Today’s the day we share our Stonemountain Spotlight staff makes! For this edition of the Spotlight, our talented staff created garments using one of the shop’s favorite Better Basics, Mammoth Flannel. We’re so excited to share everyone’s projects with you.
A Brief History
Why Mammoth Flannel? This collection of high quality cotton flannels comes to us from another family fabric business, Robert Kaufman Fabrics. The owners of Stonemountain & Daughter have known the owners of Robert Kaufman Fabrics since the 1950s! Based in Los Angeles, Robert Kaufman Fabrics is our #1 fabric resource today—we love knowing that when we buy from Robert Kaufman, we are stocking quality fabrics that are perfect for everyday garments and home decor items. Many of their fabrics can be reordered, so we can stock these staple fabrics for you season after season!
Get to Know Mammoth Flannel
Mammoth Flannel just might become your new favorite fabric—it’s one of the thickest cotton flannels we carry, with a dense weave and a brushed face to keep you warm and cozy. Our collection includes solids as well as yarn-dyed plaids and checks for lots of mix-and-match options, and the line includes some organic flannels, too. To start the year, our staff used Mammoth Flannel to create jackets, shirts, dresses, pants, pajamas, and a skirt for our Stonemountain Spotlight—scroll down for all the details on these fantastic flannel creations!
Alex wears the Agnes PJs in Mammoth Junior Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Punch. “Mammoth Flannel is warm but isn’t too bulky. It is satisfying to sew with and comes in fun funky patterns. I have never made pajamas before but really wanted to. I will wear them at home but want to use the pattern to make comfy shorts and pants for everyday wear, possibly with some tank tops for cute matching sets. I used Fray Check, a buttonhole chisel, and bias tape maker for the first time. They all made the experience much easier and more enjoyable.”
Amy wears the Assembly Line Wrap Jacket in Mammoth Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Pepper. “It fits well in my wardrobe as a layering piece. I’ll be wearing it in the store and working around the house. It will go with jeans and with skirts, with a shirt or camisole underneath. The pattern is cut very loosely, and is laid out for wide fabric, although it doesn’t need it. Because I only had 3 yards of 45-inch wide fabric, I had to piece the sleeves (it doesn’t show) and go without the patch pockets. Instead, I made welt pockets on the diagonal. I will also replace the ties with a button.”
Ashlee wears the Assembly Line Cropped Jacket in Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Plum. “I love the texture! The Mammoth solid has an almost crepelike weave, and it really elevates the fabric. I added a little extra to the front so it could overlap for snaps, instead of using a zipper. I decided to do some padstitching on the collar. The roll line was already marked on the pattern, making it easy to experiment. I love high-waisted pants and skirts, and have been wanting a cropped jacket to pair with them. I’m so excited to add this jacket into the rotation!”
Caroline wears the Cashmerette Vernon in Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Black. Caroline wanted to make “a comfy cozy flannel shirt with a more elevated style (think stage crew on opening night!),” so she used the lantern sleeves and larger collar option from the Vernon shirt pattern. Caroline’s Vernon gets rave reviews: “Mammoth is super soft, but it still pressed really well, and my darts look great! I chose pearl buttons for this project, which really elevates a flannel shirt into a special garment–I’m excited to style it with my bloomer-style pants for an everyday pirate look. This was one of the smoothest shirt-making experiences I’ve had. Both the fabric and pattern were a pleasure to work with!”
Craig wears the Wardrobe By Me Overshirt Jacket in Mammoth Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Honey and Mammoth Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Steel. Craig was inspired to mix Mammoth Flannel plaids to create an amazing result. “I used the Overshirt pattern by Wardrobe By Me. I disregarded the cuffs on the sleeves and the side vents on the side seam hems, and created a pieced four-point star design at the center front (I meant to put a patch pocket but I ran outta time!). I’d layer this over another button-up, with either dark indigo denim or a matching brown twill painter’s pant and a canvas tote.”
