Knit plaids are an elusive beast – so for years I’ve bought every one I can find. There was this, and this… and… in five years, I think that’s all! So when I found this buffalo plaid rayon on Minerva Crafts, I snapped up 5m and a few metres of a black and white colourway too. Stash, baby, stash!
The fabric did present a few challenges though: It’s thin, and has that cakey ink that cracks if it’s stretched too hard. I cut the bodice and sleeves larger than normal so that the print isn’t stretched and distorted!
You can probably predict the pattern combination by now: Cashmerette Washington, and Kitschy Koo Comino Cap skirt. I’ve been reaching for this bodice a lot lately, because it works well either totally snug as drafted or slightly loose when sized up. Comino has always been my favourite skirt – the perfect amount of fullness without being a fabric hog!
I’m not quite sure how to style this dress… how much does it need, and how little can I get away with?
- I generally dislike wearing belts, because they ride up and sit under my bust. (The that picture above where I’m wearing the vest? That belt is way up high after just a few minutes!)
- My brain wants to pair it with black belt and black cardigan, but then it feels too dark. For these pictures I tried to mix in marled grey and olive to make it less monotone.
- My massive collection of scarves doesn’t have anything quite right! Must. Buy. More. Scarves!
Which combo do you like best? How would you style this dress?
Crafting A Rainbow 
Very nice- I like all the combos, but then, I like goth and punk! For a xmassy look, try some white, or go absolutely bonkers and clash it with orange or fuschia. I dare you!
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Orange or fuschia???? That’s going to make my brain spin, but I’ll give it a go! 😉
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Why not- you love colour, and you’re young enough to work it!
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Beautiful! You’ve styled it well each way and depending on your mood and situation you can wear it any way. Well done!
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Thank you! Sometimes photoshoots are so helpful for foguring out how to make a garment work – it took me two rounds of pictures to find accessories I like! 😛
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I like the first pic of you the best Gillian – just you and the dress 🙂 I love that print! What a find and you’ve matched those checks perfectly from bodice to skirt – wow! You could just play with that “lumberjack” look perhaps like you have with the leggings and boots – some jewelry that hints of the Canadian lumber jack woman… like an axe on a necklace? 🙂
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It’s been a while since I bothered to do any print matching – thank you for noticing that it paid off!
An axe necklace sounds badass, and vaguely like wearing Thor’s hammer… now I want one!
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too bad that the print quality has these risks… still, I guess it’s worth it for what a pretty dress it is! It gives a bit of a punkish vibe that’s very nice!
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At least the fabric was cheap! 😉 It’s not *perfect* fabric, but I’m hoping it will hold up for a few years and be fun to wear. I hadn’t thought of it as punkish, but now I’m rather tempted to dig out some of my husbands old cuffs and see if I can make it more rebellious!
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Oh! I have had 3 yards of GirlCharlee red and black plaid in my stash that I have been aching to use, but my daughter can’t make up her mind what she wants – this may be the impetus to get it sewn up, if not for her but for me! I love it with the grey, and I bet a soft blue/denim chambray scarf would be perfect 🙂
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This is your chance to claim the fabric for yourself! Your daughter snoozes, she loses! 😉
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She loves your pictures and how you styled it – luckily we fit the same size these days, so it will be a dress we share 😉
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Embrace the multiple plaids! I like the plaid scarf with the check dress. Very Canadian! You could be in a Roots add, especially with the snow!
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There’s something about fluffy snow that makes us all want to frolic in a Roots commercial, isn’t there? I’d better take good advantage of the snow for pictures before it melts back to hideous brown slush again…
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This dress looks great on you 😊 xxx
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Thank you, Mom! ❤
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Belt and olive jacket! I love this dress, you’re right knit checks are hard to come by! It looks great on you.
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Thank you! I like that combo too!
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Love them all!!!! Want one too!!!!
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It could be yours too for only 3.99GBP/m! 😉 https://www.minervacrafts.com/shop/fabric/dress-fabrics/mf-100384-check-plaid-print-stretch-viscose-jersey-knit-dress-fabric-black-red-per-metre
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I love it! I think it looks great on its own, but also with the green cardigan. The socks/boots combo is absolutely perfect. You’ve got an eye for styling!
