Discovering New Athletic Fabric + Getting Ready for a Sundial Leggings Sew Along

Three things to chat about on this happy and cold day – (1) I have a fun sew along coming up for you, and I have to warn you – you won’t be able to make just one of these! (2) Fit capsules start today!! and (3) I tried two new athletic fabric bases and need to tell you all about them.

(1) The Sundial Pattern

The Sundial Leggings are a beginner friendly leggings pattern with the option of three different waistbands – a crossover V, a solid waistband, or a layered waistband that combines the other two. They are quick to sew up with no side seam and are great for showcasing stripes or fabric you do not want to break up with color blocking.

I am having a sew along for them March 1st through the 5th! Each day of the sew along, I will have videos for each step of the way as well as a great prize at the end to one of the participants. 

To get ready for the sew along, you can purchase the Sundial pattern for 25% off using code “GSFITCAPSULE21″ through March 7th !!

The sponsor for the sew along is The Styled Magnolia. You can save 15% on retail fabric (any in stock fabric) using code GSGETFIT2021 from Feb15th to the 21st.

The Sundial Leggings Sew Along videos will be posted on my YouTube channel here, and the daily posts for you to interact, ask questions, and be entered to win a prize will be in Greenstyle’s Facebook group here. If you have anything special you want me to cover, make sure you leave a comment or reach out to me!

(2) Fit Capsules

The Annual Greenstyle Fit Capsule Challenge kicks off today, February 15th. To make it a little more fun, all Greenstyle sewing patterns are 25% off using code “GSFITCAPSULE21″ through March 7th. This is an event where you are challenged to sew at least three items of athletic clothes using Greenstyle patterns that work in a capsule wardrobe. These three pieces can all coordinate together or they can compliment clothes you already have made or purchased. 

If you plan on joining me for the sundial leggings sew along, the pairs of leggings you make with me in the sew along will count towards one of your three fit capsule items (or it can count for all three of your fit capsule items if you get carried away!) You do not have to join me for the Sundial Leggings sew along to participate in the Fit Capsule challenge, but I think it is a fun and quick pattern to get in for one of your planned capsule items!

When I first heard about the concept of a “capsule wardrobe,” I was very skeptical. It just seemed too minimalistic and limiting to me. I sew a lot and enjoy buying lots of fabric. Despite how many clothes I have, though, I still have those moments where I stand in my closet and say “I have nothing to wear!?!”  Or, sometimes, I finish a garment and realize that I have nothing in my closet to wear it with. Yikes!

Enter capsule wardrobing, even if you are a “maximalist” (the opposite of minimalist) this is a way of thinking about your clothes and how you put them together. It is bringing some balance to your wardrobe by having a plan, and on purpose selecting quality pieces that will be more versatile with the rest of what you wear. 

There are lots of ways to do this – maybe selecting a bra that will go with lots of outfits or a sweater that can be layered and create multiple looks from outfits you already have. You also can start from scratch and make a pair of leggings, bra, and top that you love how they coordinate together! 

This challenge is so fun because it specifically deals with athletic clothes. You aren’t trying to take on the broad spectrum of everything you wear, but are specifically looking at clothes you are active in. 

The contest lasts four weeks! All the athletic patterns will be on sale starting Monday. There will be weekly prizes (including a chance to win a Juki Coverstitch!), and lots of fun. We also will have some fabric discounts from our sponsors! 

Download and PRINT your FREE planning worksheet here that includes all the Greenstyle Patterns you can use. Download and print your FREE blank worksheet here if you want to fill in your own patterns.

Start by thinking about what colors you love and know you look and feel good in. Look at photos of yourself and how different colors make you feel. Also, look at your shoes! I always get so happy when what I sew has a matching pair of shoes!

Don’t forget, all Greenstyle sewing patterns are 25% off using code “GSFITCAPSULE21″ through March 7th, and read the Greenstyle blog here for more details. 

(3) Shiny and Exciting Fabric

I made three new pairs of Sundial leggings – one of them in one of my favorite athletic bases (athletic brushed poly) and two of them in new-to-me athletic fabrics. Let’s chat about the new athletic fabrics I got to try – an athletic rib nylon spandex and a glossy textured nylon spandex.

