I’m totally back in my comfort zone with this latest make. I have to confess that jersey is one of my favourite fabrics to work with and most definitely to wear.
Ever since Minerva launched their new viscose jersey range I had been dying to try it. I was very kindly gifted this fabric as part of their Ambassador program.
The design I chose is called Floral Carousel and it’s the most beautiful print of flowers in varying shades of pink, contrasted with blue foliage that look stunning against a black backdrop.
The quality of the jersey is wonderful and it behaved so well during construction.
Such a beautiful fabric demanded a special pattern and so I chose McCalls M8340.
This pattern has a really gorgeous knot twist effect at the front and almost kimono effect sleeves. There are 3 different options to make with the dress and I opted for option B.
I was a little apprehensive about including the split as I wasn’t sure how this would work with the chair. I did think I could always sew it up if I didn’t like it but thankfully it’s worked out fine.
As usual hubby cut out my fabric using a rotary cutter.
It’s quite an unusual shaped pattern due to the knot effect and was quite unlike anything I’d worked with before.
Usually I would sew jersey on my overlocker or on my sewing machine using a small zig zag stitch. But this pattern (and the accompanying sew along Mimi G video) only recommended zig zag for the horizontal waist seam. This felt very alien to me and I’ll be honest I wasn’t totally convinced, but it definitely seems to have worked out ok. I did succumb to using my cover stitch machine for the bottom hem though.
When I was using my normal sewing machine I used a jersey needle.
I couldn’t make my usual bust and tummy adjustments due to the unusual shape of the pattern so I just graded between sizes and this seemed to work out ok.
About the only thing I would change next time I make this dress is the neck facing. I’m not 100% happy with how it lies. (Maybe I stretched it out when I was constructing it) but I think I would be more comfortable with bias binding instead.
I really love this dress and will definitely be making it again. And as for the jersey, you know that’s a forgone conclusion.
(Image description: there are six images taken from different angles, showing Yvonne seated in her wheelchair in her garden. She is wearing a black dress covered in a floral print of pink flowers with blue foliage. The dress is short-sleeved and is gathered in a knot at the front.)
#MinervaBrandAmbassador, #MinervaMakes, #MinervaMakers, #FloralCarousel, #MinervaExclusiveViscoseJersey, #M8340Seated, #DisabledSewist, #SewistsOfInstagram, #SewOver50, #SewingMakesMeHappy, #SewingIsMyPassion, #SewnShowedSeated, #IWearWhatISew, #MeMadeEveryday, #SewingWithJersey, #SewersGonnaSew, #ILoveSewing, #WheelchairSewingConsiderations,
#IWearMyOwnClothes, #CurvySewist
Leave a Reply