I fell in love with this fabric immediately when I saw it online. The color is such a beautiful rosy shade of grape purple, and I had a good feeling that it would pair nicely with so many things in my closet.
Mind the MAKER has a great reputation as a high quality fabric manufacturer, and I have been really looking forward to the opportunity to work with their fabric for the first time. I was able to read up on their operation, and was so happy to read that their production focuses on prioritizing energy efficiency, water preservation, and safe working conditions for employees. All of their fabrics are OEKO-TEX and GOTS certified, and they’re very transparent about where their products are being made.
I was not at all surprised to open my package and find that the fabric inside more than met my expectations! It is very high quality, and seems like a fabric that will last. I will be honest – I had been so enchanted by the color that I’d not read the full description of the fabric, and I did find it to be a good bit heavier than I’d anticipated. I was very much set on turning this fabric into a versatile Nikko Top, and decided to move forward with my plan, but I will be honest that it may be a little heavier or more stiff than is ideal for this pattern.
I’ve been looking for opportunities to add some more solid color pieces to my print-heavy wardrobe, and this was such a nice option. As I mentioned before, the color pairs well with almost everything that I’ve tried so far. I’ve now worn this with jeans, black leggings, and my new green wide leg pants, and I’ve loved each pairing. I’ve also loved the way this matches with a nice camel colored wool jacket, and it looks fantastic next to a deep navy. It’s a surprise neutral!
This is a great piece for winter – the heavy nature of the fabric makes it so cozy and warm to wear when it is chilly outside, yet it remains breathable thanks to the cotton textile content. On the flip side, the heavy fabric makes it a bit more stiff than I would have liked. I’ve found that the top does not hug as much as I wish that it would, and it sometimes creates some big wrinkles (humps?) along the sides in an unflattering way. It is a little bit bulky to tuck into garments, which is a bummer because I am all about a good tuck! However, I’ve taken some notes I’ve learned from the Instagram sewing community and have been doing the “tuck the hem into my bra band” move when I’d like a shorter look to the top, which has been working out fairly well!
I wore this top with my new Portobello Trousers for Christmas Eve this year – a muted play off of the classic red and green Christmas palette, and something that felt festive enough without feeling over done for a more minimal 2020 Christmas celebration. It was very comfortable, and the stretch factor meant that there was plenty of room to enjoy both Christmas dinner and desert! The more stiff, heavy quality of the fabric also meant that since the top doesn’t hug my curves so much, my Christmas food baby wasn’t clearly visible afterwards, either!
There are 19 different colorways available in this fabric, and they are all just gorgeous. While I’m pretty steadfast that I chose the best one, the jade, stone, and dusky blue are also speaking to me! I’d highly recommend grabbing some of this great quality material and adding it to your wardrobe. You won’t be disappointed!
Top: handmade by me
Pattern: True Bias – Nikko Top and Dress
Fabric: Minerva – Mind the MAKER – Cotton Rib Knit in Grape
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Schmetz Jersey Ballpoint Needles
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Heat & Bond Soft Stretch (Lite)
Thanks for reading my thoughts on this make! The fabric used for this post was generously provided to me by the team at Minerva in exchange for a blog post on their website highlighting a make of my choice; the pattern used here was purchased by me. The words and opinions expressed throughout this post are my own, as always. Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
