Showing posts with label Fabric Fairy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fabric Fairy. Show all posts
Maroon Cotton Lycra Westminster

Maroon Cotton Lycra Westminster

October 06, 2022




I've had the Styla Westminster on my to-make list since it came out, and I can't believe I waited this long to make it! I love that this single piece can elevate my whole outfit. It has truly become a staple in my fall wardrobe.

I used maroon cotton lycra jersey knit from The Fabric Fairy in my perfect shade. This fabric is gorgeous and has stood the test of time and multiple washings. I think I need shirts in every color.

To create a square neckline the Westminster is self-lined, creating a shapewear effect. I made the long sleeve view with an elastic channel and love the visual interest these sleeves offer. One critique I have of this pattern is that the inner sleeve seams are longer than the elasticated outer seams and I find myself pulling up the inner sleeve seams throughout the day as I wear the top. If I were to make this top again I would size up one size, make the scoop neck version and use a single layer of fabric on the body finishing the neckline with a band. I would also make the shorter sleeve version and potentially add elastic to the inner seam as well as the outer seam.



This stylish new Westminster was the perfect addition to my fall wardrobe. I can wear it casually with a pair of jeans or dressed up with a plaid skirt. The sleeves add visual interest without adding too much bulk allowing me to layer over this top well. I'm getting a lot of wear out of it!

My goal for the next year is to make garments using a pattern and/or fabric from my stash. I had the Westminster pattern printing and waiting to be made and was able to use a fabric featured in my calm summer palette. This make is fitting all the bills.

Pattern: Styla Westminster
Size: 4 
Fabric: The Fabric Fairy maroon cotton lycra jersey knit, 2 yards
Time: 4-5 hours

Cost to Make:
pattern - $11 value (gifted to me)
fabric - $20 value, plus $9 shipping (gifted to me)
*elastic and thread from stash
TOTAL VALUE: $40 value

The Fabric Fairy fabric and Styla Westminster pattern were both gifted to me. I'm genuinely loving this top and am sharing my honest opinions in the post above.
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Marissa
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Stanton Hoodie 1/4 Zip

Stanton Hoodie 1/4 Zip

September 14, 2022

 



It's September, I'm officially moved, and the weather in Michigan is cooling off at night. That means its time to start sewing snuggly things!

I recently had the pleasure of joining Cashmerette in sewing up the 1/4 Zip option for their Stanton Hoodie expansion pack, this month's Cashmerette Club pattern. The 1/4 Zip was a quick and rewarding sew and my new sweater is perfect for this transitional weather. I really appreciate how detailed Cashmerette pattern instructions are, even down to the pattern piece numbering (sew piece one to piece two, then piece three...). The instructions even include a suggested stitch length for each step. Plus all my seams matched up perfectly. Slow clap for this pattern.

To make a coordinating set I used the True Bias Hudson Pants for a pair of jogger shorts. I widened both the front and back pieces by 1/4" at the base of each side seam to give more ease around my thigh. I also elongated the outer seam by 1/4", but wouldn't do that again. There was just barely enough fabric for these shorts, but I'm so glad I was able to make it work!

To complete the outfit I made a StayStitch Pattern Lola Tank in white cotton interlock. It was quick, easy, and so stylish - a perfect naptime sew!

Packing up everything in my last sewing room, fabric and patterns and notions, forced me to take a long hard look at everything in my stash. For a while now I've been purchasing fabric and patterns more quickly than I could sew the garments I've been dreaming of. But I really want to make those garments, that's why I've purchased all the supplies! So over the course of the next year I plan to only make garments with a fabric and/or pattern I already own. I want to focus on using the items in my stash that I love. 

For this outfit I already owned the Stanton Hoodie pattern and was gifted the expansion pack. I already owned the Hudson Pants patterns and have made them several times this year. And I won the Lola Tank pattern in an Instagram giveaway! My main fabric, the French Terry, was gifted to me from the Fabric Fairy and I already owned the pocket lining fabric. I only needed to purchase the ribbing from Minerva. I was also gifted the white cotton from Fabric Fairy. This set is a perfect match for my "calm summer" color palette and I feel great wearing it.

Patterns: Stanton Hoodie and 1/4 Zip Expansion Pack, Hudson Pants, Lola Tank
Size: 4 in the Stanton, 4 in the Hudson, 
Fabric: 1 1/2 yards Candy Pink Cotton Lycra French Terry knit from Fabric Fairy, 1 meter Minerva Core Range Tubular Rib Stretch Knit in Bright Pink, 2 yards Light Pink 3/8 Cotton Hoodie Drawstring Flat Tape, remnants for jersey knit from my stash; 1 1/2 yards Bright White Cotton Interlock from Fabric Fairy
Time: 4 hours for Stanton Hoodie, 3 hours for Hudson Shorts, and 1 hour for Lola Tank

Cost to Make:
patterns - Join Cashmerette Club for as little as $9, this month, and get the Stanton Hoodie plus expansion pack, $18.50 Hudson Pants pattern (which I used multiple times), $16 Lola Tank pattern
fabric - $17 French Terry, $1.50 Flat Tape, $15 Cotton Interlock (plus $9 shipping) from Fabric Fairy; $13 Tubular Rib (plus $5.50 shipping)
*interfacing, pocket lining, thread, and zipper from my stash
TOTAL VALUE: $104.50

The Fabric Fairy fabric. Cashmerette Club pattern, and Lola Tank pattern were gifted to me for these makes. And I sure an thankful, because I've been wearing this set weekly! All opinions are my own.
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Marissa
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Summer White Tennis Set

Summer White Tennis Set

July 19, 2022

 


This year I've been subscribing to The Everyday Style School's seasonal capsule wardrobes and, paired with sewing exclusively in "my colors," I've been loving my makes! One trend I've been noticing this season is white tennis dresses/outfits and pairing the GreenStyle Creations Aria Twist Top and Rally Skirt, in my true white, was my answer to this trend. For fabric I used two yards of The Fabric Fairy's Carbon White Bi-Layer Poly Lycra Tricot.


