I have had an eye on this gorgeous and vibrant cotton lawn ever since it arrived at Jenny Stitches last year. I adore the vibrant colours and the fact that the floral print is mid-sized so a bit different from your average ditsy floral design. I wanted to find the right pattern pairing to display this beautiful fabric to it's full potential, and eventually settled on the Tilly and the Buttons Mabel Dress.
The Mabel pattern became an immediate favourite when it was released last Summer. It is a pretty summer dress perfect for the cottage-core trend and involves an elasticated faux-tie neckline, puffed sleeves with shirring in two lengths, and a shirred waist with mid-length skirt or blouse options.
This is my third Mabel and I so far have always chosen the same view: a midi dress with short sleeves. I had considered the full length sleeves for this version but they use absolutely loads of fabric, so I stuck with the shorter length. If you were making this dress in a viscose fabric, I think that the long sleeves would work really well.
One of the most pleasing things about this pattern is that it has lots of pretty details whilst still being a quick sew. As always with Tilly patterns, the instructions are clear and I think it would be a good pattern for a beginner looking to up their game.
The key skill featured here is in the shirring. This is when the thread in the bobbin is instead replaced with shirring elastic, creating an effect like smocking but with more give. It looks really pretty as well giving the design shape without compromising on comfort. The process can be a bit daunting, but the Mabel instructions are very clear and I had no issues at all with this part of the process.
I enjoy the construction very much. The shirred panel at the waist is actually part of the skirt pattern piece (although you really can't see that when everything is sewn together) which allows you to have some more volume in the skirt. I usually alter the length of the skirt depending on how much fabric I have left after cutting out the other pieces. You could easily add another gathered tier to the bottom of the skirt too if you wanted to change the proportions a little.
My previous Mabel dresses were in different fabric bases. The first was viscose challis, and the second was viscose linen. I really enjoy this dress in the cotton lawn. It holds the structure a bit more and has a pleasing crispness. The fabric itself was a dream to work with. It is lovely and soft but also stable and easy to work with. Despite the intense colours, the fabric itself feels light and airy.
All I need now are some sunny days to wear it on!
Inspired to make your own version? Here's what you'll need:
All I need now are some sunny days to wear it on!
Inspired to make your own version? Here's what you'll need:
Pattern : Tilly and the Buttons Mabel Dress
Fabric : Dahlia Cotton Lawn
A beautiful dress Sarah, you did an amazing job!