Welcome to the first installment of the Sew DIY Eva sewalong. Today, we’re going to be talking about fabric, notions, tools and supplies. We’ll share our favorite fabrics to use with this pattern, the fabrics we used in the samples and a few of our favorite online fabrics picks. Plus, we’ll talk about the notions needed to sew the Eva and tools and supplies we recommend having on hand to make sewing the Eva easier.
Watch the video above (or on YouTube) for details on the Eva pattern as well as information on fabric and tools recommended for this pattern.
Eva Pattern FABRIC RECOMMENDATIONS
The Eva pattern is designed to be sewn with light to medium-weight woven fabric. (We have not tried the pattern using knit fabric but it may work, with some modifications to the construction.) Specifically, we recommend woven fabrics such as linen, chambray, cotton lawn, poplin, double gauze, rayon challis, and crepe de chine. You’ll want to select a fabric that is suitable for dresses and blouses and that will gather nicely. The light weight is especially important for the dress, because you don’t want it to feel weighed down or heavy.
This pattern is a great opportunity to use a fun print, especially for the dress. It’s fun. It’s kind of flirty and perfect for swishing around in a super pretty, whimsical pattern.
Fabrics shown above:
Lady McElroy Cotton Lawn in Ocean Leopard – Blue from Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics
Jumbo Gingham Soft Washed Linen in Candy Floss from Blackbird Fabrics I love a good gingham fabric and they have this in three other colorways as well.
Mineral Yellow Fall Bubble Gauze Fabric from Joann I used a bubble gauze fabric for the View A sample that I made. I love how soft it is and even though it is two layers of fabric, it worked well. The only construction change I recommend with a thicker fabric is to trim the seam allowance on the ties and loops before turning them right side out. You may also want to use a slightly larger seam allowance for the ties and loops, to help them turn more easily.
Églantine & Zoé Flora Abstract Floral Rayon Poplin Teal from StyleMaker Fabrics
Gertie Floral Viscose & Linen in Ivory from Fabric Godmother
For the crop top (View A) sample of the Eva pattern, I used a piece of double gauze that I bought from Joann. They have a number of colors available and while I don’t see the exact color I used, they have a similar one. I love how soft double gauze is and I think the slightly thicker fabric works well in the crop top view.
If you decide to use double gauze or a similar fabric for your Eva, I recommend triming down the seam allowance before you turn the loops and ties right side out. Even with trimming, my ties were nice and plump.
For both the peplum and the sundress (views B and C) samples of the Eva shown in the pattern listing, I used lightweight rayon challis. Rayon (aka viscose) in either a challis texture or a crepe are excellent options for the Eva pattern. They have great drape, are pretty easy to sew with and you can find lots of fun prints to work with.
The image above shows a tie strap variation of the Eva Sundress sewn in a ditsy floral print rayon crepe. I couldn’t find an exact match for this fabric online but I did find a similar one from Raspberry Creek fabrics.
SUPPLIES FOR SEWING THE EVA TOPS & SUNDRESS
In addition to fabric, you’ll need matching thread, interfacing and 3/8” wide elastic. For thread, I generally use an all-purpose polyester thread but you can also use cotton thread. In my experience, cotton thread is more prone to breaking down over time, but I believe it’s more environmentally friendly than polyester because it does actually break down with time. (You can choose what works best for you.
For interfacing, I recommend a lightweight fusible interfacing. Personally, I’m not picky about brands or types of interfacing. The interfacing is used for the facing at the front and back neckline.
You’ll need a smallish piece of 3/8” (1cm) wide elastic for the center back of the bodice. If you have elastic in your stash, I’d use whatever is convenient. (Again not picky) That said, one of my testers really liked using a cotton swimwear elastic, which is generally a little softer than regular elastic.
tool RECOMMENDATIONS
Besides normal sewing tools such as scissors, I recommend having safety pins for fitting, a tube turner (for turning the loops and ties) and a wooden dowel (for pressing the straps).
Simflex expanding sewing gauge (for marking even placement of the loops)
About the Sew DIY Eva pattern:
These semi-fitted tops and sundress feature a square neckline, side bust darts and are fitted at the back with a combination of narrow elastic and criss-crossed lacing. View A is a crop top that ends at the waistline. View B has a ruffled peplum and ends at the high hip. View C is a dress with a calf-length skirt and ruffle at the hem.
The pattern is a hybrid of a traditional pattern that you need to print and a zero-waste style pattern. You will need to print (or project) the front bodice and front facing pattern pieces. The remaining pattern pieces are rectangles that you can draw directly on your fabric (or paper) and then cut out, saving you paper and fabric.
