I think teenage Sarah would be so impressed with adult Sarah's wardrobe choices for fall/winter 2018. I have been sharing on Instagram and my personal blog that I am working on a fall collection that is modern silhouettes with a 90s grunge flair. I named it the Smells Like Fall Spirit Collection (thanks Nirvana for the name inspiration). This vest is the second completed piece of the collection. The pattern I ...
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It seems like just yesterday a certain-legging-company burst onto the scene, tempting us to abandon real pants, and introducing us to the super soft world of double brushed poly. And while I'm a HUGE fan of cozy fabrics (like this one!!) - I do not subscribe to the "leggings are pants" philosophy. So my challenge for me became "How can I wear head-to-toe-knit without looking like I'm wearing pajamas?" Here's what I came ...
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Well, I finnnnaaaallllyyy got my hands on some Double Brushed Poly. Watch my video to see more about what I made, my experience in working with the fabric, and my suggestions for other patterns that would be perfect for this fabric! https://youtu.be/ahk2ykxAiNg
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Are you ready for some fun? With this top, I know I am. This print is so playful that it is hard not to be happy when wearing it. The fabric is a Floral and Polka Dot Double Brushed Poly. There isn't much left, so grab some before it is gone. For this top, I used one of my favorite TNT patterns, the Dixie DIY - Summer Concert Tee. This pattern ...
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I've been gravitating towards all the beautiful woven fabrics in the Cali Fabrics shop lately, but I just couldn't resist a comfy knit jumpsuit for this project. I used some of the lovely brushed modal jersey knit for this jumpsuit. It has a beautiful drape and weight and completely opaque -- definitely a plus! This jumpsuit is a piece that percolated in my head for quite a while before I finally got ...
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You know, a year ago I hadn't even heard of double brushed poly... but now I'm a convert! It's a polyester knit (not unlike ITY in weight) that has been combed on each side to give it a soft, micro-fleece-esque texture. Like all polyester fabrics, it comes in an huge variety of colours and and prints, and Cali Fabrics carries a great supply, including dots, florals, solids and the cutest ...
Read MoreJumpsuits are all the rage, both in the stores and in the pattern books. I’ve been inspired by all the different versions out there (I love this one from Made By Laquana) but I have to admit, I’ve been reluctant to make one since I really don't want to deal with the "operational issues" that come with wearing a jumpsuit. The best part of sewing, however, is we have the ...
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You know that drawer you have in the kitchen with all the random stuff in it? Rubber bands, pens, stamps, coupons, playing cards ... ours also has a plastic baby from a King cake and a ball that looks like a bloodshot eye. Well this post is the kitchen drawer of the Cali blog today, a random assortment of goodies connected by nothing but the fact I made them recently ...
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Soooo...I did a thing. I broke the rules. I took a pattern that called for wovens and made it out of a knit instead. Cue the chiding and scoffing now. But you know what? My rulebreaking worked! Can you guess which pattern this is? It's the Zadie Jumpsuit from Paper Theory! It's official, I jumped on board the Zadie train and let me tell you that the view is nice on here. ...
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Ah, pregnancy. It's that magical time in a woman's life where everything is uncomfortable and nothing fits. But in truth there's a lot to be excited about and thankful for - including spandex! Califabric's double brushed knits are truly a gift from the fabric gods and not just for those who are expecting. They are incredibly stretchy, so buttery soft, plus there are tons colors and prints to choose from. I ...
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Friends, I have a game changer to share today! I have leveled up my summer sleepwear and I am here to share how you can do it too! Flannel pajama pants and random non-matching t-shirt have been my sleepwear staples for long as I can remember. Don't mistake me, I love my crazy print flannel pj pants in the fall and winter but it has never been my thing during ...
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The modal jersey stripe fabric excels above all other stripe fabric, or so you might think if you saw my family! But it's true that this fabric is one of the best quality fabrics we've ever found, sewn with, and worn. Let me show you how I used this fabric for the whole family! For myself, I sewed a t-shirt using the navy on off-white horizontal pencil stripe stretch modal jersey. ...
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Guess what?... I'm pregnant! And you know what that means: tons of adorable maternity outfits... if only. Actually it turns out that growing a little person is actually pretty uncomfortable, so some new stretchy shorts were a must! Because I'm staying active and the majority of my pregnancy will be during the hot and humid Texas summer, I'm pretty much living in these shorts. I decided to give Cali Fabric's double brushed poly ...
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As soon as it gets chilly I want to get all comfy and cozy, so naturally I begin gravitating towards French Terry fabric! If you're looking for a French Terry that can be made into a variety of garments, then you'll need to check this one out. This midweight charcoal organic cotton/bamboo/spandex French Terry might be the most versatile French Terry I've come across, and it's so incredibly soft, natural, ...
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I admit I have fallen deep down the double brushed poly rabbit hole. This time around I have a new amazing dress to share. This is the Cashmerette Appleton Wrap Dress. This is the second time I have made this pattern. The first one was a couple years ago. I for the life of me cannot figure out what took me so long to make a second! This pattern is ...
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This sweet girl is all about fashion. She started online window shopping for school clothes in July. She loves to browse all the trendy websites and is constantly filling shopping carts with the latest looks. Unfortunately, her tall, lanky frame doesn't work for a lot of ready-to-wear clothing. She now knows that she can bring me her wish list and we can shop for fabric and patterns to recreate her ...
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Have you ever had trouble deciding which fabric to use for a pattern? Often there are several options in the fabric recommendations section of a pattern. All are suitable, so how to choose? Sometimes I use personal preference, but this time I decided to make a t-shirt pattern with 3 different fabrics and share the results. Keep in mind, all of these fabrics are recommended for this pattern, so the ...
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Cute fabric. Sometimes it's just too hard to resist! Do I "need" adorable cat fabric? No, but I sure do want it!!! Cali Fabrics always has a great selection of cute prints on Double Brushed Poly (DBP) fabrics, but when I saw these cats I couldn't resist! I'm a proud Crazy Cat Lady! See? Two cat-themed birthday cards I received recently, and leopard sandals that just happen to match my top! We have ...
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Hey, Sewists! I have been a busy bee sewing away this month. I hope you have been sewing this month too. This time around I am sharing another new summer dress. Dresses are pretty much my summer uniform and this one fits in so well. First, let me just talk about this fabric! I used the cactus print double brushed poly in navy. Unfortunately, this colorway is not available, but there ...
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I love Califabric's Double Brushed Polyester! It is an unbelievably soft fabric, and has a lovely drape for a maxi dress. Califabrics has so many lovely prints which would all be suitable for a this type of dress. My best friend and I live in different cities, so we try to get together each year for some girl time. This year we choose New Orleans as our meet up, and what ...
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