The Rib Knit

Greenstyle has a new nylon spandex athletic rib knit that is not like any other rib knit I have sewn with. This one has ribs only on the right side of the fabric, which means that the inside is flat and smooth against your skin. The inside feels like a soft supplex, while the outside has this amazing texture.

I cannot stop touching my legs when I wear these. They feel great. 

This color is called rust, and it was harder to photograph than I thought it would be. It has much more brown to it and is not as red as it came out in my photos. I really want to try the pink next!

You will want to cut the fabric out cross grain so that your ribs go up and down your legs. The fabric has the most stretch that way. I did the double waistband option on the Sundials and did the inner solid waistband with the ribs going up and down but then did the cross over with the ribs going sideways. I recommend not copying me on that decision (well, unless you really like a firm waistband that is). Do ALL of your ribs going up and down because my waistband IS TIGHT. Like, the possibility for these to slip at all does not exist! This is a FIRM waistband for intense workouts and not for eating large meals.

The Glossy Knit

The next fabric I have to show you is another nylon spandex that is completely different than the first. This one is from The Styled Magnolia.

I always find it amazing how two fabrics can be made from the same fibers and be night and day different! The two things the rib knit and this glossy knit have in common is that they both have fantastic recovery and make great leggings. 

The rib knit is a structured, more matte appearing fabric that you will want to use for garments that are against your body like leggings, sports bras, fitted tanks, fitted crop tops, fitted rash guards etc. 

The glossy knit has a shine to it and wonderful drape. It can be used for fitted and loose garments. In addition to leggings and tight fitting bras and crops, it would make an awesome dress or loose flowy top. 

It is a printed fabric so the inside is white. The right side of the fabric has a texture that has a nap to it. It kind of reminds me of velvet in that when you rub it, one ways is smooth/soft, but the other way is not. It does not have the raised softness of a velvet but the nap it has reminds me of this.

This is a cold/slinky feeling fabric that you will want for hot summer days or hot workouts. The fabric breathes really well and is not something to go traipsing about in the snow in.

The floral print is so pretty! I don’t plan to wear these together that often, but I love how well the colors in the fabric go with other items I have made (wink wink capsule wardrobe!)

For my top, I used the Greenstyle Scarlet pattern. It is a swing dress pattern with a tank (or sleeve) option. I cut the hemline cropped (it only comes with tunic and dress lengths in the pattern). Another adjustment I made was to add length to the bands. This fabric has excellent recovery so I knew the bands would be too bunched and adding the extra length helped them lay better.

I  thought it was the perfect pattern to show you the swing, drapy feel of this athletic knit. 

Athletic Brushed Poly

I also can’t end this post without talking about my athletic brushed polyester set!

Athletic brushed polyester is my favorite and most sewn athletic base. It is soft and warm to the touch but light enough that I don’t get sweaty when I am active in it. I can wear it ALL day long and feel good in it. I usually use it for sports bras and leggings sets, but I have also made a dress for my daughter out of it and thought it turned out gorgeous! 

This is a striped panel (1.5 yards) called Austere that is in the current preorder at The Styled Magnolia. It will be available to order through February 17th. You can pick any of their many bases depending on what you want to make.

The bra I made with this set is the Embrace bra. You can see my sew along for it here. 

Join me for the Fit Capsule Challenge and Sundial Sew Along! Let me know if you have any questions or need more resources. I’d be happy to help. 

Resources

1. Sundial Leggings pattern
2. Embrace Sports Bra pattern and sew along
3. Scarlet Swing pattern
4. Austere Fabric Panel Fabric
5. Athletic Rib Knit Fabric
6. Glossy Floral Fabric
7. FREE Planning Worksheet for capsule wardrobes with Greenstyle Activewear patterns
8. FREE Blank Planning Worksheet

I hope I have inspired you in today’s post!  I would love to stay connected with you. You can find me on Instagram. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE. If you want to take a look into the things that inspire me, you can follow me on Pinterest. You may also follow my blog with Bloglovin.

Disclosures

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation when you purchase via my link. This does not cost you anything, and I genuinely appreciate the support. Any and all opinions expressed are still my own.

XO

Sharon

PS It was cold outside when I was taking these photos so I wore a Sunday cardigan I made a few years ago for the rest of the day and in between shots! This one has been well loved. I even sleep in it sometimes and probably did a few nights ago before these photos. So, it is a little wrinkled lol.

Here is the post when I first made it. I think I love my hair much better when it is darker.