Vali Dress made with FS Faille Sophie Black Cotton

Admittedly, I do not know much about fabric content and the differences between- what is Chiffon vs Silk? Cotton Voile vs Cotton Faille? I tend to stay in the “natural fibers” lane, relying on blanket names like Linen and Cotton to fill my stash and ultimately my closet. Before we get too carried away with what’s in my closet, let’s address the most pressing question….What is cotton faille? Well, my friends, it’s a delightful fabric that combines the softness of cotton with the structured beauty of faille- a distant cousin of twill. The fabric has slight ribbed texture, something I did not expect when I opened my yardage up. At first I thought there was a mistake…luckily, no mistakes were made and I got to experiment with the newest addition to Fabrics Store’s printed cotton line.

Vali Dress made with FS Faille Sophie Black Cotton

Vali Dress made with FS Faille Sophie Black Cotton

This fabric is a dream to work with. It doesn’t slip through my fingers like a wet fish (I’m looking at you Silk), nor does it resist my every attempt at molding it into a garment (Poly Organza- you know what you’ve done). No, Cotton Faille is a cooperative friend you might say, a material that respects my moderate sewing skills. It’s like having a personal cheerleader in fabric form- telling me that I got this and my finished garment will be extraordinary! (My personal cheerleader is very encouraging. I don’t correct them heheh).

Vali Dress made with FS Faille Sophie Black Cotton

When it comes to sewing garments, this 4oz Cotton Faille holds its shape, making it perfect for structured patterns. I decided that I wanted to use one of these gorgeous floral prints (read: bold and totally outside my current comfort zone, but fits into my aspirational comfort zone) to make a dress. Dresses are perfect patterns for bold images!! But what pattern was the best option for this material? My self-imposed “pattern ban” meant that I needed to look inward….not like that…not into my soul…leave that for therapy! I needed to dive deeper into the patterns that I already own as well as research inspirational images. I knew I wanted to highlight the cotton structure with a large sleeve, and a big skirt. The 4oz wouldn’t work for a slip dress, or anything too delicate.

Vali Dress made with FS Faille Sophie Black Cotton

I recently started asking for patterns as Christmas gifts, so, of course, my wonderful husband pulled through and got me the Vali Dress by Pattern Fantastique this past holiday. It boasts a structured sleeve, 70’s inspired glam smock bodice, and a voluminous skirt. This was the pattern. Kudos to past Caitlin who got it A0 printed so I didn’t need to wait.

There’s nothing more satisfying than watching your sewing machine glide through this fabric, leaving behind neat, even stitches like a trail of fluffy clouds on a clear blue sky. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewist, this fabric will undoubtedly put a skip in your stitch and a giggle in your bobbin. Now go forth, armed with your Cotton Faille and let your creative genius soar like a spool of rainbow-colored thread.