Sew the Jada Dress

Fabric & Fit

Fabrics to shop: Use a lightweight or medium-weight knit with at least 50% stretch, such as cotton spandex, rayon knits, and soy or bamboo blends. Ensure your knit fabric has a fair amount of spandex in it—both 2-way and 4-way stretch knits will work. Consider how much bounce you want in your fabric to take advantage of the fit-and-flair shape. Rayon, bamboo, or soy blends will drape more than cotton.

Notions: Use stay tape or clear elastic at the armholes to prevent stretching. Both methods are in the instructions.

Fabrics to avoid: Avoid heavyweight knits, like ponte—which might add too much bulk on the flounce—or knits with less than 50% stretch.

Fit: If you peek under the overlay, the bodice for this dress is quite fitted, so check the finished garment measurements to determine ease. The most common fit adjustments for this pattern would likely be a bust adjustment or an armhole depth adjustment. See this article for fitting tips for knits.