Made By A Fabricista: Learning to pick my battles.

Hi! By the time this is posted on the blog, I may already have a newborn in my arms! This blog post and project have been some of the hardest for me to get done. I wanted to do them way in advance but ended up working on them at 38 weeks pregnant. Talk about pressure! I am usually very organized, but this time I’ve had to learn to pick my battles. So let me share the whole story.

First battle: fabric and pattern choice. I first saw this beautiful heathered brushed sweater fabric in one of Julie’s videos on Fabric Mart’s Instagram. They looked so soft and light I thought I probably could use them even in the – almost inexistent – Floridian Fall and Winter. I waited about ten days to order them, knowing full well that they would have discounts at some point! And sure enough, they got into one of the excellent 65% off deals! While waiting for the right time to order the fabric, I looked for the project and pattern I would use these for and found this nursing sweater/dress by Lulu Ferris. Like many other nursing garments, this dress has an external flap that gives easy access to the breast. I would say that, all in all, this first battle was a win!

Second battle: color choice. With the discount, I had enough budget to make two versions of the same pattern. So, I ordered two “different” colors, thinking of making two garments in a Fall palette. Unfortunately, the “Dusty Rose” and the “Strawberry Red” look very similar in person. There were so many other options (shades of blue, yellow, and black, among others), so the mistake was entirely on me. Also, I should have trusted my instincts and chosen a bolder color than Dusty Rose. Brighter colors are my thing! So I must say this battle was a big failure on my end! 

Third battle: drape and elasticity. On the one hand, this fabric is super soft, thin, and elastic. Wonderful! On the other hand, it easily bends and gets distorted at the seams. Thankfully, I had watched Julie’s video and followed her recommendations on using stay tape. But my pregnant brain got the better of me. I forgot to put the stay tape on a couple of hems in the inside piece (the one under the flap). I realized it when the dress was already finished! So I would say this battle between the fabric and me was a tie!

Fourth battle: cutting. This was an easy win! I usually cut my patterns on the floor, but this time my flexibility was limited by my belly. I used my kitchen island instead (I will do that again in the future!) Another helpful thing was placing my pattern pieces on the fabric exactly as in the instructions. It may seem like a basic thing to do, but I tend to want to freestyle too much. Following instructions instead of wanting to save every inch of fabric certainly avoided some headaches!

Fifth battle: pattern versions. As I mentioned, I wanted to do two versions of this pattern. One was this dress (the one I ended up doing) and the other was a more sporty/casual hoodie. But seeing how similar the two fabrics were, I started doubting. Also, for the hoodie, I would choose a fuller or heavier sweater fabric. I will admit my failure on this one.

I was going to add a sixth battle but decided to mention it as an anecdote: making a post-partum dress and trying to know if it will fit, while being 38 weeks pregnant, is not an easy feat. I have never liked my body more than now, with all its “roundness.” Still, I wish this dress looked better on me at this moment! It is hard to picture my measurements once the belly is gone. So I kept the “Dusty Rose” fabric to make a second dress like this, once I know my post-partum size. 

In all, we have two wins, two fails, and one tie. I believe your vote can help tip the scale to one side or the other! What do you think? Is this project a win? Thanks for reading!

INES  | @bynunis

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Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: KNITS & SWEATER KNITS.