The Fringe dress

It has been a while since I looked at myself in a mirror and felt pretty. In this dress, made in this fabric, I feel beautiful!

You probably recognise the Fringe dress pattern which was released by Gabriela from Chalk and Notch a couple of months ago. The Fringe dress took the sewing world by storm, and the hype around this pattern is understandable - it is simply amazing!

I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I saw the first images of the Fringe dresses and tops popping up on Instagram. I loved the comfortable yet feminine fit, the neckline options and the hemline. I mean, OMG that hemline!!!

I sat there patiently waiting for the release day. While I waited I received an e-mail from Maggie from ModeS Group asking if I would like to review some of their fabric. I got curious and hopped onto modes4u.com. There are so many goodies in the shop. Of course being a sewing addict I headed straight to the fabric section. The choice was practically overwhelming! Seriously, get a cuppa and get comfortable before you start browsing.

Fabric on the site is categorised by various parameters - print, occasion, type, gender (for children). For example, if you would like to see the selection of floral prints available, just follow the Flower Fabric link. If you prefer to shop by fibre content, you can put 'cotton', 'rayon', 'linen' etc in the search field.

ModeS Group is located in Hong Kong. Fabric in the shop is sourced from Japan and USA and can be shipped worldwide. Allow 5-15 business days for shipping. Orders over USD 70 (which is around AUD 90) are shipped free of charge. Refer to the website for information about express shipping.

Rayon and double gauze are among recommended fabric options for the Fringe dress and top pattern. After considering my options I narrowed it down to this gorgeous double gauze and this stunning rayon by Cotton + Steel. As you can see, the amazing vibrant colours of rayon won my heart over.

I surprised a few of my sewing friends when I admitted that in six years of sewing I have never worked with Cotton + Steel fabric. This rayon is very soft with amazing drape, yet it has substance to it. It feels so lovely against the skin! If this fabric is an example of quality one can expect from Cotton + Steel, then I am a convert! I will be sure to have a look at other Cotton + Steel fabrics on modes4u.com. 

Sewing with rayon is not too tricky. I took my time cutting all the pattern pieces out so that fabric would not shift. In my (rather limited) experience I discovered that a walking foot is the way to go. That, and tons of pins!

I love the notched neckline of View B. Gabriela recommends using tricot interfacing for all her patterns. I was going to do just that, however I did not have enough of tricot interfacing, so I used my regular cheap lightweight interfacing. I hesitated applying it to to the body of the dress around the neckline fearing it might bubble, but I am pleased to report that it behaved beautifully.

I did not notice a small wrinkle on a shoulder until I saw the photos. I am not sure if this is caused by wind or if I shifted fabric a little while cutting or sewing. I will have to have a closer look when I wear this dress again.

I made size 6 bodice and size 8 skirt without any modifications. My bust measurement actually put me in size 4, but I have broad shoulders. Size 6 bodice feels perfect. I am still not too sure if I want to lengthen the skirt by a couple of cm. I think I will need to wear this dress a few times before I make up my mind.

Another thing I did not notice until I finished editing photos is that my little photo-bomber got into a previous shot! So if you are wondering what taking photos with a toddler is like, here is a good example:

I am so happy with my new Fringe dress! Every woman needs a piece of clothing that makes her feel pretty. In fact, I am planning on wearing this dress for Christmas! Yes, I am saying a C word bold and loud. I have a 7 year old who started her Christmas countdown a few weeks ago already! I still have time to make special outfits for my girls, but I am glad I don't have to worry about an outfit for myself anymore! If you are at a planning stage for special outfits for Christmas, perhaps you might want to check out Christmas fabric on modes4u.com.

I would like to say a huge thank you to Maggie and the rest of the ModeS Group team for giving me the opportunity to sew with this beautiful fabric!