When Rimma saw the stunning Roberto Cavalli slinky knit fabric in person at Elliott Berman Textiles, her heart skipped a beat! It was so unique and different from everything else in her wardrobe. She was instantly captivated by the vibrant primary colors and the intricate, complex print.
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Rimma knew right away which pattern she wanted to make with it—her tried-and-true choice for slinky knits, the Named Patterns Kielo wrap dress. Having already made this pattern five times (two dresses, two tops, and one tunic), she had been wanting to make another maxi dress for years. What better fabric for it than this gorgeous designer knit!
The material feels like an ITY knit—very slinky, beautifully draped, and cool to the touch, which Rimma loves for summer wear. Despite being polyester, it’s incredibly comfortable, wrinkle-free, and perfect for travel; she can throw it in her suitcase, take it out in pristine condition, and be ready to go! It’s also machine washable: after washing it in cold water and drying on low, the fabric handled it perfectly.
For those familiar with lightweight knits, Rimma assures that this fabric isn’t any more challenging to sew. She recommends using a size 11 ballpoint needle and testing on a swatch for flawless stitching on both sewing machine and serger.
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Rimma spent time studying the print, holding it up to her face, and experimenting with print placement. Given the complex, non-symmetrical design, she ultimately decided to place the front randomly rather than trying to achieve symmetry. Although she aimed to pattern match on the back, limited fabric and the nature of the print made it difficult. Nonetheless, she’s pleased with the outcome.
For her dress, Rimma made a size US 8, using the original pattern with bust darts, which she prefers for a better fit. She omitted the back fisheye darts, finding them unnecessary in a slinky knit. She also adjusted the sleeves from the updated pattern, testing several versions to achieve the ideal fit. The original sleeve was too wide and the armscye too low for her taste, so she made adjustments until it fit perfectly.
To keep the shoulder seam stable, she reinforced it with a strip of 1/4” reinforcement tape. She also added a custom-drafted, narrow neckband. For extra durability, Rimma used rainbow variegated thread in her serger, which perfectly matched the colors in the print, and opted for Gutermann Maraflex thread on her sewing machine to maintain elasticity in the seams.
She fully interfaced the ties due to the fabric's lightweight nature and reinforced the vent area with fusible tape. For hemming the sleeves and bottom edge, she used her coverstitch machine, inserting a strip of fusible web to achieve clean, neat stitching.
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Rimma absolutely loves the finished dress. It’s incredibly comfortable, and the vibrant print is eye-catching and fun. She knows this dress will be a staple in her wardrobe for years to come!
@rimmazolo