6 years ago
This gorgeous floral print from John Kaldor is on a microfibre fabric, which drapes beautifully and is amazingly soft to the touch. It’s a little like silk, but with a bit more grip to it. Even before it had arrived I knew I wanted to make a wrap dress out of it, and I had in my stash a wrap dress and top pattern which had come with a sewing magazine, so that was the pattern I opted to use - although any wrap dress pattern would have worked equally well.
Given that there is a silky feel to it I had expected the microfibre to shift around as I laid it our to cut. However I was mistaken. The fabric was no more difficult to handle when cutting out than a cotton would be. Likewise when it came to sewing I had no difficulty keeping the seams in alignment as they went under the presser foot.
I sewed the dress up using French seams, because I like them, and I knew that there is a chance that seams may occasionally be revealed by a sudden gust of wind in a wrap dress or skirt. However when it came to the curve into the underarm seam I forgot to narrow my French seams to reduce bulk. Fortunately the fabric is lightweight enough for this not to be an issue, as unpicking French seams once they are finished does not make for an entertaining evening. I would, of course, have done so in a heavier fabric for the sake of comfort.
Wrap dresses being wrap dresses they are generally forgiving on the fit. However with the amount of drape in this fabric I could have graded down the bodice for a better fit over the bust, however it’s not a significant issue and a pin or brooch is an effective solution when needed, without running the risk of a snap popping open part way through the day.
I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this dress over the summer. It is light enough to be cool in the heat whilst queueing to enter a supermarket, and bright enough to be cheery when British weather decides to be terribly British and bring us an autumn day in August. I will also be able to layer the dress over leggings and a sweater or long sleeve tee in the colder months, and bring a bit of summer colour to the winter.
Having not worn many wrap dresses before, although I have been known to rock the occasional wrap skirt, I this garment has definitely converted me. I only wish I’d chosen a fuller skirted option for this fabric, because the drape of the fabric would lend itself beautifully to a larger skirt. Well there is always next time!
Given that there is a silky feel to it I had expected the microfibre to shift around as I laid it our to cut. However I was mistaken. The fabric was no more difficult to handle when cutting out than a cotton would be. Likewise when it came to sewing I had no difficulty keeping the seams in alignment as they went under the presser foot.
I sewed the dress up using French seams, because I like them, and I knew that there is a chance that seams may occasionally be revealed by a sudden gust of wind in a wrap dress or skirt. However when it came to the curve into the underarm seam I forgot to narrow my French seams to reduce bulk. Fortunately the fabric is lightweight enough for this not to be an issue, as unpicking French seams once they are finished does not make for an entertaining evening. I would, of course, have done so in a heavier fabric for the sake of comfort.
Wrap dresses being wrap dresses they are generally forgiving on the fit. However with the amount of drape in this fabric I could have graded down the bodice for a better fit over the bust, however it’s not a significant issue and a pin or brooch is an effective solution when needed, without running the risk of a snap popping open part way through the day.
I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this dress over the summer. It is light enough to be cool in the heat whilst queueing to enter a supermarket, and bright enough to be cheery when British weather decides to be terribly British and bring us an autumn day in August. I will also be able to layer the dress over leggings and a sweater or long sleeve tee in the colder months, and bring a bit of summer colour to the winter.
Having not worn many wrap dresses before, although I have been known to rock the occasional wrap skirt, I this garment has definitely converted me. I only wish I’d chosen a fuller skirted option for this fabric, because the drape of the fabric would lend itself beautifully to a larger skirt. Well there is always next time!