together that are sewn up the same way is such a time saver. The rest of the sweater sewed up very quickly.

The sweater requires top stitching around the neck and the waistband. I couldn’t find my twin needle, so I used the next best thing I could find – my edge stich foot. Have you ever used one? You will get perfect topstitching every single time. I also used it for the pintuck in the pants.

For the sweatpants, I sewed up a size 22. The modifications made were, I lowered the crotch rise by 1 inch, removed 6 inches from the hem and I did not hem the bottom of the pants since they wouldn’t fray. I am obsessed with my pants. I will definitely be making more of these so I can have a few travel outfits.

Since I already knew what pattern I was going to make, I set out to look for a sweatshirt fabric and found this Cloud Gray Heathered Sweatshirt Fleece. This fabric is the perfect sweatshirt fabric and I’m hoping I can find more. It washed very well and has a great weight to it. I also like the fact that it’s not super stretchy. If you get the opportunity to get your hands on any of this fabric, get it.

I hope you love my Cropped Sweater and Pintuck Sweatpants as much as I do. I’m going to be styling at the airport. I hope you all have a happy holiday season, and I’ll be back in 2026.

Until next time,

JOHANNA | @soveryjo

Made By A Fabricista: A Wooly Wearable Blanket.

Twirling in a me-made outfit! I live in a small town where the nearest fabric shop is a road trip away, so I almost exclusively shop for fabric online. Having access to an online shop like Fabric Mart with a solid search engine is incredibly helpful. But by far my favorite aspect of Fabric Mart is what I call the “Drape Picture” included in each listing! This picture gives me all the information I need and I find it more helpful than the exact weight per yard/square meter. Seeing how the fabric falls close or away from the body gives me a clear idea of how it will behave and inspires me to make it into something that will highlight the fabric’s nature. When I saw the drape of this “Baked Plum” wool suiting , I immediately wanted to immortalize those beautiful folds into a skirt! I opted for a simple self-drafted pleated skirt with a deep hem. I wear my dresses year-round and rely on wool skirts that I layer under or over my dresses for warmth. I cut two panels for the front ...

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: Simplicity 8847

Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! Is it too early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day? Because this fabric is giving all the heart vibes. With rich red hearts scattered across a dark base, it feels festive without being over-the-top—and completely wearable well beyond February. This time around, the fabric completely stole the show. I used a Dark Navy/Crimson/White Polyester/Lycra Hearts Print Brushed Sweater Knit by a NY Designer , and it was love at first sight. Even though it’s labeled navy, in person it reads more like a deep black base with these beautiful red hearts throughout. When you zoom in, you’ll also spot the designer’s name and a tiny smiley face woven into the print - such a fun, unexpected detail. This fabric immediately spoke my name when I saw it online, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Before sewing, let’s talk fabric care and prep - because it matters. This sweater knit is wash and dry friendly, which makes it practical for e...

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