Rayon Kalle for Minerva

Hi there!

Today sees the publication of a product review I did for Minerva Crafts a few months ago.  I got the chance to try out a dress length Closet Case Patterns Kalle in THE most amazing rayon.

I genuinely cannot say enough good things about this Art Gallery Fabrics rayon.  Everything about it is genuinely incredible: the colour depth is amazing, the hand is beautiful, it washes well, it presses well and it’s so lovely to wear.

In terms of the pattern, I used the same sizing as I had done in my last Kalle. I then made a small hollow chest adjustment (where you lower the centre front and the shoulder neck point by 2cm, redraw the neckline curve between the new shoulder neck point and centre front and draw a straight line from the new neckline to the original shoulder).  I cut view B but added 2″ to the front and levelled the back off so that it’s the same length as the front.

I took a lot of care with the construction to reflect the beautiful nature of the fabric; I used french seams throughout and hand basted things like the collar before attaching it.  The hem is finished with self made bias binding, which I find works much better for delicate fabrics like this one than a shop bought binding.

Whilst I was really happy with the look of this dress, I haven’t found myself reaching for it over the summer months.  I’m not entirely sure why; is it just because I’m not really a dresses person?  It definitely isn’t the colour, which is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favourites.

Given it’s now the end of summer, I’m not going to change anything right now.  But I think that if I still feel indifferent about it as a shirt dress come next spring, I may just hack it off to a cropped length in the hope of getting more wear out of it next year.  Not wearing something made from this beautiful fabric seems criminal!

Hop on over to Minerva now for the full details on this make.

Do you ever find that with something you thought you’d love? Any tips on refashioning?

Becca x

Details

Pattern Closet Case Patterns KAlle shirt

Fabric  2m of Art Gallery Fabrics rayon

My measurements

Bust 36″

Waist 31″

Hips 42″

Size cut 8

Adjustments made

Hollow chest adjustment

Added 2″ to the front length and adjusted the back to the same level

Future adjustments

If I were making a dress version again, I would add less to the length; I think the hollow chest adjustment was good though

Make again?

Maybe? Although not at this length.

Minerva Crafts provided the fabric in the project free of charge in return for my review; all opinions are my own