The Sewing Place

What weight is the average jersey dress please?

jaloma

What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« on: December 27, 2019, 16:49:15 PM »
I'm hoping to make a long sleeved, straight skirt New Look 6301 mock wrap dress, and I want to buy fabric the same weight as you'd get in a jersey day dress by Seasalt, FatFace or Monsoon. Not too thin as I'd like to wear the dress with tights.
The fabrics I really like are by The Art Gallery (Minerva), at £24 p/m: as I need 2.5 metres, I can't justify it. They are 175 gsm. I'd really appreciate any advice on weight, and if anyone has found anything similar for less?

UttaRetch

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2019, 18:31:21 PM »


For the suggested fabrics.  It never hurts to go with one of these.  This pattern is extremely popular and there are lots of reviews on PR.

BrendaP

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2019, 20:44:06 PM »
None of the reviews on the first page on PatternReview said anything about the fabric weight used.

The pattern envelope just says
Sized for stretch knits only; Interlock, Jacquard, Jersey, Single Knit, Spandex Blends.  See Pick-A-Knit Rule.  Nothing specific about the weight of the fabric.

But, that Pick-A-Knit Rule, which tells you how stretchy the fabric needs to be, is not included on any of the images of the envelope that I've found online.  Sometimes it tells you that 10% stretch is enough, sometimes it requires a lot more stretch!

The Textile Centre
https://www.thetextilecentre.co.uk/collections/jersey
has an excellent selection of very reasonably priced jersey fabrics, though they do tend to be mostly polyesters rather than cotton.  Just keep away from anything described as heavyweight or ponte.

Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Vezelay

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2019, 23:59:22 PM »
Thank you for reminding me about this pattern. I want to make a mock wrap dress for a Spring wedding and this is as good as any! Very popular too - I'll order it.

Via @UttaRetch 's PR link I see a striking example https://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/156022 made in scuba crepe jersey, which co-incidentally is one of the first fabrics shown in @BrendaP 's Textile Centre link. I'm not even sure what scuba crepe jersey is like but I want some  :)

Oh and to answer the original question, for a mid-season dress I'd generally be looking for a fabric somewhere between 180 and 240 although I sometimes wonder how precise these figures are. I'm sure the Art Gallery fabric would be lovely  :D
« Last Edit: December 28, 2019, 00:10:45 AM by Vezelay »

UttaRetch

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2019, 08:32:09 AM »

Via @UttaRetch 's PR link I see a striking example https://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/156022 made in scuba crepe jersey, which co-incidentally is one of the first fabrics shown in @BrendaP 's Textile Centre link. I'm not even sure what scuba crepe jersey is like but I want some
The textile centre used to have a shop in Walthamstow and I have actually handled this fabric.  It has a nice hand and drapes well.

Thinking of the florals contest, this



caught my eye.
                                                     

sewingj

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2019, 09:25:09 AM »
I have found Stof of Denmark jersey is a very similiar weight to Art Gallery and is about half the price

https://www.1stforfabrics.co.uk/product-category/fabric-stof-of-denmark-jersey-sweat/?product-page=2

and 1stforfabrics is a lovely company to deal with

UttaRetch

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2019, 15:13:56 PM »
I have always liked this



Art gallery fabric, but it's too expensive for someone who has never even sewn any kind of knit.

jaloma

Re: What weight is the average jersey dress please?
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2019, 21:38:09 PM »
Thank you all so much - for the link to the Stof of Denmark especially, and the advice on weight to go for. Uttaretch, that Art Gallery fabric has been used by someone on PR to make another pattern I have, McCalls 7456! It is so nice but so expensive; it does bug me that it's so expensive to buy fabric here in the UK (US posters on PR seem to get much better deals).
I made some jersey dresses for my girls when they were young enough not to know how desperately uncool it is to wear homemade clothes  :[, it went pretty well but I'd rather use a cheaper fabric the first time I make this pattern.
Thanks again for all the help, it's much appreciated.