Dear readers,
Now that you know Jourdan, let's talk fabric. This is a pattern that can change quite dramatically depending on what you make it in. Crisper fabrics give the neckline binding and the ties a clean, defined finish. Softer fabrics let the open sides drape more fluidly.
For this guide, I went back to some of the RTW pieces that inspired the mood of Jourdan and matched them with fabrics that could give you a similar result. For each option below you will find the inspiration pieces and my fabric picks.
Cotton poplin
A crisp, lightweight woven with enough body to define the shape. The center front seam and the inset side panels stay sharp, and the overall look is clean and polished.
Linen
Lightweight and breathable, with gentle structure and a soft drape. Linen gives Jourdan a relaxed, naturally elegant look, and it only gets better with wear.
Linen blends
Blending linen with cotton or viscose gives a softer hand and a smoother drape while keeping that light, natural feel. A good middle ground if pure linen feels too crisp for the look you are after.
Chambray
Lightweight and breathable, with a soft drape and subtle texture. Chambray sits somewhere between relaxed and refined, which suits Jourdan very well.
Tencel
Smooth and lightweight, with a beautiful fluid drape. In Tencel, the waist ties create a soft, flowing effect and the open sides fall in gentle folds.
Viscose
A soft, fluid woven with excellent drape. The tied sections fall naturally and the silhouette turns elegant and feminine.
Organza
The unexpected one. Organza is sheer and crisp, so the shape becomes more defined, almost sculptural, while staying airy and delicate. It is also worth considering for the inset side panels alone: a sheer panel against a solid body makes a little illusion effect.
What to skip
Jourdan is drafted for light to mid-weight wovens, so leave the knits for another pattern. Heavy or stiff fabrics will fight the binding and make the ties bulky.
A note on remnants
Jourdan can use very little fabric. I designed it with those beautiful remnants we all keep in mind, and the pattern comes with individual cutting layouts for every size and fabric width, so you can check whether your small piece will actually work before you commit.
Jourdan is 15% off through release week, no code needed, plus an additional 10% off your entire order for newsletter subscribers.
So, what will you use for your first Jourdan? Let me know in the comments, and save this post for your next visit to the fabric store.
Happy Sewing!