Natures Fabrics Cotton Rib Knits

Nature's Fabrics has a huge selection of fabrics. This month, I'm sewing up their cotton rib knit. They have all kinds of rib knit and I used a few different ones for my newest Duck Butt Designs Back to Fall (BTF) Hoodie.

I received the Crimson Organic Cotton Spandex Rib Knit. This Organic Cotton/Spandex Rib Knit is 96% Organic Cotton and 4% Spandex. It is 49" wide, tubular and weighs 250 GSM. It's amazing and perfect for cuffs and bands.

The printed rib knit is called "As it Is Written". The print is on a 100% cotton white rib knit. It's a nice weight and best used for loose fitting items as it does not contain any spandex to recover as it is stretched. 

I also used the Black Cotton Spandex Rib Knit. This Cotton/Spandex Rib Knit is 95% Cotton and 5% Spandex. It is 60" wide and weighs 200 GSM. This is not as hefty as the Crimson Organic Cotton Spandex Rib Knit, but it would also work amazing as bands and cuffs.

I'm not a fan of hoods, so I made this BTF with a split cowl. I made the split cowl in the same manner as the one on the Halla Patterns Stella Pullover.

All these rib knits have 50% horizontal stretch and very minimal vertical stretch. That  means I won't have to worry about my pocket getting stretched out if I put something heavy in it.

This BTF is so comfortable. I'm ready for the weather to cool down so I can wear it.

Nature's Fabrics is having a sale on all cotton rib knits, jersey, and interlock through October 19th. All cotton fabrics can be found HERE. This sale includes fall and Halloween prints on cotton spandex and bamboo spandex jersey. Those can be found HERE.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Duck Butt Designs Back to Fall Hoodie

It's Fall according to calendar, so I've been doing some fall sewing. What best than a pattern with fall in the name? I grabbed the Back to Fall (BTF) Hoodie from Duck Butt Designs. But here's the thing, I really don't like hoodies. It's a good thing I can sew, because that means I can make it without the hood! I know - you are probably thinking that's sacrilegious. But look how amazing my BTF looks sans hood!

I did make a few other modifications to the BTF pattern as well. I'll talk about those in a minute. But first, I want to mention one change that I'm going to make on my next one. The pocket. I love the pocket, but when I made it, it ended up on my left. I need it on my right side - my dominant hand side. So consider that if you decide to make one.

I'm short. 5' tall short. I typically remove 2" from most tops. This one has a lot of pieces on the front and it does not have any lengthen/shorten lines. So I made my own lines to shorten at.

I took 1" out of the length of the middle piece, and 1" from the length of the bottom piece. I then took 2" from the length of the back piece. I just fudged my sleeves to get them to fit on my fabric. I decided to do a simple neckband since I was forgoing the hood. I had thought about a cowl, but will probably do one on my next BTF. I also graded my BTF from a 10 bust to a 14 hip. I graded from below the shoulder color blocked piece. It took a bit of playing around with pieces to get both sides of my BTF to match with the grading - but it was so worth all that effort!

Fabric - The light colored pieces you see are a sweater knit. I found it in the Dallas Fabric District and it came as a tube. It's heavy and silky soft. I have no idea what it is, but it feels amazing and I've been hoarding it for the perfect project. I think I picked the right one.

The print is one of my own designs on Spoonflower. It is named Septarian Nodule. I had it printed on their cotton spandex jersey. I got 1 yard and I used up almost every inch of that yard.

I had a hard time deciding what fabric to use for the inside of my pocket. I really wanted to save some of this fabulous sweater knit for another project, but I was also trying to save a bit o my Septarian Nodule fabric. In the end, I decided I could always buy more of my print from Spoonflower.

Back to adjustments I made to the BTF - It calls for a bottom band. I tried my BTF on before I added any bands to figure out how long to make my sleeve cuffs and to see how long the top was. Well, it was the perfect length as is, so I decided to just hem by BTF. I decided to make my arm cuffs go to my wrists. In the photo below I folded the cuffs up. This way I'm able to wear it long sleeved or 3/4 length sleeves. I love versatility.

