CONSTRUCTION

SELECTING FABRIC
 
Materials DO matter. We recommend purchasing the best quality fabric your budget permits. We do not want you to waste time and energy on low quality fabrics.  Selecting inexpensive fabrics will lend to the overall appearance of the final product.  In addition, less expensive fabrics are difficult to work with during the design process, thus sacrificing the integrity of dress construction  No amount of beautiful design work can change the appearance of inexpensive fabric, thus materials DO matter.

General Guidelines for Evaluating Fabric
 
Imperfections: Are there imperfections to work around? Slubs and stripes are a natural feature of many textured silks. However, a prominent stripe at a bust line or center of a skirt can be distracting.

Grain: Is the grain of the fabric straight? Can it be straightened?

Quantity: Is there enough fabric on the bolt to cut out the entire gown?  Fabric from another bolt may not be from the same dye lot and thus the color may be different.

Direction: Does the fabric have a right and wrong side? Is there a direction that is up or down? Directional patterns can be obvious or very subtle.

Motif: If there are prominent motifs.  As on damask, how are they placed? What size are they? How will they be arranged on the bodic, skirt, sleeves, or hem?