If you know me or my sewing journey, then you know I love color! The brighter the color, the more complicated the print, the happier I am. But sometimes, you need to sprinkle some neutral pieces into your wardrobe. Using the endlessly versatile Grafton dress pattern from Cashmerette, I made this really cool gray maxi dress. Featuring Heather Grey Melange Sweater Knit fabric from Minerva, this is the perfect piece to pair with more colorful items. Look how great it pairs with my Portland Leather Cape Coral Market Tote bag!
The more I work with the Grafton Dress pattern, the more reasons I have to fan girl over it. You can sew so many looks for so many different occasions with this one little pattern. These aren’t overly complicated designs either. I think, sometimes, pattern designers get a little too wrapped up in bumping up the difficulty of a design that they add unnecessary elements. Not only does that produce aesthetically unpleasing garments, but it also makes the sewing process a slog. Thankfully, the Grafton pattern is expertly designed and a delight to sew. I wonder how many more times I will pull this pattern out, as it’s quickly become a tried-and-true resource for me.
When I first saw the Grafton dress pattern, I knew that I wanted to make the squared off neckline. It’s so stylish and unlike anything I’ve ever seen in an independent sewing pattern. The problem is that this neckline has to be lined in order to give it that sleek look. That can be an issue with some knit fabrics because it can cause a bulky look. The Melange Sweater Knit fabric from Minerva is the perfect weight to fully line the bodice without it looking too bulky. I have some scuba knit fabric that I want to make this neckline out of but finding the right lining continues to be an issue. I might use some of the scrap knit fabric to line the scuba bodice because it worked so well and feels great on my skin.
Like most knit fabrics, it washed really well and retained its beautiful color. I haven’t experienced this yet, but my fear is that it will pill based on how the fabric acts so far. Also, despite using anti-cling/static guard, this fabric picks up everything – from stray thread to an errant leaf. So, if you wear this out, be sure to keep a lint roller handy.
