Fabric suggestions for 224 Beautiful Dreamer

June 27, 2023 2 Comments on Fabric suggestions for 224 Beautiful Dreamer

We brought 224 Beautiful Dreamer back into print after many years because so many of our wonderful customers asked for it.  And no wonder.  There are basically no other sewing patterns out there for wide dreamy nightgowns with the old-fashioned ruffles.  These Edwardian-era gowns are comfortable as well as romantic.  They harken to a time of simple elegance, even while sleeping. 

While this pattern is mostly likely to be used for nightgowns, it really does make a cute day dress too.  Wear it as a tunic style dress or belt it at the waist.  You can eliminate the ruffles if you finish with piping or sew the yokes and cuffs together at the seams rather than finish with ruffles.  You can also shorten the sleeves if you want to.  You can see how we eliminated the ruffles on the child's version (225 Childhood Dreams) in the photos of the dress with bird prints on the product page.  You also don't have to add the side front placket for the dress.  This just provides more room to get in and out of the gown, but it may not be necessary.  

Below I am going to show some fabric suggestions for this gown - for nightwear and for day wear.  Let me know what you would make this gown in, and what you would wear it for.

First, the classic . . . white voile.  This was, historically, what this nightgown was made from in the early 1900s.  Use the voile for ruffles (or in a different color!) or use a pre-made eyelet or lace in place of the hand-sewn ruffles.  We carry this organic cotton white voile in our shop.

We also have some lovely organic linens in stock, several of which I used to make my mother a nightgown from this pattern.  Linen is lovely for sleeping -comfortable and it helps to keep the body temperature regulated.

For a dress, I really like the idea of a viscose in a pretty print, like this floral viscose challis below.  Eliminate the ruffles (if you want) and this can be a dress with lots of movement and will look great belted. 

Another option for either a nightgown or for a cute dress would be this lawn from Harts Fabric.  Add contrasting ruffles, eyelet, or lace; or make it without any ruffles for a floaty dress.

Another pretty lawn is this berry and leaves print from Bolt Fabric.  

Finally, this gown made with flannel cotton might be the coziest thing you will ever wear.  I would go for a lightweight flannel rather than a heavy weight.  There are a ton of solid flannels, plaid flannels, and flannels with cute prints.  Plaid flannels could be interesting with placement of the yoke and the ruffles on the fabric.  But, I like the two printed flannels below, foxes from Bolt Fabric and a woodland print from Harts Fabric. 

What fabric would you like to make our 224 Beautiful Dreamer pattern in?

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