Sometimes a fabric tells you exactly what it wants to become. That was the case with this beautiful blue rayon voile from Fabric Mart. Lightweight, beautiful drape, deep color, and wonderfully soft, it practically begged to be transformed into the Eleonora dress by Silversaga Patterns. I have made this pattern 4 times and each time it has been fun and makes a really beautiful dress.
While the pattern is beautiful, the real star of this dress is the fabric. This beautiful royal blue rayon voile has a magical combination of lightness and drape that gives garments movement and provides amazing comfort. It felt so luxurious, I immediately ordered it in 4 more colors. I want to share some helpful tips in how to care for delicate fabric that I used during washing, cutting and construction that you can use so your project turns out beautiful every time!
The blue immediately caught my eye. I had it saved in my favorites for a while until I received the email announcing that it went on sale. I love using the favorites feature on the Fabric Mart website. When a sale is announced, I can go straight to my favorites to add to my cart. This rayon volie is one of the most luxurious fabrics I have ever found. The fabric floats and feels so amazingly soft. The drape complements the gathers and silhouette of the Eleonora dress perfectly. The finished dress feels airy and cool to wear, making it perfect for warm weather while still looking polished and pretty. I am so happy with how this dress turned out!
As beautiful as rayon voile is, it does require a few extra steps during washing, cutting and sewing. I always prewash my fabric one at a time and used a color catcher, especially with deep colored fabrics. The color catcher came out a deep dark blue and the water was bright blue after the first wash. So I washed it a second time and added a little vinegar to set the color. This worked great, the water was clear on the second rinse.
Because the fabric is lightweight and slippery, I recommend cutting in a single layer whenever possible. Using pattern weights instead of pins can help prevent shifting, and a rotary cutter provides cleaner, more accurate cuts. Taking the time to stabilize the fabric during cutting pays off in the final garment.
For sewing, a brand new, microfine needle is essential. Rayon voile can shift under the presser foot, so sewing slowly and carefully helps maintain accuracy. Staystitching curved edges early in construction helps prevent stretching, and pressing frequently throughout the project gives the garment a professional finish. I needed to turn down the iron to medium/low heat as the fabric turned colors during pressing. I always iron on the wrong side and test this out before ironing to make sure the fabric does not get damaged with the heat. Ask me how I know 😊
All the extra love and care that went into making this dress was so worth it! I feel so beautiful wearing this Eleonora dress and I know it will be a favorite in my wardrobe for many years to come. This is exactly why I sew: to make comfortable, beautiful dresses in luxurious fabrics that I want to wear on repeat and that is made to last for a long time. This rayon voile is GORGEOUS, I cannot say that enough! Fabric Mart's rayon voile has earned a permanent place on my list of favorite fabrics, and I am already looking forward to sewing the next color! Lets be sewing besties on the gram @Hoppaheedahoe
Happy Sewing!
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