I absolutely love my BTF with all my modifications. I currently have 10 yards of cotton lycra with my photos printed as 1 yard panels on their way to me. I got 2 yard sized panels of 5 different photographs. I'm definitely going to be making at least 1 BTF from my new fabrics.

I'm getting ready to head out on vacation very soon and will not be back until the end of September. Fall should be in Texas by then and I'll be all set with my BTF waiting for me. I hope you will visit Duck Butt Designs and see all their great patterns. They have a few for free that are worth checking out.  The free patterns can be seen HERE. Let me just say - the plain pants (both kids and adult) are amazing! Head over to the Duck Butt Designs Sew & Chat Facebook Group and get the codes from the pinned post to get the free patterns. Be sure to sign up on the website for the newsletter - you get a code for $3 off your next purchase and a code to get the Essential Raglan for FREE!















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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Duck Butt Designs Carol's Favorite Tee

I recently got two of these cool cactus panels from Nature's Fabrics. Each panel is 25 inches wide by 30 inches tall. I got 2 so I could have the cactus design on the front and back of a top. Panels are 50% off through August 14th! I also got this Ocean cotton interlock to coordinate with it.

I made the Duck Butt Designs Carol's Favorite Top (CFT). I love this pattern for using two different fabrics. I feel like the color blocking is sophisticated. The CFT is perfect for wearing to work as it's modest and looks great under a cardigan or jacket.

Since I'm trying to get into the groove of making items for my fall wardrobe, I did 3/4 length sleeves.

The cotton interlock has great stretch and worked great for binding the back neckline.

I think the CFT was perfect for showing off the cactus design of these panels. These panels are Organic Cotton/Spandex Jersey and are 92% Organic Cotton and 8% Spandex. The tallest cactus on it is 14". 

I can't wait for the color weather to arrive so I can wear my newest CFT.

I'll definitely be buying some more fabrics from Nature's Fabrics. I was so impressed with how soft it was and how beautiful the colors were. Nature's Fabrics has all panels on sale for 50% off through August 14th! Find them on their website by searching for "panel" or click HERE.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.

Duck Butt Designs Anna Top

Sometimes I love to grab a quick and simple pattern for instant gratification. The Duck Butt Designs Anna Top was the perfect pattern to give me that instant gratification on Sunday. My mom and mother-in-law were visiting and as soon as they left, I had laundry to do. With company over I had not had a chance to touch my sewing machine and was dying to sew up a top to go with a pair of pants I made recently. So between loads of laundry, I was able to whip up a Anna Top.

This was my first time making the Anna Top. I bought the Anna Top pattern right when it came out. My primary reason to buy it, was that it came with leggings. Duck Butt Designs patterns always fit me great and I knew their leggings would too. I've made them several time, but had yet to make the Anna Top.

I have a horrible habit of buying patterns and never making them. I printed out the Anna last week with the intent to make it soon using this gorgeous bamboo lycra from Sew Big Fabrics. I received this print in the mail the same day I got an order of Tactel from Zenith & Quasar Fabric.

This print matched 4 colors of Tactel that I bought. I made the Designer Stitch Shakti Jersey Pants with my Tactel. Yes - all my Tactel became pants. These are the Enamel Blue pair I made.  I love the high-lo hemline of the Anna Top - it covers by behind!

I'm 5' tall and took 1.5 inches from the length of the Anna Top. There is not a lengthen/shorten line on the Anna, but I made one a little below the bust. If I was to wear the Anna with leggings, I might add that 1.5" back to the length.

Now another confession - I didn't read the instructions. I did hem the sleeves before sewing the side seams. I hemmed the bottom last. I haven't looked, but I'm thinking it would be best to hem the bottom before sewing the side seams as well. I'll do that on my next one.

I love how my Anna Top turned out! I need to make a few more. I'm starting to think about what I'm going to pack for my upcoming cruise, and think this will be a winner.

The Anna Top comes with the Long Leg Runners (Leggings) for $9.50. Both patterns are fabulous! I'm kind of sad I hadn't tried the Anna Top before now. I love this top and it's perfect to finish out the hot summer in. If you have never bought a Duck Butt Designs pattern before, they each come with a recipe! The first thing I look at in a Duck Butt pattern is the recipe - and the one in this pattern sounds delicious!

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.