There are some sewing patterns that are so good, you immediately start planning your next version before you’ve even finished the first one. The first time I made the Nell Dress by Tilly and the Buttons, I had to use the fabric that came in the sewing kit. I loved this since it gave me a great idea of how the final product would turn out, but now it’s time to explore! This time, I used this warm and cozy Fableism Swedish Holiday cotton fabric, which is a collaboration with The House That Lars Built. The collection looks to be on backorder on the Fableism site, but luckily for me, this fabric was sent to me by Minerva and is available for order now!
Since this was my second time making Nell, the construction felt much more familiar. I already knew what to expect from the pattern, which made the sewing process pretty straightforward. Technically, my 4.5 meters of 43-inch fabric is too narrow for the knee-length dress I made. I did take a little extra care when cutting and sewing to keep the checks looking neat, because matching a woven check is always worth the extra few minutes of attention. Achieving this involved some creative geometry and mixing the direction of the checks, but I LOVE it! I think I did a darn good job!
The colors in the fabric – named Cob Red Check – remind me of a late summer sunset. It’s like the last few bursts of intense red/orange sunlight breaking through cobalt skies before the weather turns cold. The yarn-dyed woven cotton has a lovely texture and enough body to give the dress some structure while still being comfortable to wear. This was my first time sewing with a Fableism fabric and now I understand why the brand has such a great reputation. The fabric laundered beautifully, the colors didn’t bleed, and the fabric feels great on my skin. Now, this isn’t the kind of fabric you want to use if you’re looking for perfectly pressed garments. Even after ironing with a fair amount of steam, the fabric had a distinctive crinkle. But I like it. It has a carefree but still put together look.
This Nell is definitely going to get plenty of wear. I can already picture wearing it with boots in the fall, sneakers for a casual day out, or even layered with a knee-length cardigan when the weather gets cooler. I’m officially convinced that two Nell Dresses are not enough. If a pattern works, why not make it again? Maybe it’s time for a Nell Blouse?