Diana wears the Merchant & Mills – The Fielder in Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Buffalo Plaid – Mushroom. Diana wanted to create something cozy and wearable for cold weather. “I’m a dress and skirt lover and already own the pattern, so that was my chief inspiration. I plan to use a darker, possibly colorful, ribbing and contrast topstitching to emphasize the raglan lines. Honestly, I can’t imagine not adding pockets…”
Edgar wears the Merchant & Mills – The Shepherd in overdyed Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Oyster Plaid. Edgar’s version of The Shepherd was inspired by Vivienne Westwood, punk, and grunge. Here’s what Edgar had to say about Mammoth Flannel: “It’s very soft and easy to work with. It also takes dye very nicely.” Edgar used the pattern as a starting point for their garment, and made it their own: “I shortened it by a lot, and I used a couple different colors of Rit dye to dip the flannel in. I don’t usually wear skirts, but I did end up liking the way this one turned out and it has inspired me to wear more.”
Emily wears the Papercut Array Dress in Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Buffalo Check – Ocean. “This is the first flannel garment I’ve made! When I think of flannel I tend to think of button-down shirts and pajama pants, neither of which I was interested in making. I decided to make the Array Dress and added a funnel neck to give it a more wintry feel. Hello, new favorite pattern!” We love how Emily has styled this dress with a cute belt and her trademark matching mask!
Gillian wears the Merchant & Mills – The Factory in Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Sundance Plaid. Gillian chose Sundance Plaid for her cheerful Factory dress: “I like the idea of subverting the practical, workwear feel of the pattern by making it in a vibrant colorway. I don’t wear a lot of woven dresses, especially in the winter, but I like that this one is cozy enough to wear when it’s chilly without being too hot. I made a matching scrunchie to wear in my hair and I like how it gives the dress a ‘90s feel.” Gillian matched the plaid at the center front bodice seam, which she’d never tried before: “It wasn’t that difficult: I cut out the pieces on a single layer of fabric to make sure I could match the pattern.” Gillian described Mammoth Flannel as “Soft and thick but also really easy to work with! I also love the crepe weave, which is different from most flannels and gives it a beautiful texture.”
Hulda wears the Assembly Line Oversized Shirt in Mammoth Junior Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Tomato. “I love bright red and cozy comfort, so it’s right in line with my usual style. I used Kaffe Fasset Star Flower buttons, which MADE the garment. As luck would have it, they’re a perfect color match. I’ll experiment with a belt or Fashion Fit Dress Clip to cinch in the waist a bit. I’ll wear it to work—and everywhere else! I’m usually a large (size 12-14) and they’re not kidding when they say this shirt is oversized. I’ll use the small pattern option instead of medium next time I make this lovely shirt.”
Kristen wears Christine Haynes Lottie in Mammoth Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Steel with a self-drafted scarf made out of assorted Mammoth Flannel scraps.
Kristen liked the rich, vibrant colors in Mammoth Flannel and appreciated that it was easy to press yet still squishy. She made the Lottie Shirt/Dress modified to tunic length and fully lined to combat flannel clinginess. Kristen found patience essential for careful pattern matching while cutting, and used a walking foot to keep her stitching smooth. Kristen said, “This garment is my typical style, styled with leggings or slim fit jeans and layers! It could have a cardigan over top or a long sleeve tee underneath. It’s a perfect Bay Area layering garment for fall and winter!”
Kristen liked the rich, vibrant colors in Mammoth Flannel and appreciated that it was easy to press yet still squishy. She made the Lottie Shirt/Dress modified to tunic length and fully lined to combat flannel clinginess. Kristen found patience essential for careful pattern matching while cutting, and used a walking foot to keep her stitching smooth. Kristen said, “This garment is my typical style, styled with leggings or slim fit jeans and layers! It could have a cardigan over top or a long sleeve tee underneath. It’s a perfect Bay Area layering garment for fall and winter!”
Liz wears the Friday Patterns Hughes Dress hack and Pants No. 1 in Mammoth Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Green Buffalo Check. Liz started with the Hughes dress pattern, modified it into a vest by leaving off the skirt and sleeves, and made it reversible. She said, “The pattern comes fully lined, so all I needed to do was add the back waist loops and buttons to the “inside.” I also added binding around the neckline, button bands, and hem.” Liz also made a pair of Pants No. 1, and modified them by substituting one pant front for a soft canvas and cropping one leg to make them more interesting. “Don’t be afraid of rough edges and unfinished hems to give your garments some flavor!” Liz says the garments are her usual style, which she describes as “a bit wacky and experimental.” As for styling, Liz says “I will definitely wear the two pieces together and separately, mixing and matching with my wardrobe staples. I’m excited to see how I can style the pieces to make them work in a variety of environments, from work to roller skating!”
