When Life gives you Lemons β€¦Β πŸ‹πŸ‹πŸ‹

Well, in my case I make a dress but first I’ll go to the beginning of this tale.

Kayleigh and I were just replying to each other’s stories before she reached out to me to ask if I’d like to pick a fabric, make something and write a blog. It’s been such an organic start to our relationship and friendship and that’s what is impressive about this community. I’d say over the last 2.5 years so many doors have opened for me and I’m still incredibly humbled.  

Choosing the fabric for this post … was a difficult choice as Kayleigh really has an exceptional eye for stunning fabrics but then I saw the Art Gallery β€œCapri Toile” in Rayon and was taken into a trance. I’m still imagining being surrounded by lemon tree terraces and old stone walls draped in this beautiful fabric and I think that’s ok. Maybe one day I’ll get to Capri and be able to take photos of this to make it in its element (just not when it’s 30ΒΊC, as my Scottish fair skin and body just can’t cope!).

The details in this print are just stunning. From the dressmakers’ dummy in the window to the sun parasols on a sunny terrace with lemon trees. I can’t stop daydreaming about all the possibilities of a photoshoot … SIGH!

So now I had the fabric in my hands, I had two strong contenders for patterns but I couldn’t decide and I needed help. I looked towards my Friends & Followers on both Instagram stories and my Youtube Channel. I even made sketches and that fabric looked amazing in both. The choices were the Saguaro Set by Friday Pattern Company or the Roseclair by Cashmerette.

The response was overwhelming to one pattern and that was the latter; the Roseclair Dress by Cashmerette. I was really happy with the popular choice, I’ve already made another Roseclair Dress, another Art Gallery Fabric for Simply Sewing Magazine earlier this year and knew the dress suits and handles this fabric composition well.

Capri Toile Rayon by Art Gallery Fabrics
Emma’s Pattern Choices for the Capri Toile Rayon

With rayon and viscose, I always use a new microtex machine needle (a very fine needle) so it reduces the size of the holes made to sew this fabric up. Honestly, it’s a small investment but reaps with rewards for a good finish and sew.

These days I tend to look at the pattern piece layout and then go for Pattern Tetris but that’s a skill that I’ve built up over my sewing journey and like they say β€œRome wasn’t built in a day” … so don’t rush this process. Measure twice, if not thrice!  

Now another tip for reducing the fabric meterage and wastage is to cut the neck bias piece and ties out of the small pieces of fabric and piece them together strategically as you’ll be using them for the ties as well.

I have to say, this is one of the shiftiest rayons I have ever worked with. It made me work hard and the only thing that kept it from moving was using all the pattern weights, jars etc! I tend to not use pins when cutting pattern pieces out as it reduces the amount of time, extra holes and the husband finding pins on the floor where I cut. Oh boy, patience was key!

As I have made up the Roseclair once before and I’m pretty sure there will be more times for this wonderful wrap dress pattern by Cashmerette, the instructions hold your hand and the fit is just magical. It covers the cleavage and has enough wrap to avoid showing parts we don’t want to necessarily show off in public with a wrap dress.

I don’t have enough lemons to say how much I love this dress already – The pattern and fabric are just another marriage in sewing heaven.  

To finish this dress in true style, I’ve added two labels that speak for themselves.  I also had to wear my lemon stud earrings!

To get some of this Zesty fabric (or any fabric to be fair), pardon the pun but can’t help myself use SEWZESTY10 for 10% off.

Right, I’m off to drink some lemon iced tea in my new dress,
Ciao (for now) dear friends!

A note from Kayleigh (Fleur et Ours): Thank you so much Emma for writing this blog, our first guest blog, such a lovely read and a beautiful make, I love the earrings and labels you paired with them too! Very, very grateful for this.

If you would like to shop Capri you can find it here: https://fleuretours.com/shop/capri-toile-from-capri-by-art-gallery-fabrics-per-%c2%bc-metre-16-m/

Thank you so much for reading, Kayleigh xx

2 thoughts on “When Life gives you Lemons β€¦Β πŸ‹πŸ‹πŸ‹

    • Kayleigh Gordon says:

      Thank you Adele, I cannot wait to see what you sew up! Happy sewing, Kayleigh x

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