I'm not much of a tennis player, but I'm looking forward to the ability to mix and match these pieces, most likely wearing the top for yoga and the skirt to play golf. Due to the bi-layer nature of the fabric this tricot is highly wicking while still being structured and opaque, making me confident in my choice to use white. I appreciate that the skirt comes with both briefs and shorts options. I know I'll enjoy the addition of the pockets offered in the shorts view!


I made size "E" for both patterns, using the shorter top with the racer back and the 3/4 circle skirt in the shortest length. I think I'll get the most wear out of the skirt and would be more likely to make that pattern again in the future. If I were to make the top again I would size down to a "D" and would try to add a shelf bra or cups.

The second adjustment I would make if I were making this set again would be to use a zigzag stitch at the top of the skirt waistband. I made the mistake of using a triple straight stitch at top of waistband and, while it does stretch, I have a difficult time getting the skirt on and off. I've made this same mistake with leggings in the past - when will I learn?!

Both patterns were quick and easy to make and the fabric was a breeze to work with. By the end of the first night wearing the set I had avocado on both pieces (thanks Baby A!) but I'm happy to report they laundered well and I have a perfectly white set again. I love this addition to my summer capsule.


Patterns: GreenStyle Creations Aria Twist Top and Rally Skirt
Size: E, both patterns
Time: Both garments were quick sews and I would estimate I spent about 5 hours on them both including printing and taping the pattern and cutting everything out

Cost to Make:
patterns - $15.50 (purchased on sale) plus printing costs
fabric - $25 plus shipping (value)
*thread from my stash
TOTAL VALUE: $40.50+

I recently joined The Fabric Fairy's promotional team and was gifted this fabric. But rest assured I love it and would purchase it again on my own!
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Marissa
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Golf Outfit - Pacific Pullover

Golf Outfit - Pacific Pullover

July 05, 2020

Once I had the perfect golf skirt I needed an athletic, collared top to pair it with. And the GreenStyle Creations Pacific Pullover fit the bill perfectly. Thankfully, like the Pace Skirt, this pattern was also linked to fabric recommendations by The Fabric Fairy and I purchased both.

Since this was a .pdf pattern I had the copy shop file printed online and shipped to me. When I have enough lead time I much prefer this to printing patterns at home which, in my opinion, are less accurate to the original shape due to taping together many small sheets of paper. I prefer to block cut my patterns, pin them together at what would be the seam lines for my size, and fit the pattern to my body instead of making a toile. The problem to using this method with .pdf patterns printed on paper is that paper isn't nearly as flexible as tissue or fabric and it's difficult to get a good idea of fit.


My measurements ranged across the three smallest sizes and, with a rough pattern fitting, I decided to cut the pattern using a straight size small. I should have gone the extra mile here and done a pin fitting of my fabric pieces, instead of plowing ahead with sewing. Wrong decision! I quickly realized the top was going to be much too boxy for the fitted athletic look I was going for. I tried to make it work with a few small adjustments but ultimately needed to rip out what I had done and start fresh.

After ripping out all the seams, grading the pieces from a small in the hips to an extra extra small in the waist and an extra small in the bust, and reassembling the top I was much happier with the fit. As I sewed I tried to add extra finishing touches like grading seams, understitching, using stay tape in the shoulder seams and hem tape in the hem.



This pattern is drafted for someone 5'7" and I am 5'1" so I immediately removed 4" from the shorten line in the middle of the pattern pieces. This was far too much and I would only remove 2" in the future. Thankfully I plan to tuck this top into my Pace Skirt so it will still work for what I have in mind.

This was my first time sewing with supplex lycra and I'm glad it was so forgiving after all my seam ripping! It is said to be wicking, but with its microsueded back it was also a bit difficult to topstitch.



Ultimately I am really happy with this top and now that I have the fit issues figured out I can certainly see myself making a few additional versions of this top. When I do make it again I might try a more traditional finish to the collar piece as I don't find the twill tape the pattern called for forgiving enough.


Pattern: GreenStyle Creations Pacific Pullover
Size: XXS-Small
Fabric used: Beyond Tango Red Supplex Lycra Jersey Knit, 90% Hi-Wick Microfiber Supplex Nylon/10% Lycra
Time estimate: 8 hours (from the second start!)

Cost to make:
pattern - $10
pattern printing - $7.50
fabric - $14.50
thread and zipper - from my stash
TOTAL: $32
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Marissa
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[name=Marissa] [img=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgft-3vDDqLpq4lxEo2Wx4YkE4-TQNU7SAldhEeqsnJ5NGKN48OSU2c-E6TmDZGf5IPiR6oTsNR332bRJ3dZZcIO7bkMkNpuXcp1K9AtFQ5rlu0kfvBzzjk-gyIKt6lGyYAM1HQ5b-z1Xg/s355/NielsenFamily19Final-11+%25282%2529.jpg] [description=Hi, I'm Marissa, a hobby seamstress. Thanks for joining me on my journey as I create a handmade wardrobe. Like and follow via the social media links below to see my newest makes!] [(instagram=https://www.instagram.com/sew_help_me)] [(facebook=https://www.facebook.com/SewHelpMebyMarissa)] [(bloglovin=https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/sew-help-me-19274771)]