Marissa wears the Papercut Array Dress in Mammoth Junior Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Sage. “I’ve used Mammoth Flannel for other garments and have been pleased with how it’s held up to time and laundry, so I thought it would make a warm, comfortable Array Dress. This pattern is definitely drafted for a tall person, which I am no, so I made the tunic length and shortened it another 2 inches to wear as a mini dress. I used a scrap of quilting cotton for the neck binding because the Mammoth would have been too bulky. I love wearing winter dresses with boots and leggings, so that’s how I plan to style this.”
Priya made an Assembly Line Cropped Jacket hack in Mammoth Plaid – Cotton Flannel – Cider. Priya started with the Assembly Line Cropped Jacket pattern and experimented with some structural modifications: “I lengthened it and removed the waistband and the collar.” Priya planned to wear the jacket open over jeans and a t-shirt, but found that changing the jacket’s structure led to some unexpected results: “without the waistband and gathers it creases in weird places.” Although the jacket didn’t turn out exactly as planned, Priya liked working with Mammoth Flannel because of the variety of colors and patterns in the collection.
Sicilia made an Merchant & Mills – The Forman in Mammoth Organic Cotton Flannel solids: Dove, Rust, and Pacific. Sicilia’s plan was to step out of their comfort zone with a color-blocked version of a chore coat: “Making something so colorful feels a bit out of my usual range!” They were super happy with the result: “I’m excited that I can wear it all the way buttoned up for a big cozy shirt kind of look (probably with boots and a beanie for a cute woodland gnome energy) and also think it’ll be cute unbuttoned with a more form fitting shirt underneath (like maybe the Megan Nielsen Rowan bodysuit. I think I could wear it anywhere!” Sicilia liked that the Mammoth Flannel is cozy but lightweight: “Really heavy fabrics sometimes bother me, so I like that the weight is somewhere in between a shirt and a heavy jacket while still being warm.”
Suzan wears the Friday Pattern Company Ilford Jacket in Mammoth Organic – Cotton Flannel – Buffalo Plaid – Olive. Suzan was looking for a comfortable, go-over-everything layering piece, and she definitely found it in her olive green Ilford! Suzan says, “This is a super casual and versatile “shacket” (shirt-jacket). I love when my lifestyle and work supports such a cozy and earthy wardrobe choice. I will wear this around the store (when it’s not up on display!), on weekend hikes, and hanging out at a coffee shop with my girlfriends. It will be great with jeans, or dressed up, too.” Suzan and her team of buyers are responsible for selecting the amazing fabrics we carry in the shop, and she said of Mammoth Flannel: “You can feel the quality of this cotton flannel, which lends itself to so many styles and design ideas. It’s truly a fabric to wear year round and in countless ways. It’s amazing to see what everyone else made and how versatile this fabric is in expressing our unique nature. You can feel the joy in every garment that our team made.” Suzan’s Ilford includes bias cut patch pockets for a playful plaid detail. If you choose a large-scale plaid like this one, Suzan recommends getting a little extra yardage to match up plaids on the side seams, pockets, and wherever else you want them to meet.
Vicki wears the Grainline Studio Archer in Mammoth Organic Flannel – Brick. Vicki decided to make an Archer as a feminine twist on the Pendleton woolen shirts she wore when she was younger. “It is the first plaid garment I have made and the first flannel garment that wasn’t a nightgown.” She took care to customize every detail of her shirt: “I hand-sewed the inside pieces so that topstitching would give an even result inside as well as out—yoke, button band, cuffs, and collar stand. I used different thicknesses of shoulder pads to allow plaid matching between the front yoke and the shirt fronts (I have quite asymmetric shoulders).” Vicki also used bias-cut pattern pieces (for the yoke, button band, lower back, and cuffs) to add visual interest. She omitted pockets and set in the sleeves. Vicki said that if she made this shirt out of Mammoth Flannel again, she would use a lining fabric for the inner yoke, cuffs, button band, and collar stand to reduce bulk.
Sew Inspiring
Thank you to the Stonemountain & Daughter staff for sharing their amazing makes! Have you made something special out of flannel? We’d love to see it! Email us [email protected] or tag us #stonemountainfabric on Instagram to share!