SEWING PROJECTS by Marion Barry

As Elliott Berman Textiles’ brand ambassador, Rimma Zolotarova is known for her keen eye and elevated approach to textile design—but even she was surprised by how much she fell in love with this Italian python print viscose crepe. Initially hesitant about snake skin prints, Rimma decided to take a chance on the fabric. The moment it arrived, she was smitten. So much so that she requested additional yardage to create a chic co-ord set: a shirt and wide-legged pants designed to mimic the look of a breezy jumpsuit. FABRIC CARE: After prewashing the fabric in cold water and tumble-drying on...

  When our brand ambassador Rimma Zolotarova first spotted this unique printed Italian linen on the Elliott Berman Textiles website, she immediately began envisioning a co-ord set. The print left a lasting impression—it was unlike anything she had ever owned. She was especially drawn to the earthy color palette: rich shades of brown, cream, and black, paired with a truly one-of-a-kind pattern. KNOW-HOW: Rimma had the opportunity to bring her vision to life, starting with properly pre-treating the fabric. Following Sandra Betzina’s technique for linen, she pressed the material with the hottest iron before washing it in warm water and...

In this post, brand ambassador Rimma Zolotarova shares her latest sewing project featuring a delicate silk-cotton voile in a classic Toile de Jouy print from Elliott Berman Textiles. Inspired by the fabric’s lightness and beauty, she created a breezy peasant-style blouse with romantic raglan sleeves and charming petal-tipped ties using the Helper Sew Hillary pattern. With thoughtful techniques like French seams and hand-finishing, Rimma walks readers through the joys and challenges of working with such fine material. She even turned leftover scraps into a stylish neckerchief—an elegant nod to her past as a flight attendant.

While browsing our website, Rimma was instantly captivated by a stunning fabric: a bold leopard print adorned with delicate pink roses. As a long-time fan of florals, she loved the mix of timeless elegance and trendy edge. The moment she saw it, she knew it would be perfect for the Closet Core Brise Dress—a design reminiscent of the sought-after Sezane Pippa dress, which also famously featured a leopard print. This fabric was simply meant for the project.     Rimma prewashed the cotton jersey in cold water and tumble-dried it on low, with excellent results. Though lightweight, the fabric isn’t...

When Rimma saw the stunning Roberto Cavalli slinky knit fabric in person at Elliott Berman Textiles, her heart skipped a beat! It was so unique and different from everything else in her wardrobe. She was instantly captivated by the vibrant primary colors and the intricate, complex print.     Rimma knew right away which pattern she wanted to make with it—her tried-and-true choice for slinky knits, the Named Patterns Kielo wrap dress. Having already made this pattern five times (two dresses, two tops, and one tunic), she had been wanting to make another maxi dress for years. What better fabric...