The Marcel Tank Top and Dress is here, and I can hardly believe it! I don’t know about you, but fabric selection is one of my favorite parts of the sewing process. Sometimes a fabric selection is an obvious choice while other times inspiration is found in the form of ready-to-wear clothing. Whichever way you find that inspiration, this post is designed to help. Read on for a healthy dose of sundresses and beautiful fabrics. Then, don’t forget to check out our Marcel RTW Inspiration Pinterest Board as well as the Marcel tester and Mini Marcel tester round up posts.

First things first, if you haven’t grabbed the Marcel Tank Top and Dress Pattern, grab it here.

Note: I’ve collected fabric ideas from just a few of our favorite independent fabric shops. However, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive list check out this list put together by @pinkmimosasbyjacinta

Tricot

A small amount of lightweight fusible interfacing is needed for reinforcing the bodice and straps. I recommend using this tricot interfacing from Wawak.com. If you want more information on why I recommend this for most of my patterns, then check out this post I wrote a couple years ago for fabric.com.

Fabric Sources and Inspiration

Solids

If you’re a fan of keeping it simple, the beauty of a high quality solid fabric can’t be overstated. These days beautiful solids are easy to find in a myriad of substrates. Try a cotton double gauze, lightweight linen, linen blend, or a rayon crepe for a solid with luxurious texture. Want to take things to the next level? Try color blocking your Marcel like in the inspiration images above. With a rainbow of solids to choose from, the possibilities are infinite.

Stripes

When I think of sundresses, a striped one is often the first one that comes to mind. It’s a summer classic that never goes out of style. You can add just a touch of interest with a small-scale seersucker stripe, go bold with colorful thick stripes, or use a chic black and white. The beauty of stripes is that they lend themselves well to playing with directionality. This makes the panels and tiers of the Marcel especially suited for this application.

Prints

I don’t know about you, but I can rarely resist a good print. Bright colors, bold patterns, florals, dots, plaids, abstract shapes; they’re all beautiful in my book. Pick a semi-sheer print for a flirty swim cover-up or make a statement in a large-scale plaid or punchy floral. Not into bold? Pick a small-scale gingham or dainty floral. If you’ve got several large cuts of coordinating prints, you can use a different one in each tier for an artsy bohemian look. Truly, these days it’s easier than ever to find a print option for any preferred style.

Thank you for reading! I can’t wait to see what fabrics you choose for your Marcel!

If you make the Marcel pattern, don’t forget to use the hashtags #marceldresspattern, #marceltanktop, #minimarceldress, #minimarceltanktop, and #chalkandnotchpatterns on Instagram so we can see your creations!