Skip to main content

Fabricista Guest Post: Rayon Challis and Wrap Dresses are Two of my Favorite Things to Sew!

Hello sewing friends! I am so excited to be a guest Fabricista for Fabric Mart today. I participated in the #fmwrapdresssewalong Instagram challenge Fabric Mart had in May 2023 and was randomly selected as a winner.  The sew along with Julie was so much fun that I inquired about being a Fabricista. My name is Patricia, I am a nurse, I just became a doctor last year, been married for 24 years and a mother of two! I have been sewing since I was a child. My Instagram is @Hoppaheedahoe

I selected a colorful animal print rayon challis voile to make the Cashmerette Roseclair dress, view A with long, flowy tiers. Wrap dresses can be a challenge to fit so I was happy to see that Cashmerette offers a fit calculator on their website to aid in selecting a size.  I entered my measurements and made the size they recommended without any further modifications. I also compared the bodice pieces to other wrap dress patterns that I know fit me well. They matched up, so I went with Cashmerette’s suggested size. I am really pleased with the result! Plus, I added pockets!

Rayon Challis is my favorite fabric, but it is slippery to cut. The Roseclair dress bodice, sleeves and ties are cut from one layer of fabric and the tiers are cut on the fold. I made sure to use pattern weights, pins, a cutting mat, a rotary cutter and a ruler to make sure my pieces were cut on grain and precisely. I took my time and labeled each piece on the back with tape so the tiers didn’t get mixed up. 

To keep the tiers cut straight, pins, a ruler and cutting mat made sure the fabric didn’t shift between cutting out each tier. 

I made these pattern weights from rocks, scrap fabric and Mod-podge. They work great and are a fun way to use up your scraps. (I love a good scrap fabric project!)


How do you choose a thread color? This fabric is so colorful with dark and light colors that I chose pink to make it a little more fun. I like to use thread as a design aspect and the colorful palate of this fabric was a great opportunity to select a color that would stand out. 

My favorite part of the Roseclair dress are the sleeves! The gathers, the ¾ length and the cuff at the end are beautiful and stylish. 


The pattern directions were clear and easy to follow. There are so many tiers that I was happy that I labeled each one. Gathering and biased binding is used a lot in this pattern, but these are two of my favorite techniques, so it was a fun sew. 

I love my Roseclair Dress in this buttery soft rayon challis voile fabric. I am already planning another in view B!


Thank you again to Fabric Mart for allowing me to be a guest Fabricista today!

Thank you for reading my guest post. Please leave a message and tell me: Do you also love to sew Rayon Challis and Wrap Dresses? What are your Favorite Things to Sew?

Happy Sewing,

Patricia  |  @Hoppaheedahoe


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: CHALLIS.
You can shop our selection of Cashmerette patterns HERE.

Comments

  1. PATRICA , YOU DID A GREAT JOB ILOVE YOUR DRESS I LIKE FABRIC TOO

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful dress, Patricia! Challis intimidates me...😖 Love your pattern weights - great idea wrapping rocks in fabric. Congrats to you on becoming a doctor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Take your time, it will be worth it in the end. Cut precise and sew slow. You can do it! Thank you!

      Delete
  3. I love your instagram handle, but then I know where it came from!!! Love the dress and your excitement to share your project. Love, Jo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rocks!! Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations on becoming a doctor. Your dress is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great job with the fitting. Lovely dress. Congrats on your becoming a doctor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cashmerette’s website was helpful in picking a size, highly recommended!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Riley Overalls

Hello friends,  My Latest Fabricista Make: True Bias Riley Overalls x Red Carmine Cotton/Lycra Stretch Sateen Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! I knew I wanted to make a pair of overalls, and when I saw Fabric Mart’s gorgeous Red Carmine Cotton/Lycra Stretch Sateen ( Bottom Weight ), it was game over. The color? Bold and rich. The weight? Spot on for summer overalls—structured but still breathable. For the pattern, I went with the Riley Overalls by True Bias . I cut a size 20 at the bust and graded to a size 22 at the hips for a custom fit that works with my shape. There are 23 different pattern pieces in this design, so I queued up a favorite audiobook and settled in. This was one of those slow, satisfying makes I knew from the start I’d stretch out over several days, savoring the process. Before I even touched the scissors, though, I made sure to prep my fabric properly. Pre-washing and drying are key—especially with cotton/lycra blends. It helps eliminate...

Made By A Fabricista: Matching Sets Are Always a Win for Me

I think I might have a problem.  I’m obsessed with a good matching set. Matching Sets can be considered as a coordinated chic look. A perfectly paired top and bottom that creates a seamless, stylish look with minimal effort. I think that’s exactly what I did.  Usually when I’m looking for fabric, I try to have something in mind of what I’m going to make with it. Well, I’m here to report that I totally forgot what pattern I was going to use for this beautiful fabric. I believe I had a dress in mind, but I couldn’t remember the pattern for the life of me.  The fabric I chose is called Indian red dandelion soft lavender flower poplin shirting .  I’ve used poplin from Fabric Mart several times and it’s always a win for me. I went through several different patterns for the top, until I landed on the Sara Top from Fibre Mood. I’ve had this top in my stash for so many years, and I thought it would be great for this fabric. This pattern is basically 2 rectangles with a chann...

Made By A Fabricista: Effortless ITY

Clothing made from  ITY  (Interlock Twist Yarn) fabric is effortless, almost like wearing secret pajamas. It is silky and cool to the touch, with a beautiful drape and amazing stretch. ITY fabric is incredibly versatile, and some of the best dresses, skirts, and athletic wear I’ve owned are made from it. Thanks to Fabric Mart’s recent influx of unique ITY fabrics, I was inspired to add some additional ITY items to my wardrobe.  I found two beautiful ITY fabrics on the Fabric Mart site that stopped me in my tracks. The first fabric I loved was a funky off-white and multi-color flora and fauna print from a New York Designer. I ordered two yards of this print with a top in mind. Next, I saw a beautiful  ITY fabric panel  featuring off-white and blue floral print. I’m usually hesitant to buy fabric panels without a plan of how to use them, but I threw caution to the wind this time. I ordered 5 panels, hoping that would give me more than enough fabric to showcase the...