A little while back, I saw a post from Camber about a fabric swap happening at Griffith Park. A bunch of sewists from around LA were getting together, bringing fabric and patterns they no longer needed, and swapping with each other. Basically a free-for-all of textile goodness. I went not really knowing what to expect and had the best time.
It was so fun getting to meet other people in the sewing community in person. There's something different about connecting with people who are genuinely as excited about fabric as you are, and seeing what everyone brought, what they were working on, what their taste was like. I really hope there are more events like it because that kind of community is hard to find and really special. If you ever see something like this posted near you, just go.
The spread at the Griffith Park fabric swap.
I came home with a serious haul. One of the pieces that caught my eye was this pastel striped fabric in pink, purple, and green. It's really unique, kind of flowy, and I had no idea what I was going to make with it when I picked it up. But it was free, it was pretty, and I figured something would come to me.
A Wedding in New York
A few weeks later, I had a friend's wedding in New York coming up and needed something to wear. So I started brainstorming. I wanted to make my own dress, obviously, and I wanted something that felt special without being a ton of work. That's when I stumbled onto the Edith Dress by Mood Fabrics.
The Edith is a free adaptive sewing pattern, which I think is so cool. It's designed with accessibility in mind, including elastic straps and an elastic back waist that make it much easier to get on and off. It also comes with a detachable cape that buttons at the shoulders for a dramatic finish. The silhouette is romantic and a little dreamy, and it's the kind of dress that feels dressed up without trying too hard.
As soon as I saw it, I thought about that striped fabric sitting in my stash. The flowy quality, the pastel colors, the way it would move. It just made sense. The wedding was in April too, so the soft pastel palette felt really fitting for the season.
Fabric and Lining
The swap fabric became the main fabric for the dress. For the lining, I went to Joann's and picked up something in a green that matched one of the stripes. Getting the lining to coordinate with a multicolor overlay was a little bit of a puzzle, but the green ended up being the right call. It grounds the whole thing without competing with the other colors.
The Make
I followed the pattern pretty closely, and it went smoother than I expected. The instructions are clear and the construction makes sense once you get into it.
The one part that required some real thought was the stripe placement. I had to be intentional throughout, but especially on the bodice. The fabric has a blush pink stripe that reads really close to skin tone, so I made sure that wasn't the dominant stripe sitting across the chest. Little decisions like that make a big difference in how the finished garment reads. It added an extra layer of planning that a solid fabric wouldn't need, but it was worth it.
Skirt panels on the left — getting the stripes to line up took some planning. Bodice pieces on the right.
The elastic back waist came together easily, and the gathered bodice with elastic straps is really satisfying to sew once you understand how all the pieces connect.
Sewing the straps, and the finished top piece with waistband.
Attaching the top to the skirt. Almost there.
The one thing I changed: I skipped the detachable cape. It's a really cool design element and I can see why it's included, but for a summer wedding I wanted something lighter. Instead I made a skinny scarf out of some of the leftover fabric to wear around my neck. Same vibe, less volume.
The Finished Dress
I really love how it turned out. The striped fabric ended up being perfect for this pattern. It's light and flowy, the colors feel festive without being loud, and the whole silhouette has this dreamy quality to it that I'm really happy with.
First try-ons before heading to New York.
The elastic straps are genuinely great. They make the dress so easy to put on and take off, and they also mean the fit is a little more forgiving, which I appreciated. And of course, pockets. The pattern has pockets. Always a win.
I wore it to the wedding in New York, and I felt so good in it. There's something really satisfying about walking into an event in something you made yourself, especially when it started as a random piece of fabric you grabbed for free at a park.
Project Details
- Pattern: The Edith Dress by Mood Fabrics. Free adaptive sewing pattern.
- Main fabric: Pastel striped fabric (pink, purple, and green) from a community fabric swap at Griffith Park in LA, posted by Camber.
- Lining: Coordinating green fabric from Joann's.
- Modifications: Skipped the detachable cape. Made a skinny scarf from leftover fabric to wear around the neck instead.
- Notes: Be intentional with stripe placement on the skirt panels. Otherwise the pattern is very approachable and really enjoyable to make.
If you're looking for a special occasion dress pattern, I'd really recommend the Edith. It's free, the instructions are solid, and the adaptive features are a thoughtful touch that make it genuinely easy to wear. And if you ever see a fabric swap posted near you, go. You really never know what you'll find or who you'll meet.
If you make the Edith, tag me on Instagram @DesignsbyERB. I'd love to see your version.