Calico fabric for dress?

[lemon50]

This is likely a niche question, but I'm optimistic someone will have a view!

I'm making my very first dress and need to choose a fabric. I have sewn lots of things but not clothes for myself before, so thought I'd make the dress out of calico fabric to start with. The sort usually used to make toile. Do you think I could then still wear the dress out as normal, or will it look weird?

It's a floaty summer dress, wilder gown, if anyone is familiar.

Thank you!

What is the pattern?

I've just fallen in love with a pattern on another thread. I need a creative way of finding fabric though. £5 per m is about my limit for 5 m for a dress!

here's my lovely pattern

Cute pattern! I saw that on the other thread you're referring to

My pattern is the wilder gown. I know some people make it out of chiffon but I'd prefer a cotton for my first try - chiffon seems too ambitious, and I mostly wear cotton anyway.

fridaypatterncompany.com/products/the-wilder-gown-pdf-pattern

The price depends on the pattern and retailer as well as the fabric - for a novelty or designer print or a small shop that doesn't expect to sell in large quantities, £10/metre is a normal price. For a plain cotton fabric it would be a lot! If I really liked a print I'd go up to about £15-20/metre, but sewing is my main hobby and I spend far too much time combing through fabrics online, so if you're new to it then start with something cheaper for practice

Try Minerva Crafts maybe? They have quite a wide selection, mostly at reasonable prices. Abakhan are good as well but their website isn't as easy to navigate.

I just saw your pattern OP and agree with a PP, calico will be much too heavy for that - you want something light and flowy that drapes well, otherwise it'll feel like you're wearing a tent! Perhaps lawn cotton, or if you're not totally set on cotton then a lightweight viscose might look nice.

I've found some cheapish plains for try outs:

this plain is £5.10 per m and no postage. 100% cotton, not many colours left but could do for a trying out the pattern dress:

plain cotton

this is a veyr thin and fine muslin for £4.49 per metre

muslin

[[cotton twill, probably too stiff for a dress £6.99 a metre but 150 wide
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STONE-100-COTTON-TWILL-FABRIC-Craft-Soft-Furnishing-Clothing-Fat-Quarter-150cm/272994272880?hash=item3f8fba0670:m:mhGqAXZwP_un881L3tJalRQ twill]]

I think these are lovely for summer, white on white design. Not too expensive, but not very wide either
white

Thank you so much! I think I saw the cotton too, but wasn't sure what the weight was. I've found a 200gsm, 60 wide, £7 a metre - perhaps that's not so bad then.

The dobby fabric is so lovely! Do you think it'd be thick enough to wear without a slip underneath? And is dobby easy enough for a novice dressmaker?

I'm still not giving up hope on the dusty airforce blue gingham... I so love the pattern, shame about the polyester content.

I sew for pleasure but on a relatively shoe string budget.
I buy patterns from eBay , often in a job lot.
I have used fabric land and pound fabrics and find the fabric to be of acceptable quality. Both have relatively high post and packing so I tend to buy for more than 1 project.
Calico Is best avoided as it would hang oddly and possibly feel rough and itchy .
My second attempt at a pattern is always more successful, maybe you could use on old duvet cover as a first draft. Then splurge on some beautiful fabric for your second dress.
Best wishes on your sewing adventures , please come back and post a picture of your finished creation.

Thank you @soontobe6 will post back! I'm currently working on an alphabet mini quilt (my third quilt this month... I might be getting carried away) for my daughter's room - see pic. Liberty lawn is such a pleasure to work with 😍

i think the white fabircs would be ok without lining. I suppose it depends a bit on what you make.
You could order a sample? They are pretty aren't they? I could only do a top though, can't wear a whole white dress

I'm going to get a sample or a FQ good idea. If it's no good, can always make lavender bags out of it!

This sparked a memory of my dad's record player, the one in a walnut cabinet? and his record collection. I found a Perry Como rendition of 'Met a girl in calico and I want to say, she used to be my Sunday beau til I went away'.
We were given squares of calico at school to practice cross stitch on.

I've just seen your pattern. That white fabric would be absolutely perfect for it!

You mean the dobby fabric? I think so too!

yes the dobby one

I've hit a snag on the dobby - apparently it can't be machine washed, only cold washed by hand. I'm not sure I can work with that!