… but this one is not for me!
When I first ordered the modal jersey for my Day and Night Dress Challenge from Stylish Fabrics, they accidentally shipped this poly crepe doubleknit (also known as Liverpool) instead. They were very nice about it and resent the correct fabric right away. Stylish Fabrics was a sponsor for the challenge and offered bloggers/vloggers free fabric for either the day or night dress, so I was particularly impressed that they not only sent me free fabric once, but twice! I was the only blogger outside the USA who ordered from them, so we worried a little about the timing, but both packages arrived quickly.
All of that is to say, I found myself with some black Liverpool, and knew right away that it would make the perfect Cashmerette Rivermont dress for my sister. She wear the first version I made her quite often, and always looks great in it!
Have you sewn with Liverpool before? It’s really taken the sewing world by storm over the last two years, and it has some great properties:
- 30% or more stretch widthways, and a bit of vertical stretch
- crepe texture looks more elegant than some polyester fabrics
- has the drape of a lightweight ponte, I’d say, so it works in structured patterns like this or this, or in softer patterns like this or this!
- Liverpool seems to be the same through all vendors, so a crepe knit like this is a pretty safe bet to order online
- it’s polyester, so it never fades
- sews nicely on a serger, regular machine or coverstitch!
The only negative that I’ve come up with in a few years of sewing and wearing Liverpool is that it pills at centre front where my seatbelt rubs over long pendant necklaces. If you don’t wear long necklaces or commute a lot, that shouldn’t be an issue!
Rivermont is a surprisingly versatile style, depended in how snugly you fit it. In the picture above, I’m pinching out a few inches at the waist, and it’s much more Joan Holloway va va voom. For everyday work wear though, a bit of ease makes it chic and effortless! We’ve got one more Rivermont planned for Anne using a tie-dye/shibori-esque indigo and taupe double knit. This time I think we’ll go for short sleeves and a scoop neck to make it summery and more casual.
Being shipped the wrong fabric definitely turned out as a happy accident – thanks, Stylish Fabrics! This dress has already been added to Anne’s closet, and I’m on to much more colourful projects!
Crafting A Rainbow 
I feel bummed that I haven’t heard of Liverpool fabric because I haven’t sewn anything in 18 months – but also happy to have a new, crazy fabric to try when my sewing room is reconstituted.
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Don’t worry – Liverpool knit is more my jam than yours! 100% poly just does not seem like you! But – I think we need to have an inaugural sewing day when your house is finally finished!!!
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Very classic and stylish. Fits you great!
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Thank you!!
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This is lovely, Gillian! I’m sure your sister will agree and will be rocking it just as well as her first one.
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I made her a third one last night! I think she now has enough, so (phew!) no more sewing all those darts!
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Very nice make for your sister and it is a beautiful classic LBD.
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I love the way black dresses show off accessories – I hope this look good with all her hand knit sweaters and shawls!
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Beautiful LBD, and interesting information about a fabric that’s new to me! I’ll have to check it out!
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I could see you enjoying Liverpool, if you don’t mind polyester fabrics? It’s got a nice volume which would suit the styles you enjoy!
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I am totally LOVING wearing this dress. It’s comfy, it’s professional, it’s a nice in-between weight that will work regardless of season… and it fits beautifully. And it’s a perfect blank canvas for a handknit shawl or a statement necklace! Thanks, G!
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I’m so glad! I”m definitely getting faster at sewing all those darts! 😉
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Hello Gillian
I thought you looked stunning in the black Rivermont dress. Maybe hang on to it!!!
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Thank you! i just sewed Anne another version last night in a more casual print with short sleeves… and I suddenly could imagine wearing this pattern myself!
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Gillian, I can’t believe you don’t imagine yourself wearing this dress! Have you seen the pictures on your blog? YOU LOOK FABULOUS! Hmmmm . . .. My crystal ball sees a new black Rivermont in your future!
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I love Liverpool. I found a source for it in the downtown LA fashion district for $3/yd and buy it like it’s going out of fashion. They don’t usually have it in plain colors though so seeing this in plain black is so nice!
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Ahhh, to have a cheap local fabric source!!!! You are living the dream!
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Paulette, don’t be a temptress. Share the source of the Liverpool fabric! Pretty Please…..
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So sorry, I didn’t know there were replies! I go to JB Textiles in the LA Fashion District. If you’re local, it’s on Maple between 8th and 9th, one block up from Michael Levine. They have ALL KINDS of fabrics but always a supply of floral Liverpool.
Also I just made a floral Rivermont, all inspired by this post! Thanks Gillian, now I also need one in black.
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What a stunning dress. I definitely think that you need one of these in your life too. It is just gorgeous. I have never heard of “Liverpool” fabric before. Maybe it is called something else in the UK? It looks and sounds brilliant. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Easter! Xx
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Hehe – it would crack me up if Liverpool is the name given outside the UK, to make it sound… fancy? I could imagine it being called crepe doubleknit as well? It’s quite popular in RTW here this year and last, so I bet it’s in your RTW shops too?
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If you had two black dresses in your closet, I may start to think that you’d been kidnapped by aliens and replaced with a pod person!
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You can never have too many black pants or black dresses! I think I look like Audrey Hepburn when I wear a black dress. OK, ok, I have an active imagination. But wearing a black dress gives every woman a certain ” je ne sais quoi.” Wouldn’t you agree?
You are right about the Liverpool knits. Great texture. Nice drape. I purchased a piece of fabric from califabrics.com that turned out to be liverpool. It was not described as liverpool or as crepe doubleknit. I made a wearable muslin pair of pants out of it. They are wearable, not perfect. The greater stretch went lengthwise instead of width of grain. Lesson learned, I need to check out the direction of stretch BEFORE cutting. The other thing, the heavier weight fabric is too hot to wear year round in the High Desert. The lighter weight might be ok. I’ll have to try it out.
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That dress is beautiful on your sister! I have a suggestion for the pilling issue at center front. If it’s from your necklace rubbing under the seatbelt, why not make it a habit to drop your pendant INSIDE the top of your dress every time you get in your car and buckle your seatbelt, and pull your necklace back out again when you unbuckle your seatbelt to get out of the car? That way any rubbing/pilling will be on the inside of your dress where no one can see it.
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