Fabric Mart

Could a closet purge change the way someone approaches sewing?

For Fabricista Carmen, that's exactly what happened. After taking a hard look at what she actually wears—and what was missing from her wardrobe—she decided to become more intentional about the garments she makes.

Her latest project started with a beautiful oatmeal and black heathered shirting from Fabric Mart and became a lightweight New Look 6106 skirt designed to work with pieces already in her closet.

The fabric turned out to be an especially versatile neutral, shifting between oatmeal, grey and even olive depending on the light. Carmen also shares helpful details about working with the lightweight fabric, including why she serged the edges as she worked and why a low iron setting was important.

And then there was the invisible zipper. It took three attempts to get those seams lined up just right—but she decided it was worth reaching for the seam ripper one more time.

The result? A skirt that fills a real gap in her wardrobe and gives her plenty of options for future outfits.

Her project is about more than one skirt. It's about moving toward a handmade wardrobe where the pieces actually work together.

Has a closet clean-out ever changed what you wanted to sew next? 👇

Read Carmen's full Fabricista project to see the finished skirt, her fitting process, and what she learned along the way. Link in comments.

For sewists tackling curtains, quilts, costumes, or anything else that eats through yardage, Pennsylvania has a warehouse where scale is part of the appeal.

What makes a historical sewing project truly versatile? For Marty , it meant separating the bodice and skirt so she could mix and match pieces throughout her wardrobe.

As part of her ongoing Home Clothes Project, Marty made a fully b***d bodice and an A-line skirt using patterns from Modern Maker Vol. 2. She even faced the skirt with cotton flannel to give it extra weight and, most importantly, maximum swish. Because when it comes to early Renaissance clothing, the swish matters. 😉

The finished outfit has already become one of her favorite makes, and she’s already worn the skirt to an event. She also loves that the wool suiting helped her regulate her temperature during a warmer event.

But Marty isn’t quite finished tweaking the fit. Her next adjustment will require more eyelets. Any guesses what she has planned?

Watch Marty’s latest Fabric Mart YouTube video to see the finished outfit, learn more about the construction, and follow along with the next step of her historical wardrobe project. 🎥

Link in comments. 👇🏻

Have you ever fallen in love with a fabric and immediately envisioned exactly what you wanted to make, only to realize the fabric had other ideas?

That’s exactly what happened to Byrd .

When she first saw Fabric Mart’s black, dark cobalt, and smoky white foliage-print chiffon, she envisioned a detailed dress with princess seams, buttons, and more structured design elements. But after spending time with the fabric, she realized those details would compete with what made it so beautiful: the drape, movement, and flow.

So she changed direction.

Byrd chose New Look 6770, a simple cardigan-style pattern that allowed the chiffon to take center stage. She added about four inches to the hem to create the dramatic maxi-length cardigan she had in mind, and the result is a beautifully versatile piece that can be worn as a beach cover-up, over a dress, with denim shorts, or with jeans and trousers.

Chiffon does require some patience, and Byrd shares plenty of helpful tips for working with this slippery, fray-prone fabric. She used lots of pins, tweezers, a sharp needle, and French seams throughout for a clean, finished interior.

This project turned out to be a great reminder that sometimes the fabric knows what it wants to become. By letting go of her original plan and choosing a simpler silhouette, Byrd gave the fabric room to shine.

Have you ever changed an entire sewing project because the fabric told you it wanted something different?

Read Byrd’s full make on the Fabric Mart blog. ✂️
https://blog.fabricmartfabrics.com/2026/09/sometimes-fabric-chooses-pattern.html

🧵 Think back to your sewing journey… what’s one sewing memory you’ll never forget?

Maybe it was something you made for someone you love, a project that didn’t go quite as planned, or a moment that made you realize just how much you love to sew.

We’d love to hear the story. ❤️

Have you ever fallen in love with a ready-to-wear piece and thought, “I could make that”?

That’s exactly what Patricia thought when she spotted the Hill House Home Nap Dress. Rather than spending $200+, she decided to create her own version—and customize it to fit her perfectly.

Patricia found a gorgeous navy and white abstract cotton voile from Fabric Mart and used Just Lauren Johnson’s rectangle method to create the bodice and tiered skirt based on her own measurements and height. She then added sleeves inspired by the OJAYROOM Serenity dress, along with a sweet shoulder ruffle for that signature romantic look.

The nearly five-yard dress also gave her the perfect opportunity to share some helpful shirring tips, including how she winds her elastic bobbin, her preferred stitch length, and why lightweight fabrics are ideal for shirring.

The finished dress is lightweight, comfortable, floaty, and completely one-of-a-kind—and she’s already thinking about making another!

What ready-to-wear piece would you love to recreate with fabric?

Read Patricia’s full Fabricista make on the blog. ✂️
https://blog.fabricmartfabrics.com/2026/09/hillhouse-nap-dress-dupe-with-fabric.html