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Aww, thank you! My neighbours must think I’m crazy, taking on and off belts and sweaters and scarves out on the sidewalk… but I do find it so useful to see how things really look!
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Looove this dress! It looks great on you.
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I like the plain only, the plain with green sweater, and the belt only. Those three are nicely balanced. But I like the puffy vest and scarf for roaming around outside. It’s cute too!
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I love this Gillian. I’ve been trying to get jerseys in this kind of print for my shop but it’s difficult. If you’re looking for proper viscose jersey- I have some in stock – get in touch if you ever want to order and I’ll figure out the best postage to Canada. http://www.dressfabrics.ie
This isn’t spam BTW- just for your info.
Maeve.
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Great dress, Gillian! I especially like the christmassy look with the belt and green cardi, but plain is also nice.
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Shall I admit that I was so frustrated by my lack of appropriate cardigan that I went thrift shopping? Got two possible options much faster than I could sew them, and cheaper than buying new. The green one is really cosy though and definitely a winner!
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There aren’t enough words to express how much I move this dress on you!! It looks amazing with the olive jacket/cardigan/blazer! But I agree that scarf matching can be difficult! Must order this fabric even if it’s cakey!
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I really think you should make yourself and idenitdress! The fabric was cheap – I linked to it in a reply to a comment above. This is definitely inspired by my love for your red and black plaid Opal!
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What a great dress – love it!
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Thank you! I really like it now that I’ve figured out how to style it! 😉
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The Dress looks great on you! I like the belt – but comfort is key– if you don’t like it don’t wear it! How about a jean jacket- too lumber jacky? Nice pattern matching!
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OOH! You’ve made me want a denim jacket, because you are right, that would be a fabulous combo! Hmmm… Hmmm… 🙂
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Hahaha I like the three looks with the belts (of course, right?!), but it should only matter what you feel most comfortable in. Love the plaid knit though, just too bad about the cracking.
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I forget if I mentioned in the post, but the belt is actually elastic! 😉 So I really can’t complain about comfort… it’s just a question of it shimmying up under my boobs during the day! (I.e. I should suck it up and add belt loops.)
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Ah, that would be pretty annoying though. Go sans belt then. Or could you make a fabric one that won’t shimmy?
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Great dress, love the plaid it looks awesome on, I find belts ride up too and I don’t find them very comfortable (once style came above comfort!!) I always think of adding belt hoops after I’ve finished a dress. I really like the double plaid and think seeing photos of outfits styled differently is an awesome idea of learning what works.
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I thought about adding belt loops, and then I got so lazy… but I’m totally with you on the absurdity of uncomfortable belts just for style! This one is actually elastic, so I really can’t complain! 😉
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Maximum cuteness!!! I love this dress so much ❤
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I feel 110% Canadian in this dress – now if only someone sold Hudson’s Bay Stripe fabric, we could reach 200% Canadianess!
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OMG is someone sold that I would be all over it. Picture a hudson’s bay striped jacket…*swoon*!
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So cute! I love it!
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I love this!!!!! Although that kind of fabric print annoys the hell out of me. 😦
And I like all the ways you’ve styled it, except perhaps the scarf which might be a bit much. 😉
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Out of all the looks you did, I actually like the one with the vest most. It looks very “fashion blogger” that way, and the sort of thing I’d probably find when searching Pinterest for inspiration on styling print stuff. Which, incidentally, is hard to find… But anyway, it looks like a lovely winter dress!
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I love this dress so much!! I’ve been avoiding buffalo plaid because it felt a little too bold for me, but boy, you might have just changed my mind. I do love me some knit plaids and I have several in my stash. I’ve found some really great ones at FashionFabricsClub.com for excellent prices (and knits are on sale right now too!) I’m completely in love with this black and purple sweater knit (https://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/p212984_46298-blackpurple-diagonal-plaid-sweater-knit) and I find myself just petting it. I’m in the middle of a huge move, so I was sad to pack it up with all my other fabrics instead of sewing something warm and beautiful with it. But hopefully in a few weeks I’ll be ready to sew again!
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