Selecting fabric can be difficult, even for someone with a lot of sewing experience.

It is often hard to know exactly what fabrics will work well with a specific pattern and the choice of fabric makes a huge difference in the fit and style of your dress. For this reason, it is a good idea to read the back of the pattern and look at the list of suggested fabrics. When we test a new pattern we try to make it in a variety of fabrics so we will know what works well. With Nursing Classics #302, we found that both knits and wovens worked well, but the fit of each was entirely different and each different fabric selection required different fitting and sewing techniques. Sometimes we try things that don't work as well and we try to share our ideas about that as well. Here are a few pointers to help you get the perfect look for your new dress.

1. First, think about the drape of the fabric.

When we talk about the "drape" of the fabric, we are talking about the way the fabric moves and flows with the body. A soft rayon drapes on the body with a little "swishy" feel. A velvet is oftenmuch more stiff and will give you a totally different effect! With a velvet you will need to make your dress more fitted, while with a rayon you will probably want a "looser" fit. With NC#302, we started out the testing with some rayon challis fabrics. They flowed beautifully and were very pretty, cool and fun to wear in the summer. As we moved on to test the slinkys and knits, we found that the fit was totally different and the dresses had a totally different look. Slinky fabrics drape well, but they hug the body more than rayon fabrics and you will probably need a smaller size

2. Pay attention to the texture of the fabric!

Is it soft? scratchy? nubby? Baby's like it when your dress has an interesting feel. They like to feel satin. My 6 year old still reaches up and feels my clothing, rubbing it between her fingers whenever she is nervous or feeling insecure, so never underestimate the importance of the texture of your dress! When picking your fabric it is important to think about whether or not your baby will like it! When we tested holiday fabrics, we found a sparkly red knit that we thought would make a gorgeous dress, but when we sewed it up, the sparkles were very scratchy and irritating to the skin. It was very irritating under the arms and around the neckline. For a mom with a young baby, this fabric would be an especially poor choice because it would scratch the baby as well as the mom! The slinky burgundy knit featured for the bridesmaid dresses also had sparkles on it, but they were soft and did not irritate the skin. Thus, this makes a good fabric choice for a mom with a baby! This is a good lesson to learn. Make sure your fabric has a nice texture to it, especially when you will have a baby in tow! Babies like corduroys, velvets, soft cottons and silky fabrics.

3. Pay attention to the fiber content!

The best fabrics for a mom with a baby are WASHABLE fabrics! You can wear silks, satins and other dry clean only fabrics, but realize that everything about your outfit will work better if you can just throw it in the washer whenever it needs to be cleaned.

4. Pay attention to the amount of stretch!

Knit fabrics have more stretch in them and provide a more forgiving fit. Woven fabrics require a lot more wearing ease. This gets confusing for some moms, but just realize if you use a woven fabric, you will need a bigger size because it won't stretch around you if it is too tight. Also, you need to realize that nursing a baby and "tight" clothing doesn't always mix too well. Knits are really wonderful to work with and are easy to sew, even for beginners. Don't be afraid to try to sew with knits. Just get a ball point sewing needle for your machine and have fun. If you cut it too big, you can always take it in and make adjustments as you go!

5. Be adventurous!

Don't be afraid to try something new! If you find a fabric you love, but aren't sure if it would work well, then don't be afraid to try it! Allow for errors by giving yourself extra ease or by asking a sewing professional for feedback and ideas! Just remember that the most important thing about being creative is to simply DO IT!

YOU are the most important element in your new creation!

Have fun finding the fabric that is perfect for YOU!