As a new fabric store, we've been busy sewing up sample garments to display in the shop and share online. These help our customers visualize a finished project and provide a little glimpse at what's possible with our fabrics and patterns. We've already made a few dresses and women's tops, and now it's time to get some menswear on the floor! Enter: a Burda Style resort shirt made from Fableism Everyday Chambray.
The fabric is a dream to work with: It's soft and lightweight with just enough structure to provide a polished look to the finished product. But what exactly is chambray, and what makes Everyday Chambray so well-suited to casual summer clothing?
A bit about chambray
Chambray is plain-weave fabric made with a dyed, colored yarn in the warp and white yarn in the weft. This gives the fabric its signature blended look, and lightens the overall shade of the dyed yarn. While chambray is traditionally light blue, it's now available in a range of colors (even the lovely shade of Ecru pictured here). And although it has a similar look to denim, chambray is lighter and more breathable, making it perfect for summerweight shirts, dresses, skirts, and trousers.
The magic of a bamboo blend
While chambray is often 100% cotton, Fableism's Everyday Chambray is made from a blend of cotton and bamboo. Bamboo fibers have a smooth, round structure, which gives the resulting thread a silky texture. It also absorbs more water than cotton, allowing it to wick away sweat and moisture. Put it together with a sturdy cotton, and you've got yourself a breathable, structured, exceptionally soft fabric that's perfect for warm weather.
Hopefully this sample shirt provides a little inspiration! We used Everyday Chambray in Moon Garden, along with some organic cotton trim for extra flair. Happy summer sewing!